The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-05-06
195e
Last Resort
~ ALIsoM NAY KRAMER
(ooOyr.sht. 1O1s. By western Newspaper unionl

rough men OF rude, uncultured ways.
Outside OF the few towns where law
and order ruled, primitive outlawry
and physical force were the controll-
ing elemeats. Thus, when Hal Wyck-
of, the leader Of a lawless horde Of
moonshiners and raiders, cast his eye
upon Nellie Virdin, the daughter OF
the school superintendent at Macon,
only the genuine fervor Of his love
for her prevented his collecting re-
tinue of his favored comrades, carry
ing her OF boldly, forcing some timer
ant preacher to perform the marriage
ceremony and defying her friends to
get her back.
He lived here, there, everywhere,
with his lawless confreres; had a
sister, Althea, for whom he showed
real devotion, had placed her with an
old maid aunt over at the other end
of the county, far away from his own
environment. Nellie, visiting the lit
tie settlement where Althea lived. had
incidentally met Wyckoff. Later he
had seized all kinds of pretenses to
appear In Macon and see Nellie. Then
he had watched her home. making sure
that she was alone in the house and
had almost alarmed her by appearing
at its porch one lovely September
evening.
'T want to tell you a story" he said
bluntly, when timorously but with
courtesy she had invited him to be
seated and Wyckoff related the In
cidents Of the rough life he had led
since the death Of his parents, both
shot down by revenue officers whilst
defending an Illicit still in the noun
tains. He made no secret Of follow
ing In their footsteps. But now
"And i want to tell you that love
YOU" was his final addendum to the
recital T am ready to make any
sacrifice to win your esteem / VIII
abandon my present way Of living. i
will go to work to earn an honest Hv-
ing. 1 will establish a pleasant home
with my sister, Althea. / viii be a
true and faithful husband. Give the
two of us a chance to become peace
able, respectable people, instead OF the
Stunned outcasts that we are"
al am sorry" spoke Nellie In a gem
tie. subdued way, "but I am engaged
| to marry Wade Burton next month"
The tiger in the man sprang to the
| surface in a flash. He was on his
feet In an instant. quivering all over.
'Tet him beware, If he crosses my
path 7" he ground out. ST have warned
you. You shall be mine. Just to gain
you will plunge the whole district in
bloodshed and ruin !"
"Waiti watt I have something to
tell you" began Nellie quaveringly,
| but the man was gone. For two days
| and nights he wandered in the widest
depths Of the mountain timber. When
he returned to his comrades he was
morose and captious and kept afiame
| his mad emotions with the constant
use Of liquor.
/ Gradually his confreres became
aware of the wretchedness that was
wearing down their leader. Mutterings
| against Wade Burton, who was a
lawyer, who had prosecuted several
OF the band, intensified the insane
| jealousy of Wyckoff. There came a
climax. One evening with six chosen
| men he rode over to Macon, stationed
his men In ambush near the Virdin
home and stole towards 1t few min
utes later. An agreed on signal, a
| low, peculiar whistle, reached the men
! I'm covert. 1t advised them that Wade
Burton was on the premises and to
be ready to greet him when he came
down the woodland path.
Wyckoff had made out Burton and
| Nellie I'm the garden of the little Vir-
din home. They were conversing earn
/ estly, seated on a bench beside q
shadowing Towering bush
| ''You are sure Althea is safe. You
/! do not doubt that she viii evade the
man who would have dragged her into
misery and sorrow?"
| ST not only convinced her that the
man was already married, but / set
| the officers OF the law on his track
| for an old crime and he has left the
| country. It was a narrow escape for
the trustful girl ignorant OF the worlds
WAYS"
"Her brother should know OF this.
wede," spoke Nellie.
Yes, he should guard Althea close
ly. She Is a bright, pretty girl, and
this experience viii be a warning to
her. As to Wyckoff, however,
scarcely dare venture TO approach
him. He is like a rampant lion these
/ latter days"
He must feel grateful to you for
/ all that you have done In behalf OF his
| sister," said Nellie. what was that 70
| It was a groan. and it issued from
the lips OF Hal Wyckon as he stag
geled from his covert. The revelation
OF the moment stunned him. This
/ man, Wade Burton, rightful beloved
/ OF Nellie Virdin. had put himself out
| to save his sister from the power Of
4 q villain. who would have spoiled her
life. Hal WyckOff moved on, indiffer-
emit to all save that he owed his rival
| gratitude. He forgot the waiting am
bush. His confreres IN hiding did not
distinguish his identity as he SWING