The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-06-19

I
out. Throw up your hands. In
thoror' Actually Sim Gage was
leader!
There came an exclamation In a
hoarro and broken voice. who are
your Don't shoot surrender"
How many arc there OF your in
auircd Doctor Barnes.
ITS me-Big Aleck I'm shot
I'm dying IIclpi- who Is it7''
Come out. Aieckr' called the high
and rcsolute voice OF Sim Gage
Come on outT'
81 can't come out. I'm shot ]
toll you"
Then Sim Gage did whit ordinar'
lily might not have been Wise thing
20 do. without pause he swept aside
the tent flap with the barrel OF his
rifle. and stepped In. quickly cover
ing the .prostrite figure that lay on
tho bloody blankets before him.
Big Alock was able to do no more
tnan move. lie raised one hand.
feebly. imploring mercy.
Come out, damn your Haid Sim
Gage. his hand al the collar % the
crippled man. He dragged his pris.
oner out into the light and threw
him fun length-mercilessly upon
tho necdle-oovercd sand.
The crippled man began 90 weep.
I 70 beg. II vas small mercy he saw
as he looked from face TO face.
That's my man" exclaimed Doc
tor Barnes. but us not any acct.
dent with tree. That's gun shot
who done that work down be.
low demanded Sim Of the prortraie
man. Where rs she7 Tell me-
Ills voice Ntill rang high and i'm.
pemtive.
Big Aieck shivcr,d where he lay.
Now he too saw the flames on ahead
In the woods.
WHO vet that fire. demanded the
Doctor suddenly. Whose work WIS
thatT"
1T was sabcatar' said Big Aicck.
frightened into an ingenious lie.
They was in here. I'm the govern.
ment FOREMAN. don't know how
they Eot In or got out. They must
OF set clock somewhere for 20
start a."
who DO you mean-sabcatsT' de
manied Doctor Barnes. The other
three stood ooldly and implAoably
staring at the crippled man
II caught them In herc-.I'm In
charge Of this work. you sec. tried
10 stop them. They shot me and left
me here. They A,id they'd send n
doctor"
I'm tho doctor" replied the mcdi.
cal man. who stood looking at him.
Where r. that woman
Big Alcck rolled his bead. Il don't
know. I don't know nothing. I'm
nhot-rm going 10 die"
We've got 10 set out" said Doc.
tor Barnes. Boys. shall We set him
into IN, carr
Nor said Sim Gage. sharply. Il
won't ride with him. whcrr IA sheT'
He stepped close UP 10 Big Aleck.
pushing in front OF the othcrz You
know. Damn you. tell me-
Keep him away yelled Big
Aicck. Hes going 20 kin ms-' He
tried 10 get on his elbows. his hands
and knees. but could not. broken
down az he was. lie was abject--an
evil man overtaken by an evil fate
Where II shoT'' repeated Sim
Cage. Tell mcr'
you was follering right the way
she went far as ! know moaned
Aleck. How kin tell where she
went. after I was shoty"
After you was Shot7 Who shot
your DID shs7''
II told you VINO sho, me. II was
them fcilcra"
Then why didn't they kin you. n
they wanted TOT They could OF fin.
ished you. couldn't thcyg where's
my six.shooter. Aieck-you took Il
outcn my house. and YOU know you
did"
II tried 10 save her. whlmpored
Big Aleck now.
You lei why did you bring her
up here them why didn't you leave
her thcrc-she didn't have to come. :"
sim Gage stlil was talking, now
sharp. decisive. Where Is she nowY'
Good God. man. told you
didn't know. How do know which
way she'd rum She said shc was
biind-but ] don't believe she was. ="
why don't your demanded Sim
Gage. Because she could shoot
your 90 Because she did shoot you.
twico7 What made herr where's
my gun? Did she take il with her
after she shot your
He wRs beginning TO tremble now
as he talked Didn't she shoot you?
Now. tell me the truth"
:'YcsF' said the prisoner suddenly.
seeing that in the others eyes which
demanded the truth. "she did shoot
me. and then ran away. She took
your gun. But I didn't set the fire.
Honest 10 God. don't know how II
got out j swear-oh. my God
have mcrcyr'
But what he aftcrward would have
sworn no man ever knew. There
was "A rifle shot-from whose rifle
none OF tho four ever could tell. II
struck Big Aleck fair below the eyes,
and blew his head well apart He
fell backward at the door OF the tent.
They turned away slowly. Just
for an instant they stood looking at
the sweeping blanket OF smoke. They
walked to the car. paying no further
| attention TO the figure which lay
motionless behind them. The fire
might come and make its winding
sheet.
1t was coming. Wild Gardner lifted
his head. winds changing" said
he. Hurry
They headed down the trail as fast
as might be.
wait. now. Door, said Sim Gage,
moment after they started. "Wait
now
whats up7" said Doctor Barnes.
Look at that smoke"
where's that little dog. now?
We've forgot him"