The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-05
Ry 4. w. PEACE

30 ne the NY 6tel lUuo bab6 ieouO'
that has kept the police at bay for &c
long" she said to herself, smiling. "Ht
looks it-like leader; and II be
doesn't die with that wound through
rs chest, they'll Kill him-perhaps.
1t may have been because katnleer
was Irish, because in her blood ran
/, the strain of men who cheerfuliy cham
pion lost cause US we'll as one thai
is certain, whose sympathieB are with
the under dog, no matter who tho dog
riay be.
"'Not worth saying"-it was a chal
lenge. She would do her best to save
him, all that lay III her power.
So, the battle went on. The uncoD
scious glnman, uukn0wtng, still seem
ed 10 be fighting to save himself
Hours went, and she kept vigil. Ten
acious OF life, he chung TO the brink
Of the vast abyss OF eternity, refusing
To slip down into the darkness, that
Dnly the star OF faith illumines.
"a man appeared and said he was
the police guard. She smiled and told
him that he need not fear losing his
prisoner unless he slipped away at the
summons greater than that of the
law. In the conversation the guard ex-
planned that the prisoner was "Shep'
Allard, shot in midnight brawl in
which three men were killed.
She went Off duty for the afternoon
In the evening she went 10 the room
1 nodded at the guard and once more
took up her special care. The gunma1
had improved bit-"that kind die
hard, the guard had told her.
Her Irish heart went out little
Z more to the silent, suffering fellow, set
close around by his foes, yet clinging
gamely to life.
The young surgeon on his rounds
stopped in, and he looked at her with
hts keen, cynical eyes. Kathleen, why
such interest In this chap? Now, II
You would only be as much interested
In me-"
She turned, her dark head in his
! direction. III I knew that you had the
4 courage to do what he has done-and
the. brains she remarked drtly, u
Snight-"
With o snort he had gone.
The days went. Slowly Allard crept
J back over the brink, grimly, tenacious
", to life; and she gave him all the
AID IN her power, as II her strong
capable young hands, locked in his
had aided him.
One afternoon she stood looking
down at him, and her heart pounded
as she saw his eyes flutter and open
Dark, courageous, searching even IN
the dim consciousness that was his.
A his eyes took her in, and then she saw
the light OF his spirit, In spite Of his
determined effort, recede and fade
3 again IN unconsciousness.
It left her trembling. "Of all things
In this queer world, have been falling
IN love with gunman?" she asked
herself.
Somebody else thought so evidently,
her doctor lover, for that evening in
the nurses dining hall friend said
smiling family, "Katie, what's this
\ hear? You getting interested in that
criminal? Don't dearie, for heavens
sake; It's Just like you. You ought to
have been living in the days of the
vikings or the cavemen. Just because
heres fighting blood in you he ap'
peals 70 you"
Kathleen looked at her with gray
6 dreaming eyes. Honey, you're right
about this; do admire and some day
Y shall love q man with fighting heart
Yes'm." She buttered her bread calm
All the next day he hovered be.
tween consciousness and darkness. Al
dusk he was himself. although toe
weak TO speak. His eyes followed her
gerenely about the room. She said
) nothing to him except to bid him good.
night. He smiled family by way Of
reply. ~.
jarringly, into her mind the thought
That as soon as he could speak the Of
Iicers OF the law would come to ques'
Hon him, and beyond that doomed his
4 EriRl and the death-cell If 1t lay within
Z sheifs power to bring him there.
Foolish, foolish! ! must remember
who he is-but I wish could save
him." ran the current Of her thought.
Allard gained rapidly, and he tried
to speak, but was not allowed to talk
Once, however, he caught her hand
md with his dark, steady eyes on her
10 me-" And she, even angry at her.
self, had .blushed an Irish rose.
The succeeding days brought mat
tersto rapid climax. One phase Of II
appeared when 1t dawned upon hel
hat Allard was looking at her with
more than the glance Of interest pa
tieht gives an attractive nurse. q
She did not know, though she guess
a, that 1t was the old, old story Of the
call OF heart to heart that carries be
You'd mountains and seas, over differ
ances Of position and time, and will
we hope, reach over the gates of death
Then came the offlcers-the trim at
: torney from the district attorneys OF
flee, the stenographer, and the CHIEF
detective. At their coming\she reluc
Stantly withdrew and closed the door
behind her and stood silent.
The young doctor passed and smiled
HThe torture chamber, eh?"
He sobered at her dumb stare and
went on.
She was stu waiting when the door
opened and the three n.en came out.
Their faces wore mixed laoEs oil
amusement, disgust ana pleasure
did he?" she said impIlsiyely.
The gray.headed detective eyed hel
!, sharply. HE did not. In fact, young
lady, am of the opinion that your pa
tient 10 Mr.. Elmer Jackson, Ct Bo;lt
little burg In Nevada; that one OF TIT
thugs he shot was Allard.'
She stood dumb. and then she Wenl
Into the room. Tho lean, strong face
was smiling. Nov, wou.dn't chat
make q man weep! l come lou q
ranch IN old Nevada; coma Ia thi:
laundering big, lonesome town 80 Out
for q walk, get in tough pcrt OF tht
Town, Gee two chaps pitch OF q third
Jump In without asking the why's OF It
The other three get done for, and the.
have me UP for being the worst gun
man IL the city. can shoot bit, ant
when saw those thugs-well, had Il
Fitch In, Wouldn't you have done tho
L.I:lc:9 he asked with interest.
Something as big as a mountain go
l:ig from her heart, she laughed a bit
weakly. MAN, would have pitched
!tl With you Y ! had been there?