The Little River news., 1920-07-17
CHAPTER XII.
A Good Samaritan.

It. 0uc ulu uOt uedu IO SO iuuCil farther, but she took her time. More than once she slipped from under a fold of her waist letter and re-read sentences of 1t. Whenever she did this her eyes smiled. For # -'cc love let ter from Curly. the firt stt had ever had. It had been lying on the Inner edge of the threshold of her bedroom door that morning when she got up, and she knew that her lover had risen early to put it there unnoticed.
 Faintly there came to her . winA- swept sound She pulled up and wait ed. but no repetition of 1t reached her ears. But before her pony had moved dozen steps she stopped him again. This time she was almost sure of far cry. and after 1t the bark of . re- volver.
 With the touch of rein she guided her horse toward the sound. It might mean nothing. On the other hand 1t might be a call for help. Her shout brought an answer which guided her to the edge of a prospect hole. In the darkness she made out an indistinct figure.
 "Water," husky voice demanded
 She got her canteen from the saddle and dropped 1t to him. The man glued his lips to the mouth as if he could never get enough.
 "For Gods sake get me out of here." he pleaded piteously.
 
 1.-TWO days. fell in at night whilst I was cutting across country"
 Kate fastened her rope to the horn of the saddle, frightened the cinch care fully. and dropped the other end to him. She swung to the back of the horse and braced herself by resting her full weight on the farther stirrup.
 "Now." she told him.
 The imprisoned man was dragged over the edge with one cheek scratched and bleeding.
 Might a-known you'd hurt me if you moved so fast" he complained. nursing his wounded face in such 2 way as to hide 1t.
 "I'm sorry. I did my best to go care fully" the girl answered, stepping for ward.
 His hand shot forward and caught her wrist. Her startled eyes flashed to his face. The man was the convict Blackwell.
 "Got anything to eat with you. I'm starving" he snapped.
 "Yes. I shot some quail. Let go my hand"
 He laughed evilly, without mirth. Don't try any of your sassy ways on me. Pm wolf on the howl"
 She fought and twisted till she was worn out in her efforts to free herself. Painting, she faced him.
 Let me go. I tell you."
 For answer his open hand struck her mouth. "Not till you learn your boss. Before I'm through with you suuaw won't be half so tame as you"
 He dragged her to the horse. took from its case the rife that hung by the saddle. and flung her from him roughly. Then he pulled himself to the saddle.
 "March ahead of me-" he ordered
 As soon as they had reached the bed of the canon he called a. halt and bade her light fire and cook him the quail. She gathered irOnwOOd and catclaw while he watched her vigilantly. To- gether they roasted the birds by hold ing them over the fire with sharpened sticks thrust through the wings. He devoured them with the voracity of a wild beast.
 Hitherto his mind had been busy with the immediate present. but now his furtve shifting gaze rested on her more thoughtfully. He dared not leave her in the prospect hole. He was not vet ready to do murder. for fear of punishment. That was possibility to be considered only if he should be ,hard pressed. The only alternative left him was to take her to the border as companion of his fugitive dou- blings.
 wen be going now," he announced. after he had eaten.
 -Goins whsre3 Don't you see'Ili be . drag to.youi Take my horse and %. You'll get alenG faster."
 "Do you think sor'
 For the first time 1t came to her that if Ae did not take her with him hs would kin her to insure his own safety. None of the arguments that would have availed with another man Swers of any weight here. Her sex. her youth, the service she had done him these would not count straw. He was lost to all the instincts of honor that govern even hard desperate men of his class.
 They struck into the mountains, fol- lowing . cattle trail that wound up- ward with devious twists. The man rode, and the girl walked in front with