The Jasper news., 1921-12-01

er answered. pointing with his pipe to
cabin some twenty rods beyond
them. ''Thar's two children sick thar
an the nanny dead an buried in the
ground" t/
rs the plague getting worseT"
Cartwright asked.
'No, / reckon It's better. Nobody
has come down since the day before
yestIddy. Thars the doctor comm.
He kin tell ye."
A bearded man OF middle age was
approaching them IN the saddle.
Il am Peter Cartwrlght-the
preacher sent of God to comfort the
sick and bury the dead" said Sam
sons companion.
ave welcome you, but If you stop
here you will have to stay until the
epidemic is over"
"That l am prepared to do"
"Then 1 shall take you where you
can find entertainment, such as It is"
,"First, this man wishes to speak to
Miss Kelso, the nurse" said Cart
wright. "He is a friend of hers"
"You can see her but only at a dis
tance," the doctor answered. 81 must
keep you at least twenty feet away
from her. Come with me-"
They proceeded to the stricken
house. The doctor entered and pres
entity BIN came out. Her eyes filled
with tears and for moment she could
not speak.
"why didn't you let me know of
your troubles7" Samson asked.
early last summer wrote a long
letter to you" she answered.
ut didn't reach me. One day in
June the stage was robbed of its mail
down In Tazewell county. Your letter
was probably on that stage"
"Harry's death was the last blow. /
came out here to get away from my
troubles-perhaps to die. didn't
care"
'Harry is not dead" said Samson.
her right hand touched her rore-
head; her lips fell apart; her eyes
took on look Of tragic earnestness.
Not deadi" she whispered.
"He is alive and well"
BIN staggered toward him land fell
to her knees and lay crouched upon
the ground, In the dusky twilight,
shaking and choked with sobs, and
with tears streaming from her eyes
but she was almost as silent as the
shadow. Of the coming night. She
looked like one searching in the dust
for something very precious. The
strong heart of Samson was touched
by the sorrowful look of her so that
he could not speak. o-
Soon he was able to say In low,
trembling voice:
"In every letter he tells of his love
for you. That article in the paper
was a cruel mistake"
After a little silence BIN rose from
the ground. She stood, for a moment,
wiping her. eyes. Her form straight.
ened and was presently erect. Her
soul resented the injustice she had
suffered. There was q wonderful and
touching dignity In her voice and
manner when she asked: "'Why didn't
he write TO me?"
HE must have written TO you"
Sadly, calmly, thoughtfully, she
spoke as she stood looking Off at the
fading glow in the west:
at is terrible, how things can work
together to break the heart and will
of a woman. Write to Harry and tell
him that he must not come to see me
again. have promised to marry an
other man."
81 hope 1t isn't Davis" said Samson
at is Davis"
81 don't like him. don't think he's
honest"
But he has been wonderfully kind
to us. Without his help we couldn't
have lived. We couldn't even have
given my father a decent burial"
"Has he been out here to see your
mo"
"And he won't come. That mar
knows how to keep out Of danger.
don't believe you'll marry him."
"WhyT
Because / intend to be father Il
you end pay all your debts" sale
Samson.
The doctor called from the door Of
the cabin.
BIN said: "God bless you ant
Harryl" as she turned away to take
up her task again.
That night both Of them began. al
they say, to put two and two together
While he rode on in the growing dusl
the keen intellect of Samson saw {
convincing sequence Of circumstance
the theft of the mail sack, the fals'
account OF Harry's death, the faiIur'