The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-06-09

A man beside the girl jumped vi
with a snarl. gun In hand.
But the Runt had caught sight o.
Kitty. A file Of fixed bayonets could
not have kept him from trying to res
cue her. He dlved through the brush
like football tackler.
A gun barked The little man die
not even know II. He and the thug
went down together, rolled over
clawed furiously at each other. and
got to their feet simultaneously. But
the cowpuncher held the gun now
The crook glared at him for moment
and bolted for the safety of the
bushes in wild fight.
Johnnie fired once, then forgot all
about the private little war he had
started. For his arms were full of a
sobbing Kitty, who chung TO him while
she wept and talked and exclaimed all
! In a breath.
II knew you'd come, Johnnie.
knew you would-you or Clay. They
left me here with him while they got
away from the police. Oh, I've
been so scared. l didn't know-I
thought"
IS all right. IS all right, liz girl.
Don't you cry, Kitty. Me N Clay
won't let 'em hurt you none. We sure
won't"
She nestled closer. and Johnnie's
heart lost beat. He had become
aware of dull pain in the shoulder
and of something wet trickling down
his shoulder. But what is one little
bullet In your geography when the
sweetest girl In the world is in your
arms?
II amt nothin' but hammered
down li'l' haysed of cowpuncher," he
told her, his voice trembling. ''an'
you're awful pretty an'-an'-"
A flag of color fluttered to her soft
cheeks The silken lashes fell shyly.
Il think you're fine and dandy, the
bravest man that ever was"
do you-figure you could? II
Il don't reckon you could ever"
He stopped, abashed. To him this
creature of soft curves was of heaven
sent charm. All the beauty and vital
ity of her youth called to him. II
seemed to Johnnie that God spoke
through her Which is another way
of saying that he was in love with her
She made rustling little stir in his
arms and lifted flushed face very
tender and appealing. In the darkness
her lips slowly turned to his.
Johnnie chose that inopportune mo-
ment to get sick at the stomach.
Tin goin' to faint" he an
nounced, and did
When he returned to his love-story
Johnnie's head was in Kittys lap and
a mounted policeman was in the fore
ground of the scene. His face was
wet from the mist of fine rain falling.
Don't move. Some one went for n
car" she whispered, bending over him
so that flying tendrils of her hair
brushed his cheek. Are you-badly |
hurt?'
He snorted. I'm false alarm.
Nothin' a-tall. He jes' creased me-"
you're so brave" she cried, adj
He had never been told this before
He suspected it was not true, but to
hear her say ii was mamma to his hun
CRY soul.
The cab stopped at the house of a
doctor and tne shoulder was dressed
The doctor made enc pardonable mis-
take.
"Get your wife to give you this
sleeping powder if you find you can't
sleep" he said.
"Y'betcha," answered Johnnie cheer
fully.
Kitty looked at him reproachfully
md blushed. She scolded him about il
lfter they reached the apartment
where they lived.
Her new fiance defended himself.
He's only day or two prema-chure.
ioney. II wasn't hardly worth while
he claimed.
"A day or two: Oh Johnnie :"
"Sure amt gonna wait. Wha's
he iaatter with tomorrow"
Il haven; any clothes made" she
vaded. and added by way of diver
ion. II always liked that kinda gold
n down on your cheeks"
THE stores are full of 'em. An we
int talkin' about MY whiskers-not
ght now"
You're a nice old thing she whis- I
cred. flashing into unexpected dim
les. and she rewarded him for his
lceness in a way he thought alto !
ether desirable.
A crisp. strong step sounded out
de. The door opened and Clay came l
ITO the room.
He looked at Kitty. THANK heaven. {
pure safe" he said. q
Johnnie rescued me-" she cried. $
He got shot-in the shoulder" O
The men looked at each other.
bad. Johnnie?" Y
Nope. A plumb lit scratch. Wha's
le matter with you?" g
A CLEAN of humor fitted into the u
res of the cattleman. II ran into q "
lor" "
Say, Clay" Johnnie burst out, II
-icha can't guess" IL
His friend laughed In ambiable de- Il
IL t. t<