The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-19
b1 edison MARSHALL
GDQQ- Little Blown 6 Company

a dead log toward which he had
/ leaped for shelter.
Seeing that she could not move
the tree itself. she thrust with all
her power against the dead log be-
side which Ben lay. In a moment
she had rolled it aside.
One of his arms was broken; its
position indicated that. Some of his
ribs were crushed. too-what internal
! injuries he had that might end him
before the morning she did not know
/ She worked her shoulder under his
body.
/ Wrenching with all her fine young
strength. she lifted him upon her
/ shoulder; then. kneeling in the vines
she struggled for breath. Then,
thrusting with her arm, she got on
| her feet.
At the end of a hundred yards she
/ stopped to rest. leaning against tree
and still holding the beloved weight
upon her shoulder. She plunged on,
down toward the beacon light.
She lunged on and laid her burden
| on her bed
+ Then she relaxed at his feet. breath
! ing in sobbing gasps.
/ But far distant though Ben was
and deep as he slept-just outside the
dark portals of death itself-those'
| sounds went down 10 him. He lay
a long time, trying to understand.
! On her knees beside him Beatrice
saw first f1utter of his eyelids In awe
rather than rapture, her arms crept
around him. and she kissed his rain
wet brow. His eyes opened. looked
wonderingly into hers
The tree got me. didn't 1t?" he
asked
Don't try to talk" she cautioned.
''Yes-the tree fell on you. But
you're not going to die. You're go
ing to live, live
He shook his head, the halt-smile
Pickering at his lips. Let me talk,
and I don't Think have much time"
Her eyes widened in horror. You
don't mean"
I'm going back in a minute
can't hardly keep awake" he said.
His voice. though feeble. was pre-
ternaturally clear.
4 believe the tree got ne-clear
irside-but you must listen TO every
thing I say"
She nodded. In that eerie moment
of suspense she knew she must hear
what he had to tell her.
Don't wait to see what happens
to me-" he went on. I'll either 60
out or I'll uve-you really can't help
me any. Where's the rihe?"
The rife was broken-when the
tree fell"
81 knew it would be. I saw it
| coming. Beatrice-please, please don't
stay here. trying TO save me"
DO you think I would go?" she
cried.
You must. The foods about
gone. Take the pistol There's six
shot or so-in the box. The rifles
| broken and we can't get meat. It's
J just-death-if you wait"
And leave you here to die, as long
/ as there's a chance to save your"
the girl answered. You couldn't
get up to get water-or build fire"
He listened patiently, but shook
his head at the end.
He struggled for breath, and she
thought he had slipped back into I'M
! consciousness. But in a moment the
faltering current Of his speech began
again.
| Take the pistoi-and 60" he told
| her. You showed me today how to
/ give up-and I don't want to kill
your father-any more. 1 renounce
II all. Ezram-forgive me-old Ez
that lay dead in the leaves"
| Inconsistencies welled high above
him, and the lids dropped over his
| eyes. And EZram watching high
and afar. and with infinite serenity
knowing at last. the true balance of
4 all things one with another. gave
him his full forgiveness.
The trail was long and steep into
/ Back There for Jeffrey Nelson and
his men.
/ They had counted on slow travel
but the weeks grew into the months
/ before they even neared the obscure
heart Of Back There where they
thought Ben and Beatrice might be
hidden.
The days passed, June and July
ever they moved at q slower pace
The food stores brought for the
journey were rapidly depleted.
No experience of their individual
lives had ever presented such a daily
ordeal of physical distress; none had
/ ever been SO devastating to hope and
/ spirit
Jeffery Nelson had almost forgot
/ ten the issue of the claim by now. He
| had told the truth, those weary weeks
| before. when he had wished he had
never seen it. HIS only thought was
OF his daughter. Yet he dared not
turn back. She might yet live. held
prisoner in some far-off cave.
At first all three agreed on this
point that they must not turn back
until either Ben was crushed under
their heels or they had made sure of
his death
They were still partners in their
effort to rescue the girl and stay her
abductor; otherwise they were at
swords points.
II mental distress and physical dis
comfort can constitute vengeance,
Ben was already avenged.
One rainy, disagreeable morning,
az they camped beside the river near
the mouth Of a small creek, affairs
reached their crisis. They had
caught and saddled the horses; Ray
was pulling tight the last hitch. Chan
stood beside him, speaking in an I'M
0ertone. When he had finished Ray