The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-03-14
CHAPTER Iv-contInued.

AS he stopped he saw a woman
houses and peer out from the door.
Her attitude was indicative Of terror.
Realizing that she would be In danger
from any chance shooting, Winton
gathered his failing strength and STUN
bled on, meaning to pass her. He was
almost at her side when cry broke
from her lips He looked at her; it
was Sheila Seaton.
She seemed to take in the situation
In a moment. She grasped at him, and.
as he reeled from weakness, dragged
him into the tiny house with all her
strength. Then she shut the door soft
ly and blew out a candle.
Neither spoke. Winton had sunk to
the ground, but, half fainting as he
was, he could hear her frightened
breathing as she stood over him, and
then the cries of his pursuers as they
swept down the street and met the
party running up the alley.
There followed a medley Of voices.
They dwindled away and died In the
distance. Winton heard the girl strike
a match The little candle light famed
up in corner Sheila, standing be-
side 1t, looked at Winton, saw the blood
on his face, and ran forward with low
cry.
She snatched a towel from a rack,
dipped 1t into a basin of water that
stood on a packing case and kneeling
beside him, began wiping away the
blood.
Wlnton staggered to his feet. He
smiled whimsically at Sheila, tried to
reach the door, and collapsed into the
single chair in the room.
.I'm sorry" he whispered. 81 didn't |
dream-you lived here. I'll go-ln a
minute"
"You can't gol" cried the girl in a
frenMed whisper. you are safe now.
You must wait"
'They1l come back and search for
me. They're bound to get me. Miss
Seaton, +"
IF they arrest you they can arrest
me, too. Come here-please do as
say. I'm going to help you as you
helped me-"
She placed her shoulder under his
arm and raised him upon his feet. Ii
was astonishing what strength lay in
her slim body, or what resolution
nerved her. She forced him to cross
the room and pass through doorway.
Beyond was another door, and through
he glass Of the uncovered window
Ninton saw the pump in the square
md the angle of the buildings.
And he heard again the shouts of
his pursuers, returning from their fruit
ess search. They swarmed into the
square and heavy blows resounded
ipon one Of the doors, followed by
mans gruff answer.
They'll be here in a moment" Win
on gasped.
They'll see you If you try to leave.
lou must lie down here. This is my '
ather's room. He's away on the fields.
lou must let me cover you and, if they n
one, they'll think you're he. Quick
)h, please be Quickr a
Winton took in the stretcher bed
With its disordered array of blankets. b
lie knew Sheila had told the truth.
he once chance Of saving her now h
ias to do as she wished him to do; {,
nd ii was ore chance in a dozen. a
He managed to crawl upon the s.
fretcher, and the girl pulled the blank S
Is over him. She hurried to the back k
DOR and bolted IL; then blew out her W
ght. Hardly were these preparations y
lade when the crowd came yelling d
long the row Of houses, banging at
u the doors and smashing the win CT
Dws. The police were far outnum- a
cred by their followers, for an |. D. B. 81
iase arouses as much enthusiasm and
ndlctiveness as the pursuit of horse m
lief In the old days Of our own West. ID
would have gone hard with Winton p
the mob had discovered him. And h
II the first time in his life he was Il
raid. He was afraid for Sheila hI
He heard her creep Into his room La hl