Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-04-10

that his offered cIemency-an offer
that had cost him much to maks--had
been received with cold. even naughty
indifference. dropped to the ground
behind him and stood moment sound
ing the night Except nj Uncle Nick's,
where Mrs Curry probably lay tossing
with anxiety. not candle was aiight
He closed the window and turned to
the stolld figure In front OF him.
"Tm givin' y'u time to warn Loge
Beiden on and take Z the woods--if
y'u're quick. When I think the times
up, I'm amin e Ore on Pap Simon's
shotgun and rouse the village. This
house will be put under guard might.
and t'morrow all that money will be
took z the city and put In the bank.
where II ough' r ben long ago.
thought Of the mountain girl crying
under the window the night before
crossed bis mind, and his voice grew
crisp and cold "and II y'u never
come back. wy. that1l be soon enough
rr me; but II y'u do. y'u've got Z come
clean"
A black scowl swept the bearded
face of the other; his eyes giared dan.
gerously. warhope--the bound boy
that he had committed the blunder OF
30 vastly undertaking He half turned.
q muttered oath on his lips: but mas
tered the outburst. and. with the air
Of man who bowed to circumstances
strobe across the yard. nursing his
shattered hand and fumbling the elab
crate frock coat about him.
AL unknown to the woodsman there
lay concealed in that same frock coat
another weapon--a small single-shot
pistol Of heavy caiiber that thugs Of
the underworld often carried. deadly
ut close range but inaccurate Mt dis
tance--a weapon that the men Of the
woods knew nothing about. At the
brink Of the yard. just where II dipped
70 the little park. he suddenly snatched
II forth; whirled and fired.
Even with his right hand shattered
and having TO shoot with his left. with
almost no light at all. the shot dis
closed what he could have done with
real gun-the bullet scorched the
woodsman's blouse and passed between
his left arm and his side. The man
crouched at the brink Of the yard
watched the success OF the shot--his
last desperate attempt-knew that II
failed; swore. and dashed away mp the
path that led into the jaws Of Eagle
hollow.
Il all occurred In the flick Of an In
slant. Amazed at the treachery, the
woodsman sprang out of the dim
square OF candle-light that fell through
the window. He snatched out his re-
volver and was Just stralning step In
pursuit when. from somewhere In the
yard behind him. there came low cry
his name-so faint rs to leave
doubt that he had heard. II froze him
into listening statue.
II came again--a woman's cry
borne upon the breath Of the night.
lie would have known that voice
among shouting thousands. He turred
and bounded down the yard toward the
gate.
Up from the gate she came. half
running. half.reeling. but before he
could reach her she stopped, stood for
moment CROPPING with her hands,
dropped forward and fell with her face
upon the grass.
With a cry. Jack warhope caught up
the unconscious girl In his arms. to dis
cover that she must have been In the
river, for her garments were complete
ly saturated and her hair hung about
her shoulders. sodden and dripping.
He was wrapping his hunting blouse
about her when, with a startled ex-
ciamation. he jerked away his hand
and held II up between his face and the
sky--it was smudged with blood. He
bent over the girl-blood was stream
ing from her right shoulder and run
ming down her side. That last bullet
from the edge Of the yard--it had
found the core OF q tragic target.
Picking her up In his arms. he ran
around TO the kitchen. dashed the door
open and laid her on the sofa In the
sitting room.
hV uau WNuppVu hcf III otahNcsT
snatched from the parlor bedroom,
tore up Q sheet for bandages and was
doing his best to stop the blood. when
there came the sound Of man run
ming across the yard. and the next mo-
ment Uncle Nick. doubtless alarmed by
that last shot--coming as Il did upon
the heels Of the housekeeper's story
was calling and pounding at the sitting
room door. Jack threw Il open.
~Texie's hurtr he cried. "Quick-
Doctor Arnold-and Aunt Liza and
Mrs. Curry"
without question the old man hur.
ried away.
The woodsman had brought the can
Ole out Of the room where the dead
robber lay, closed the door and was
doing his best to stop the blood and
restore the girl to consciousness. when
the doctor ran In.
A hurried word or two and he was at
the hgrt shoulder The bullet--it was
his nrst care. With quick skill he hunt.
ed II; fortunately located Il almost Inn
nediately. II had just missed the lung.
RanRosl ana lsA..-l ~. ~.