Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-01-08
BABE"
REDEEMS
HIMSELF
BY HAROLD DE POLO
% ol snvrt slory ~

a table In the Welcome All
saloon in the little mining camp of
Silver Gulch, playing small, friendly
game of poker with several miners
whose acquaintance he had made.
Those in the room presently saw
man enter, tall, slim, cat-like, his
narrowed gray eyes cold and steady,
his thin, bronzed face set and deter
mined, and his right hand grasping
firmly long. biue-staeled revolver,
thrust out before him.
They saw Babe" Fisher spring up
from his chair. kick ii behind him and
fash his hand straight TO his hip!
But he was too late The other mans
gun instantly spurted and cracked,
and the big. blond fellow muttered an
oath and dropped his pistol, clutching
his forearm where the others bullet
had piowed through his flesh.
The lean man walked forward, still
calm, his gun covering the other. He
moved aside the lapel of his well-worn
coat and displayed nickel star that
proclaimed him sheriff of Oneida
county. Then he reached to his back
pocket and produced pair of glitter
ing handouts. Not word had been
spoken as yet
Fisher eyed him speculatively. Won
dering whether or not to reach for
his weapon and take his chances Of
making getaway.
Better not I" cautioned the sheriff,
quietly but firmly.
The other eyed him for a moment
longer, then he smiled. Guess not"
he said. pleasantly, and stretched
forth his arms for the mapacles.
Don't reckon I've made mistake,
hev +? Yo're Babe Fisher, wanted
fer the KILN O. Red Ginnis, eh?" the
sheriff stated. rather than questioned.
His prisoner nodded his head. yep;
an knowed II anyoned gilt me it'd
shore be yuself, Evans I"
Thanks r. answered the other, smIl-
ing. and he put the handouts on the
offered wrists. Reckon we'd better
be settin' out, fer it's good two days
ride acrost the desert tn LATINA !"
And in moment more the two
were gone, leaving the crowd shaking
their heads and swearing that they'd
be hanged II they'd thought that
agreeable young chap was a bad
man"
Toward the end of the next day, as
the big, blood-red ball of sun was
quietly dropping from view behind the
hazy, violet-tinted horizon, the sheriff
and his man were slowly making their
way across the hot. sun-baked dusty
desert, bare and desoate except for
stray cactus plant or SO that doomed
gauntly up out of the sand, throw
ing its shadow over the hot alkal in
a tempting manner, reminding them
that there was such q thing as cool
shade somewhere in the world.
They walked their horses at
crawling pace, Fisher In front, his
head bowed. his manacled hands
grasping the reins listlessly; the sher-
If, few feet In his rear, his head,
also bowed, for the day had been
scorching one.
Presently he paused. Gee" he
breathed. "some warm, eh?"
you betl' replied his prisoner,
turning in his saddle.
"Guess we'll hev tn take jest a
leetle more waterl' said the sheriff.
frowning nervously.
Look here" burst out Fisher, "go
ahead yuself. man. don't need ii.
There's mighty little left. an I'll be
a deader 'afore longl"
The sheriff flushed. He liked this
man whom he was taking to his
doom. Keep still, Fisher, it's my
fault for splllin' that other canteen
while back r
The prisoner agreed to take sip.
and did so. Then the sheriff followed
suit, and after that he took out a
pack of cigarettes, lit two Of them,
and handed one to his man.
Presently the sheriff again broke
the silence. "Reckon we'll hev tn ride
all night, pard, sos tn git tn LATINA
afore we're nigh dyin' fer want O.
water!"
The prisoner thinking Of what lay
before him when they reached their
destination, could not refrain from let
ting his shoulders droop and his head
hang lower on his breast.
The sheriff was decent man. II
I'm. sorry, pard-I'm sorry
"Thanks!" muttered Fisher, husk
lily.
After several moments the sheriff
once more spoke. "Gawd, man. why
did you do it?" and there was real sor-
row in his voice. He, also. felt great
iy drawn toward the other.
81 toll you afore, Evans, an It's the
trlth | swear he drawed ON me first,
an shot at me first-only he happened
tn miss an | happened tn be mighty
quick after that I"
IL believe yu, pard p said the
sheriff. But yu know how it is. No
one seed the thing; they proved that
borh o. WI was enemies. an the las
uard Rad said whom fhev found him