Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

Denl, ana his Dig arms enclrCllnR neT,
raised Mary Preston from the snow
cringing with sympathy as she cried
out In sudden excess of agony.
you're hurt. Mary!" he exclaimed
cit was you. then! Oh, why did you
| try to come here!"
ITS just my knee" She said 1t
bravely. II came as far as could with
1t. Raise your arm there Jed-that's
1t. I started slide-one of the big
rocks"
Her words ceased in the suppression
of a groan as Jed Lawrence moved
swiftly toward the cabin There he
fumbled his way within. one great arm
| holding her as though she were child
the other feeling his way before him.
At last lamp f1ickered. and Jed Law
renee. his features lined and old, bent
over the stove, lighting a fire.
IF I'd known it was you, Mary" he
said DULY: II never thought"
"Oh, had to, jedi" The girl turned
painfully on the bunk They came
to the cabin-the sheriff and four men,
and forced it out of me that you'd been
there. Your tracks in the snow-there
wasn't any way to explain them"
But they didn't follow me-"
The girl shook her head
That's why I came, Jed thought
I could head you off by going through
the big draw. But it's filled up with
snow had to come back to your
trail. was trying to go too fast, and
didn't watch myself on the rocks. You
must've heard 1t when the slide started
I just loosened one little rock, and
everything seemed to give way"
"Yeh. heard it," he said duly.
Thought it was just the snow. I've
got to get you down, some way, Mary.
The ligaments must be tore
mo, it's just the knee, Jed. 1t
brushed againt me-the slide, you
know. And threw me over to one side.
My right foot was in the crevice-and
1t twisted my knee. I'm glad 1t did.
Jed. You've got to 60 with me .now!"
He looked at her.
Il wish you'd never come, Mary"
And had them get you at the other
side?" came the swift query. "Oh,
don't you see. Jed? They had Kendall
along. He knows the pass as we'll as
you do-the one place where you'd
come out. I heard them talking about
it. They didn't even follow your tracks
past the cabin. Kendall said he knew
what you'd do-that you'd try to get
out the other side, and they started
around to head you of. They're not
C'Ci willy AlSs uCu. i IlC StleIlI1 3 ROlllE
back to town as soon as he places his
men. He knows they'll get you, that
you're In a trap" She raised a hand.
Don't you see what 1t means, Jed--for
you to be caught running away? You'd
never have a single chance of a de-
fense-Judge Parker'd just"
There amt going to be no defense
anyway, Mary"
But you've got to make one, Jed
You couldn't have done it with
out
TITS my business what I did" He
stood watching the fire. I've got to
get you down, some way. Them skis up
there-but I amt got my knife. It's
down In town
I've got mine, Jed"
r X
CHE twisted painfully, and reached
- for the scabbard at her belt. Jed
Lawrence went slowly beside her. hold
ing forth hand. The girl looked UP
curiously.
What's the matter with your right
hand?" she asked.
with a knife"
He took the blade from her, and
tested its edge. Then, with the lamp
at his shoulder. he sat before the stove,
a ski-wood braced between his knees,
whiting at its rounded end. There
came q voice from the bed.
Il never knew you were left-handed
Jed"
"Oh. I amt" he said. "except when