Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1946-09-13
CHAPTER XII

the doctor would get here!" he ex-
claimed roughly.
He started at once-as soon as
'phoned," Jane replied absently,
touching the old desk affectionately;
she remembered Sherwin there.
Jim, huddled in the chair, rumi-
mated. Jordan must have got US
confused in the storm-he was a
crack shot. Poor Max-it was for
me and he got it,"
Jane said nothing; her hands
were clasped on the desk. The wind
swept the door open and drove the
rain across the hall. Her brother
rose and forced it shut, boiling it.
Then he turned on her, at the
limit of his patience.
GOOD Lord, Jane, haven't you a
heart? Max is dying-he loves you!
You're - you're a perfect stick,
standing there and staring in front
Of you'll"
She looked up and her white face
tWitched with pain. I'm sorry for
Max, but I'm thinking of the man he
sent to-a living DEATH"
Jim bit his lip. Look here, Jane,
he's brave man, l acknowledge
1t, but he's been convicted of cruel
crime; you've got to let him drop!"
Hes not guilty." she said firmly;
"1'n never believe him guilty. No
guilty man would have done that
splendid thing-he saved his ac-
cuser!"
Fine, l grant it. Nevertheless,
he goes back to Jail for life-you
understand that, Jane? For life!"
mot if there's any way on earth
that l can save him!" she cried
passionately.
"You!" Jim spoke with brotherly
scorn.
You can help, too, Jim," she
went on, not needing his derision.
Delay them, keep him here-and
give him chance to escaped"
ITO what purpose?" Jim asked
her dryly. ITO be fugitive always,
to hide away somewhere, in South
America, perhaps, under a false
name, hunted, advertised for, never
to know moments peace-a con-
demned murderer! Bah, I'd rath-
er 60 to jail! There's no capital pun
ishment in his state"
you've never been in Jail" Jane
retorted. And you-you 'phoned
for Cutler, you know you did!"
"Stenhart-" Jim began, and
stopped.
"Oh, I know!" James gesture was
eloquent.
Jim, remembering the man sus-
pended between the ledge and eter-
nifty, to save his enemy, began to
walk up and down the hall. Jane
dropped into his vacant chair and
laid her head on the desk. She
could hear the fury of the wind out
side. 1t grew dusky, too, in the old
hall, for the day was passing swift
~; tomorrow
"I'm sorry, but I can't do
thing!" said Jim hoarsely.
She made no reply. A SILVER ran
through her; tomorrow he would be
on his way east! There is so little
in day-and so much. Then, sud-
denly, she heard Fanny's voice call
ing to Jim. Her brother answered
hurriedly, went into the sickroom
and the door closed behind him.
For the first time Jane was alone.
She Strengthened herself in the old
worn chair and looked about her.
In the daygloom of the old hall
she saw only shadows here and
there. A clock licked loudly over
the desk, and it seemed to remind
her of the brevity of the span of
life. The rain no longer beat with
such fury on the window-panes, but
the wind shrieked and howled in
the distant canyons. Sherwin was
in the other building still. The men
were there; she could see Jose and
Pete Rooney rubbing down their
horses in the open door of the sta
bles. She rose cautiously and fled
softly down the hall, past Stenhart's
closed door; it seemed to her that
she heard voices but she did not
stop to listen. She opened a little
sidedoor that led past the kitchen
and ran into the rain. 1t was falling
lightly now; the gray clouds had
broken on the distant ranges and the
high peaks shone in clear weather.
1t seemed almost like promise,
this lifting of the clouds, and she
called Mac softly.
The old man emerged from his
quarters with long face. "You
mustn't get wet, Jane, better run
back" be warned.
But she caught at his sleeve with
shaking hands. MAC, I've got to
see him!
Mcdowell hesitated. Hes got
guards alongside of him, Jane; it
amt no place for you"
She lifted her blue eyes steadily
to his. MAC, I must see him
it's" she choked-''it's the last
timei"