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The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
Copyright, 1005, by Itcx E. Bench.
Continued from page :i.J
on rnnt no tunica over m tho air no
foro something smote Ii 1 tit. and lie lay
still, IiIh gaunt, dark face upturned to
the rain, while nliout him (lie storm
screamed exultantly.
Tho moment Strove disappeared Into
tho otilei room Helen darted to the
window. It was merely n single sash,
nailed fust and Immovalile, hut seizing
ono of the little stools beside the stovo
ho thrust It through the glass, letting
In k smother of wind and water. He
fore sho could escape Btruve bounded
Into tho room, his face livid with an
ger, his voice hoarse and furious.
Hut as he began to denounce her he
panned In amazement, for the girl had
drnwn Cherry's weapon and leveled It
ut him. Sho was very pale, and her
breast heaved as from n swift run,
while her wondrous gray eyes were
lit with a light no man had ever seen
there before, glowing like two jewels
whoso hearts contained the pent tip
passion of centurion, She had altered
its though under the deft hand of a
master sculptor, her nostrils growing
-thin and urehed, her lips tight pressed
and pitiless, her head poised proudly J
'The rain drove lu through tho shut-!
tcred window, over and past her, while
the cheap red curtain lashed and whip
tmtr was u strong gin, mm nor ripe
young body, untried until this moment,
answered In every fiber, so that she
wrestled with almost a umii'k strength
and he had hard shift to hold her. Hut
so violent an encounter could not Inst.
Helen felt herself drifting free from
the eiirlh and losing grip of all things
tangible, when at last they tripped and
fell against tho Inner door. This gave
way, mid ut the same inomenL the
man's strength departed as (hough it
were a thing of darkness and dared
not face tho light that streamed over
I hem. She tore herself from his clutch
and daggered Into the supper room,
her loosened hair falling In a gleaming
torrent about her shoulders, while he
arose from his knees and came toward
her again, gasping:
"I'll show you who's master here!"
Then ho ceased abruptly, erlnglngly,
and threw up an arm before his face
.13 if to ward off a blow. Framed in
(lie window was the pallid visage of a
man. The air rocked, the lamp flared,
and Struvo whirled completely around,
falling back against the wall. His
eyes filled with horror and shifted
down where his hand lind clutched at
his breast, plucking at one spot as If
tearing a barb from his bosom. Ho
Jerked his head toward tho door at his
elbow in quest of a retreat, a shudder
ran over him, his kuees buckled and
ho plunged forward upon his face, his
arm still doubled under him.
It had happened like a flash of light,
and although Helen felt, rather than
heard, the shot and saw her assailant
fall, sho did not realize the meaning of
It till a drift of powder smoke assailed
her nostrils. Even so. she experienced
no shook or horror of the sight. On
; the contrary, a savage joy at the spec
1 toclo seized her and sho stood still.
leaning slightly forward, staring at It
almost gloatingly, stood so (ill she
heard her name called, "Helen, little
ped her as though In gleeful applause,
Her bitter abhorrence of (he man made MHtor;.. nml turning, saw her brother
In tho window.
unnatural
her voire sound strangely
ns she commanded:
"Don't daro to stop me!" Sho mov
ed toward the door, motioning him to
Tctreat before her, and he obeyed, rec
ognizing the danger of iter coolness.
She did not note the calculating
treachery of his glance, however, nor
fathom the purposes lie had In mind.
Out on the rain swept mountain the
prostrate rider had regained his senses
and now was crawling painfully to
ward (he roadhouse. Seen through the
dork he would have resembled some
misshapen, creeping monster, for he
dragged himself, reptile-like, close to
the ground. Hut as he came closer the
than heard a cry which the wind scent-
td guarding from his ear, and, hearing!
.
51 1
i
6n
"I'll ioie jou uhu'x iii((j(lt hen!"
It, he rope and rushed blindly forward,
staggering like a wounded bonst.
Helen watched her captive closely a
lie hacked through the door before her,
for she dared not lose sight of him un
til free. The middle room was lighted
by a glass lamp on the bar, and its
rays showed that the front door win
i-eetired by a largo Iron bolt. She
thanked heaven there was no lock and
key.
Strove had retreated until his back
was to the counter, offering no word,
making no nunc, but the darting
brightness of his ejes showed that he
was alert and planning. Hut when the
door behind Helen, urged by the wind
through the broken casement, banged
to the man made hi lirst lightning-like
slim. He dashed the lamp to the lloor.
where It burst like an eggshell, and
dmkuoss leaped into the room as an
iiulmal pounce. Had she been calmer
or had time for an instant's thought
Helen would have hastened back to
the light, but she was midway to her
liberty and actuated by tho sole desire
to break out Into the open air, so
plunged forward. Without warning
she was hurled from her feet by a
body which came out of the darkness
upon her. She tired the little gun. but
Ktruve's arms closed about her, tho
weapon was wrenched from her hand,
and site found herself lighting against
him, breast to breast, with the fury of
desperation. His wine burdened breath
Item into her face, and she fell herself
bound to lil in as though by hoops,
while the touch of his cheek against
hers turned her Into a terrified, Insom
sate animal which fought with every
ounce of Its strength and every nerve
of Its body. She screamed once, but It
was 1 1 1 ( like the cry of u woman, Then
the struggle went "on In silence and
utter blackness. Struve holding her
like a gorilla till she grew faint and
her head began to whirl, while darling
lights drove past her eyes, and there
was the roar of a cataract In her ears.
That which he witnessed in Iter face
lie had seen before in the faces of men
locked close with a hateful death and
from whom all but the most elemental
passions had departed, but ho bad
never seen a woman bear the marks
till now. o artifice nor falsify was
there, nothing but tho crudest, Inten
sest feeling, which many people live
and die without knowing. There are
few who come to know the great
primitive, passionate longings. Hut In
this black night, lighting In defense of
Iter most sacred self, this girl's nature
had boon stripped to Its purely savage
elements. As Olenlster had predicted,
Helen at last had felt and yielded to
Irresistibly powerful impulse.
(lancing backward at the creature
sprawled by the door, Helen went to
her brother, put her anus about his
neck, and kissed him.
"He's dead 7" the Kid asked her.
She nodded and tried to speak, but
began to shiver and sob instead.
"Unlock the door," lie beuged her.
"I'ni hurt, and I must get In."
When the Kid had hobbled Into the
room she pressed him to her and lrnk
ed his matted head regardless of his
muddy, soaking garments.
"I mil?! look ut him. He may not bo
badly hurl," said the Kid.
"llon't touch him!" She followed,
nevertheless, and stood near by while
her brother examined bis victim.
Struve was breathing, and. discover
ing this, the others lifted him with dif
ficulty to the couch.
"Something cracked in hero ribs, I
guess," the Kid remarked, gasping and
feeling Ills own side. He was weak
and pale, and the girl led him Into the
bunkrooni where he could lie down.
(Inly his wonderful determination had
sustained him thus far. and now the
know ledge of his helplessness served
to pi event Helen's collapse.
The Kid would not hear of her go
ing for help till the storm abated or
dnyllghti came, insisting that the trails
were too treacherous and that no tltno
could be saved by doing so. Thus they
waited for tho dawn. At last they
heard the wounded man faintly call
ing, lie -poke to Helen" hoarsely.
There was no malice, only fear, In his
tones:
"1 said this was my madness-mid I
got what, I deserved, but I'm going to
die. ( Hod I'm going to die, and I'm
afraid." lie moaned til) the Hronco
Kid hobbled in, glaring with unquoneh
ed hatred.
"Yes, you're going to die, ami 1 did
1 It. Ho game, can't you 7 k nha'n't let
her go for help until daylight."
Helen forced her brother back to his
conch, and returned to help the wound
ed man, who grow Incoherent and be
gan to babble.
A little later, when the Kid seemed
stronger and his head clearer. Helen
ventured to loll him of Ihcir uncle's
villainy and of the proof she hold, with
her hope of restoring justice. She told
him of the attack planned that very
night and of (he danger which threat
ened the minors. He questioned her
eloMily and. realizing the hearing of
her story, crept to the door, eiistlug
ihe wind like a liotlud.
"We'll have to risk It," said he.
'The wind Is almost gone ami It's not
long till daylight."
Sho pleaded to o alone, but ho was
firm. "I'll never leae jou again, and.
' moreover. I know the lower trail
quite well. We'll go down the gulch
I to the valley and reach imvn that
way. It's farther, but It's not so
dangerous."
"Von can'; ride," she Insisted.
"l can it you'll tie me into the sad
aie. come, get the hones."
It was still pitchy dn;k and the rain
was pouring, but tho wln-1 only sig'ioJ
weakly, as though tiled by Its Ij
lence, when she helped the Hronco Into
his saddle. Tho effort wrenched a
groan from him, but he insisted upon
her tying Ills feet beneath lhe( horse's
belly, saying that the trail was rough
and ho could take no 'chance of fall
ing again: so, having performed the
last services she might for Struve, she
mounted her own animal and allowed
It to pick its way down the steep de
scent behind her brother, who swayed
ami lurched drunkcnly In bin seat,
gripping tho horn before him with
both hands.
They had been gone perhaps a half
hour when. another horse plunged furi
ously out of the darkness and halted
before the roadhouse door. Ha rider,
mud stained and disheveled, flung
himself In mad baste to tho ground
and bolted In through the door. He
saw tho signs of confusion in tho out
er room, chairs upset and broken, tho
toble wedged against tho stove and be
fore tho counter a shattered lamp iu
a pool of oil. He called loudly, but,
receiving no unswer, snatched n light
which he found burning and ran to
the door at his left. Nothing greeted
him but (he empty tiers of bunks.
Turning, he crossed to the other side
and burst through. Another lamp was
lighted beside the couch where Struvo
Iny, breathing henvily, his lids half
closed over his staring eyes. Hoy
noted' the pool of blood at his feet and
the broken window; then, setting down
Ills lamp, he leaned over tho man and
spoke to him.
When he received no answer he
spoke again loudly. Then, In a frenzy,
Glenlster shook the wounded man
cruelly, so that ho cried out In terror:
"I'm dying oil, I'm dying." - Hoy
raised the sick man up and thrust his
own face before his eyes.
"This is Olenlster. I've come for
Helen where Is sho?" A. spark of
recognition flickered into the dull stare.
"You're too late I'm dying and Tin
afraid."
His questioner shook Struvo again.
"Where is sho?" he repeated, time
after lime, till by very force of bis
own insistence lie eouqoHed realiza
tion in the sufferer.
"The Kid took her away. Tho Kid
shot me." And then ids voice rose til!
it Hooded the room with (error. "Tin,
Kid shot me. and I'm dying." He
coughed blood to bis lips, nt which
Koy laid him back and stood up. So
there was no mistake, after all, and bo
had arrived too late. This was tho
Kid's revenge. This was how ho
struck. Lacking courage to face a
man's level eyes, he possessed the foul
ness to prey upon a Woman. Koy fell
a weakening physical sickness sweep
over him till his eye fell upon a sodden
garment which Helen had removed
from her brother's shoulders ji ml re
placed with u dry one. lit .snatched
It from the lloor and lu a sudden fury
fell it come apart iu bis hands like
wet tissue paper.
He found himself out in the rain,
scanning fi-wv trampled soil by light of
his lamp, and discerned tracks which
the drizzle bad not yet erased. He
reasoned mechanically that t lie two
riders ould have no great start of him.
so strode out beyoiid the house to see
if they bad gone farther Into the hills.
There were no tracks here, therefore
they must have doubled back toward
town. It did not occur to him that
they might have left the beaten path
ami followed down the little creek to
the river: but. replacing the light
where be had found it, he leniounted
and lashed his horse Into a stiff cantor
up toward the, divide thai lay between
him and the city. The story was grow
ing plainer to him. though as yet he
tuosig'i d
.1 Is. ; . i-
;.t ll"J t.
irJ tow .r.l
growing guy
measure no .
do. Even t
upon his phy !c I
lief, however, ;'
fed upon hlui v ..
Helen In the g v.:'. .
while the ho::e, ;;
tor's violontv, pi.. .
the roofs of N.uc. .w v
iu the first dawn.
If seemed years s'nee Hoy had .'o !
tho sunlight, for this n'''.it, burdened
with suspense. h-t.I L.v.i e.i.llessly long.
His body Was faint beneath the strain,
and yet ho rode on and on. tired, dog
gel, 'stony, his eyes sot toward the sea,
his mind n storm of formless, whirling
thoughts, beneath which was an undo
viatlng, Implacable determination.
mmmmmT
Women as Well as Men Are. ra
Miserable by Kidney an
Bladder Trouble.
Kidney trouble preys iqion the mind,
discourages and lcssensauibitiou; beauty
vigor and oliccriul
uess soon liapiear
when the kidneys ar
out of o-'ler or dis-'
eased.
Kidney trouble lion
l)CCome so prevalent
that it is not uncom
mon for a child to Ik;
born nfllicled with
weak kidneys. If the
childurinatestoooften, if the urine. scalds
the flesh, or if. when the child reaches tin
He knew now Hint lie had sacrificed agc when it should be able to control tin:
passage, 11 IS Ji. u nil" mu-w-
ting, depend upon it, thecausoof thedifli
culty is kidney trouble, and the first
step should be towards thi treatment of
these imporlantorgnns. This unpleasant
trouble is due to a diseased condition of
the kidneys and bladder and not to a
habit as most cople suppose.
Women as well ns men are made miser
able with kidney ' and bladder trouble,
and both need the same great remedy.
The mild and the immediate elTect of
Swamo-Root is soon realized. It is sold
by druggists, in hfty
cettl and one-dollar i
size bottles. Yow may I
have a sample bottle
by mail free, also a Homo cf Bwwnp-ltoot.
pamphlet telling all about Swamp-Root,
including many of the thousands of testi
monial letters received from .sufferer
cured. In writing Dr. Kilmer & Co.
Binghamton, N. Y., be sure and mentioi
this paper. Don't make any mistake
but remember the name, Swamp-Root
Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Root, and the ad
dress, Ilinghaintoii, N. , on every
bottle.
could not piece it all together. Its
possibilities stabbed him with such
horror that be cried out aloud and beat
his steed Into faster time with both
hands and I'ceC To think of lho-e two
rufllaiM fighting over this girl as though
she were the spoils of pillltge! He
must overtake the Kid- he would! Tho
possibility tjiat lie might not threw
hhn Into such ungovernable menial
chaos that lie was forced to calm him
self. .Men went mad that way. He
could not think of it. Thai gasping
creature in the roadhouse spoke all too
well of the Hronco's determination.
And yet, who of those who had known
tho Kid lu Ihe past would dream that
his viloness was so utter as this?
Away to the right, hidden among the
shallowed bills, bis friends rested
themselves for the coming battle, wait
ing impatiently his return and timing
it to the rising sun. Down lu the val
ley to Ids left were tho two lie follow
ed, while he, obsessed anil unreason
ing, now cursing like a madman, now
grim and slleutspurred southward to
ward town and Into tho ranks of his
enemies.
nl! hope of the Midas, and likewise the
hope of Helen was gone; lu fact, he
began to realize dimly Hint from the
beginning ho laid never had the possi
bility of winning her, that she had
never been destined for him and that
his love for her had been sent as a
light by which he was to find himself.
Ho had fulled everywhere; lie had be
come an outlaw; he had fought and
gone down, certain only of his recti
tude and the mastery of his unruly
spirit. Now the hour had come when
he would perforin his last mission, de
riving therefrom that satisfaction
which the gods could not deny. He
would have his vengeance.
The scheme took form wmiowc cot.
sclous effort' on his part and embraced
two things the dentil of the gambler
and a meeting with McXnmarn. Of
the former, he had no more doubt than
(hat the sun rising there would sink
in the west. So well continued wns
Ibis belief that the details did not en
gage his thought; but on the result of
the other encounter he speculated with
some Interest. From the first MeN'n
mura had been a riddle to him, and
mystery breeds curiosity, nis blind,
Instinctive hatred of the man had as
sumed tho proportions of a mania; but
as to what tho outcome would be when
they met face to face, fate alone could
(ell. Anyway, McXnmnru should never
hnve Helou Itoy believed Ills mission
covered that point ns well as her de
liverance from (he Hronco Kid. When
he had finished, ho would pay the
price. If ho had tho luck to escape,
he would go back to his hills and his
solitude; if lie did not. his future would
be In the hands of his enemies.
He entered the silent streets unob
served, for the nilsls were heavy and
low. Smoke columns arose vertically
in the still air. The rain had ceased,
having beaten down the waves which
rumbled against the beach, tilling tho
si roots with their subdued thunder. A
ship anchored In the oiling, had run
in from the lee or Sledge Island with
Ihe lirsl lull, while midway to the
shote a tender was rising and falling,
its oars Hashing like the silvered
feelers of a sea Insect crawling upon
the surlaco oi tho ocean.
He rode down Front street heedless
of danger, heedless of the comment his
appearance might create, and, unseen,
entered his enemy's stronghold. He
passed a gambling hall, through the
windows of which canto a slckl.v yel
low gleam. A man canto out un
steadily and stiirod at the horseman,
tlu'ii n.tssod on.
(ilcnlster's plan was to gi stralgiu to
the Northern and from (hole to track
down its owner relentlessly, bill In
order to, roach (he place his course led
hint past the ollh-e of Dunham
Struvo. Tills brought back to his mind
l ho limit dying out there ten miles at
bis back. The .scantiest humanity de
manded that assistance be sent at
once. Yet be dared not give word
openly, thus betraying bis presence, for
It was necessary that ho maintain his
liberty during the next hour at all haz
ards, lie suddenly thought of an ex
pedient and reined lu his horse, which
stopped with wide spread legs and de
jected head while lie dismounted and
climbed the stairs to leave a note upon
"" JWS ir
HroHffoLsl 7NiMliMii
HBkrfPmni immMBMmtpti
V!Vt9V H 1 li 1 1 RJPI'tpB B ft ll J
j, ; j. mi'Eig ff- tijt7iHi fflwoM "-jjfCt ""A
Typlcul Tarm Sccno, Showing Stnrk Rnlgtuc i
WESTERN CANADA
Sotno of the choicest lands for grain trrowlnu
stock rnlsln;: and mixed farming in the new dis
trlcts of Saskatchewan and Alberta have re
cently been OiM'iM'rt for Settlement under Ihe
Revised Homestead Regulations
fc'ntry may now be ui.ido by proxy (on certain
conditions), by tho father, mother, son, daughter
brother, or sister of an Intending homesteader
Thousnnds of homesteads of lti) nercs each urn
thus now c.isily available In these jrrent cralr
growlntf, Mock-ralslui; and mled farming sec
tions. There you will find healthful climate. sool
neighbors churches for family worship, school.!
for your children, good laws, splendid crops
and railroadu convenient to market.
. Kntry fee In each case Is S10.00. For pamphtcr
"Last Best West," particulars as to rates, roateh.
best Umo to co and where to locate, apply to
W. V HKNNKTT
801 New York Life Hide;., t )tnnhnuKcb.
Canadian Government Av.vn
Mercer's
Barber Shop
i
Basement of
Potter Block.
Massaging
a Specialty
the door. Some cute would see the
message hortly and recognize Its
urgencv.
,-'' TO HE CONTINUED.
City Dray and Express Line
-3i.
F. W. STUDEBAKKR, TROr.
Goods Delivered to any part of the city.
Charges as low as the Lowest
CITY
Residence 188.
AGENTS FOR ADAAS EXPRESS GO
TELEPHONES,
Offieng.
D
PHAPTKU XXI.
AY was breaking as (tlonlster
came down theniotiutalu. With
the llrsl light he halted to
scan the trail, and, having no
means of knowing that the fresh tracks
ho found were not those of the two
riders he followed, he urged his lather
ed horse ahead till he became suddenly
conscious, that he was very tired and
had not slept for two days and nights.
The recollection did not reassure tho
young man, for his body was a weapon
wukli must not ltdi in tho slighted
JihtibvlfifavfaibilUi&Uoiriiit4ii
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least as low, as those of our competit
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of and protect all cau be clti6sod as
R E G U L,A R CUSTOMERS.
Kt
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Coal. Lumber.
'T
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f-
tr.
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against Fire. Lightning, Cy
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5
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