“Oh, shoot me and have done with it!”
groaned Bute; “I’d rather be shot than
hanged anyhow.”
“Couldn’t think of it,” replied
the detective, cheerily. “My rule is to
take prisoners alive, so that they can have a fair
trial and be sure that they get justice. I’d
take you the rest of the way in a bed if I could,
but if you can’t sit up, I’ll have to tie
you on. We’ll reach a friend of mine by
daylight, and then you can ride in a wagon, so brace
up.”
This the outlaw did for a time, and then he gave out
utterly and was tied more securely to the pony.
Out of compassion, Brandt thereafter travelled more
slowly; and when the sun was an hour high, he led
his forlorn captives to the house of a man whom he
knew could be depended upon for assistance. After
a rest sufficient to give Bute time to recover somewhat,
the remainder of the journey was made without any
incident worth mentioning, and the prisoners were
securely lodged in jail on the evening of the 24th
of December.
WHAT BRANDT SAW CHRISTMAS EVE
Brandt’s words and effort had had their natural
effect on the mind of Clara Heyward. They proved
an increasing diversion of her thoughts, and slowly
dispelled the morbid, leaden grief under which she
had been sinking. Her new anxiety in regard to
her lover’s fortune and possible fate was a
healthful counter-irritant. Half consciously
she yielded to the influence of his strong, hopeful
spirit, and almost before she was aware of it, she
too began to hope. Chief of all, his manly tenderness
and unbargaining love stole into her heart like a
subtle balm; and responsive love, the most potent
of remedies, was renewing her life. She found
herself counting the days and then the hours that
must intervene before the 25th. On Christmas eve
her woman’s nature triumphed, and she instinctively
added such little graces to her toilet as her sombre
costume permitted. She also arranged her beautiful
hair in the style which she knew he admired. He
might come; and she determined that his first glance
should reveal that he was not serving one who was
coldly apathetic to his brave endeavor and loyalty.
Indeed, even she herself wondered at the changes that
had taken place during the brief time which had elapsed
since their parting. There was a new light in
her eyes, and a delicate bloom tinged her cheeks.
“Oh,” she murmured, “it’s
all so different now that I feel that I can live for
him and make him happy.”
She was sure that she could welcome him in a way that
would assure him of the fulfilment of all his hopes;
but when he did come with his eager, questioning eyes,
she suddenly found herself under a strange restraint,
tongue-tied and embarrassed. She longed to put
her arms about his neck and tell him all—the
new life, the new hope which his look of deep affection
had kindled; and in effort for self-control, she seemed
to him almost cold. He therefore became perplexed
and uncertain of his ground, and took refuge in the
details of his expedition, meanwhile mentally assuring
himself that he must keep his word and put no constraint
on the girl contrary to the dictates of her heart.
