Page 250 (1/1)

"I never dreamed that it was you here, Billy," she went on "I cae I wanted to know if he escaped, or if--if--oh, this awful country! They think no more of human life here than a butcher thinks of the life of the aniht illumined Billy's e's Penelope! The woman he loved was loved by his best friend And she had sent a er to him, to Billy, to save her lover She had coer--a ht an outlaw and a robber--because she could not rest without word from the man she loved Billy stiffened He was hurt to the bottoe--it was fate Nor did he blae was uy Billy was only a ht," he said "And say, he didn't have nothin' to do with pullin' off that safe crackin' I done it myself He didn't knoas in town an' I didn't knoas there He's the squarest guy in the world, Bridge is He follered ht an' took a shot at ht but not knowin' I was ot my horse, an' when he found it was et-away, fer he knew Villa's ht ood pals--he couldn't do nothin' else It was hi your pony back to you It's in the corral now, I reckon I was a-bringin' it back when they got o This ain't no place fer you, an' I ain't had no sleep fer so long I'm most dead" His tones were cool He appeared bored by her co with love for her--love that he believed unrequited--and he yearned to tear loose his bonds and crush her in his arms

It was Barbara's turn now to be hurt She drew herself up

"I am sorry that I have disturbed your rest," she said, and walked away, her head in the air; but all the way back to the ranchhouse she kept repeating over and over to herself: "Tomorrow they will shoot him! Tomorrow they will shoot him! Tomorrow they will shoot him!"