Southern States -- History -- 1865-1877 -- Fiction; Young men -- Fiction
When the sleeve was removed it was found that Keith's arm was broken
just above the elbow, and the blood was pouring from two small wounds.
Terpy levied imperiously on the other passengers for handkerchiefs;
then, not waiting for their contributions, suddenly lifting her skirt,
whipped off a white petticoat, and tore it into strips. She soon had the
arm bound up, showing real skill in her surgery. Once she whispered a
word in his ear--a single name. Keith remained silent, but she read his
answer, and went on with her work with a grim look on her face. Then
Keith mounted his box against the remonstrances of every one, and the
passengers having reëntered the stage, Wickersham drove on into Gumbolt.
His manner was more respectful to Keith than it had ever been before.
Within a half-hour after their arrival the sheriff and his party, with
Dave Dennison at the head of the posse, were on their horses, headed for
the scene of the "hold-up." Dave could have had half of Gumbolt for
posse had he desired it. They attempted to get some information from
Keith as to the appearance of the robber; but Keith failed to give any
description by which one man might have been distinguished from the rest
of the male sex.
"Could they expect a man to take particular notice of how another looked
under such circumstances? He looked like a pretty big man."
Wickersham was able to give a more explicit description.
The pursuers returned a little after sunrise next morning without having
found the robber.
CHAPTER XV
MRS. YORKE MAKES A MATCH
The next day Keith was able to sit up, though the Doctor refused to let
him go out of the house. He was alone in his room when a messenger
announced that a woman wished to see him. When the visitor came up it
was Terpy. She was in a state of suppressed excitement. Her face was
white, her eyes glittered. Her voice as she spoke was tremulous
with emotion.
"They're on to him," she said in a husky voice. "That man that comed
over on the stage with you give a description of him, this mornin', 't
made 'em tumble to him after we had throwed 'em off the track. If I ever
git a show at him! They knows 'twas Bill. That little devil Dennison is
out ag'in."
"Oh, they won't catch him," said Keith; but as he spoke his face
changed. "What if he should get drunk and come into town?" he
asked himself.
"If they git him, they'll hang him," pursued the girl, without heeding
him. "They're all up. You are so popular.
"Me?" exclaimed Keith, laughing.
"It's so," said the girl, gravely. "That Dave Dennison would kill
anybody for you, and they're ag'in' Bill, all of 'em."
"Can't you get word to him?" began Keith, and paused. He looked at her
keenly. "You must keep him out of the way.'
"He's wounded. You got him in the shoulder. He's got to see a doctor.
The ball's still in there."
"I knew it," said Keith, quietly.
The girl gazed at him a moment, and then looked away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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