Louisiana Lou: A Western StoryWinter, William West
General
Louisiana Lou: A Western Story
Winter, William West
Western stories
Solange turned at once and ran out to seek the driver of the dog team.
The dogs lay about in the road but the man was not visible. She
hastily burst into the saloon again in the hope of finding him there.
The signs of conflict had been removed and men were once more lined up
before the rude bar, discussing the fight in low voices.
They fell silent when Solange entered and most of them took off their
hats, although they had all been puzzled to explain her connection
with the event and her actions before it had come off.
She paid no attention to them but swept the crowd looking for the
newcomer. He saved her the trouble of identifying him by coming
forward.
"Ma'am," he said, with great embarrassment, "I'm Snake Murphy and I
was grubstakin' that ornery coyote that Louisiana just beefed. I come
in to-night with that dog team and I reckon that, accordin' to law,
this here claim of Jim's belongs to me now that he's dead. But I wants
to say that I ain't robbin' no women after they come all the way
across the ocean to find this here mine and--well--if half of it'll
satisfy you, it's yours!"
Solange seized him by the arm.
"You are the man with the dogs?" she cried.
"Yes ma'am."
"Then--you keep the mine--all of it, I do not want it. But you will
let us have the dogs that we may take Monsieur de Launay to the
hospital? We must have the dogs. The mine--that is yours if you
agree!"
Snake Murphy broke into a grin. "Why, ma'am, shore you're welcome to
the dogs. This here Louisiana shot me up once--but damned if I stands
fer no one shootin' him from behind a woman that a way. Come on, and
we'll fix the sled!"
A few minutes later Solange had resumed her watch beside De Launay
while, outside, Sucatash and Murphy were busy unloading the sled and
getting it ready for the wounded man.
De Launay slept, apparently. Solange sat patiently as the long hours
passed. At intervals he muttered in his sleep and she listened.
Fragments of his life formed the subject of the words, incoherent and
disconnected. She caught references to the terrible years of existence
as a légionnaire and later snatches of as terrible scenes of warfare.
Once he spoke more clearly and his words referred to her.
"Morgan _la fée_!--promised to be something interesting--more than
that--worth living, perhaps, after all."
She dropped her hand over his and he clutched it, holding fast. After
that he was quiet, sleeping as easily as could be expected.
In the morning the doctor examined him again and said that the trip
might be taken. De Launay awoke, somewhat dazed and uncertain but
contented, evidently, at finding Solange at his side. He had fever but
was doing very well.
Solange gave him broth, and as he sipped it he looked now and then at
her. Something seemed to be on his mind. Finally he unburdened
himself.
"I was planning to save you the divorce," he said. "But I probably
will get well. It is too bad!"
"Why too bad?" asked Solange, with eyes on broth and spoon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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