“‘Which the mare is brought up an’ stands thar with her velvet nose in his face; her name’s “Ruth,” after Edson’s sweetheart.  The mare is as splendid as a picture; pure blood, an’ her speed an’ bottom is the wonder of the army.  Usual a hoss is locoed by the smell of blood, but it don’t stampede this Ruth; an’ she stays thar with him as still an’ tender as a woman, an’ with all the sorrow in her heart of folks.  As Edson rubs her nose with his weak hand an’ pets her, he asks me to take this Ruth back to his sweetheart with all his love.

“’"Which now I’m goin’,” he whispers, “no one’s to mention that eepisode of the Pecos an’ the little Mexican girl of Plaza Chico!”

“‘Edson is still a moment; an’ then after sayin’ “Good-by,” he lets on that he desires me to leave him alone with the mare.

“‘"I’ll give Ruth yere a kiss an’ a extra message for my sweetheart,” he says, “an’ then I’ll sleep some.”

“’I camps down outside the ‘doby an’ looks up at the moon an’ begins to let my own thoughts go grazin’ off towards Texas.  It’s perhaps a minute when thar’s the quick crack! of a six-shooter, an’ the mare Ruth r’ars up an’ back’ard ontil she’s almost down.  But she recovers herse’f an’ stands sweatin’ an’ shiverin’ an’ her eyes burnin’ like she sees a ghost.  Shore, it’s over; pore Edson won’t wait; he’s got to his guns, an’ thar’s a bullet through his head.’”

THE END.