The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-25

IOOA0 - SA1AA VII 49, ASe>~-
but I'm not afraid to trust myself 10
you. I've proved that, haven't I,
by giving away the story2 I might
have invented one, you know
II have little sympathy with de-
serters,' said McDougal gravely,
"but since you are one it is just as
we'll that you should acknowledge
it. 1t might be awkward to have it
come out later, and, he added gen,
erous]y, "there may have been eX-
tenuating circumstances. !"
"The circumstances were these: l
was color sergeant in the Eighty
third. The colonel had a pretty
niece stopping with him. A lot of
the fellows were in love with her,
and she liked them all, me among
the rest. Three nights ago she dis
appeared, and, unfortunately, I dis
appeared the same night. Her
friends kept it quiet from the camp
until her body was accidentally
found in creek the next afternoon.
Then when got back that night one
of the fellows told me the story and
the rumor that connected my name
with it. He advised me to skip,
which l did, and here l am, 200
miles from the scene of action and
at your service. I"
$50 far there seems to be very lit
tie that is extenuating," said the
older man sternly. "If you had
nothing to do with the girls death,
you could surely prove it. -
"Well, no, that was the worst of
it. You see, there had been a party
of Apaches camping near us during
the spring, and Nita-Nita was a
beauty. Not such pretty face
you know, Apaches aren't hand
some, as rule = but arms and
shoulders!''
McDougal frowned, and the boy
went on. "You see, the Indians were
going to break camp, and I had to
see Nita once more. l did see her,
and the time passed-you've no idea
and when I left her the tribe had
already started, and she had to ride
hard to catch them. So, you see, l
couldn t prove an alibi if cared to. !"
"Who killed the girls" asked Nc
Dougal.
ooh, Maud killed herselfl I'm
dead sure of that. In fact, she said
she meant to, but / didn't believe
her at the time. +"
McDougal looked at his companion
sternly. "How did she looka" he
said.
Handsome, some thought" an
swered the narrator. "Too dark to
suit me, except at first. thought
her eyes were fine, and they were,
too," he admitted in a generous
burst, especially when she was ex-
cited"
This description gave McDougal
distinct relief. At least it was not
the drowned girls wrath he had
seen on the mesa.
That night when Desmond-Duane
Desmond he had given as his name
had retired, McDougal sat ponder
ing over the events Of the afternoon.
He believed the boys story. That
he was morally responsible for the
girls death he believed too. He had
himself admitted as much, but the
amour with the Indian girl seemed
TO be uppermost in his mind, and
even as McDougal sat there he could
hear her name babbled by the fool
ish lips in sleep.
To Kenneth McDougal this sort of
moral delinquent was Incompetent
sible, but as the days went by he
grew to like the handsome, boyish
fellow. A month passed, and the un-
eventful life grew unbearable to
Desmond, SO one evening as they sat
smoking outside the cabin door he
announced: II can't stand it any
longer, McDougal. This internal
loneliness is enough to drive one to
suicide or drink. You've been aw-
fully good, and appreciate it, but 1
can't stand the stiffness of the
place.
McDougal had noticed the restless
ness of his guest and was not unpre-
pared for this outbreak. Neverthe-
less when it came he felt as though
a shadow he had long been conscious
of was settling about him. For some
moments he smoked on in silence
before he said gravely, II know it is
lonely, Desmond, and I can quite
understand how it must be almost
unendurable to nature like yours,
but have you thought of the danger
that threatens you when you leave
this safe retreatl"
Eyes. have thought of that, of
course, replied Desmond impatient
ly, "but if I'm to be hung for a
crime I never committed then I'm
to be hung, but I've got to see Nita
again if l swing for it, You sec, my
time would have been out in two
months, and | intended to follow the
tribe into Oregon. Nita described
the route tkev were to take. and now