The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-13

ny don you leave, then
She looked down upon him for an in
slant with that hard lightOf anger still
in her eyes. Suddenly she unfastened
the print gown she wore at the throat,
and turning her back to him, stripped
the light dress down over her shoulder
The tender flesh was crossed and re-
crossed with great blue welts. Franklyn
leaped UP with a passionate oath, but
the girl flew at him and pressed her
hand over his lips.
"Husht Hush For Gods sakei 1
ought not to have shown you. You
will bring some one in here"
Franklyn was forced back into his
chair, breathless with rage.
"Who-who- did that?" he demanded.
Uncle. But Hi Conley held me"
Franklyn's face was deadly white.
What was it for?"
Because I tried to run away. 1t
was day before yesterday" She had
fastened her dress again and was Sob
bling softly. Uncle would let me
have no money to go away and triad
to walk. They caught me after 1 had
gone nearly twenty miles-I had al
most reached Emsden. They brought
me back and-and Uncle Abe did that
with his riding whip. II can not
stand such treatment; I am coward
she was trembling now and half-faint-
L
told ANYBODY"
Franklyn got up. leaving his dinner
scarcely tasted. IF you will let me
help you, 1 swear you shall get away
from this place." he said.
II am afraid of uncle Abe and Hi.'
"Ill get you away if there were a
dozen uncle Abes and Conleys. There
are legal meanS-even in a community
like this-to force them to give you
- IL
is your legal GUARDIAN"
Rose nodded.
And how old are you?"
Seventeen
'.And to be tied to that scoundrelr'
muttered FRANKLIN. There was the
sound of a gruff voice in the outer
room. He recognized it as Conley's.
Rose shrank away, the terror coming
back into her eyes.
Keep up your heart whispered the
engineer. I'll make my plans see a
lawyer, and tell you what steps to take
when 1 come back the next time" Then
he lounged out into the barroom, paid
his score to Abe, nodded to Conley and
set out for the lumber camp.
When he got back to Bannock's it
was nearly dark. He saw Rose no
where about the house, although he
loitered a moment or two; but upon
going down to his ice-boat a little fig
ure crept out of the bushes and spoke
to him.
as it you, Rose?"
yes" she whispered. He could
scarcely see her face, but the fact that
she stood so near him thrilled him
strangely. He had begun by plying
the girl, but he found himself wonder
ing if he should end by falling in love
with her.
I'll do what I can for you before I
come up next time" he said, and he
spoke more coldly than he intended.
She shrank back little.
IL only wanted to tell you that
that if you can bring me any help, it
must be very soon"
''Why?"
because uncle and Hi are deter
mined that the-the matter shall end
quickly. Perhaps they are afraid L
will tell somebody"
You mean that they are going to
get you married right away?"
yes"
How? There's no minister in these
parts now?"
But there's a justice of the peace
up at the Falls, a friend of His. He'll
do it in spite of any objections on my
part
Franklyns jaws came together with
snap. "When?" he asked.
mot for several days, I think. The
justice is away just now"
you'll see me day after tomorrow"
declared the engineer, and moment
later the Ice Wrath SKINNED out into
the river.
"By thunder muttered Franklyn,
after he had started. L wish 1 had
swung her aboard here and carried her
off. She could have taken the train
at the landing for Bangor. But then,
that wouldn't have been fair to her.
1t would have started some evil tongue
to wagging. The legal way is the best
and safest method"
But after he had talked with a law
yer he began to believe that an ''elope-
ment" would have been the best way
out Of the difficulty after all. The
legal process promised to be a long
one, and there was a grave doubt in
Franklyn's mind if Bannock and Hi
Conley would await the pleasure OF the
courts before carrying their own plans
into effect.
He started for Bannock's the follow
ing morning in state of considerable
indecision 1t would be a week or more
before the lawyer could set an order
from the court restraining Abe Ban
mock from exercising further guard
ianship over the girl until the case had
been examined by the judge, and
week was a long time.
When he arrived at the tavern he
saw at ance that something was on
foot. There was a crowd of men
around the door, and within Franklin
saw the petticoats OF two or three
women. He entered the barrooom in
some trepidation.
Abe Bannock was behind the bar, but
IL "a
His wife was doing the honors for the
thirsty crowd.
Halo, Mr.. Franklyn" exclaimed
the tavern-keeper. ''Might-hic-y
glad ter Sc We. Ye're in good season. .
whats up?" demanded the engf-
neer, carelessly, but his heart beat
f2ster-
"Weddin'," said Abe, with satisfac-
ton. M niece's goin ter be married.
JusticeI be-hic!-nere shortly
Franklyn kept a strong hand upon
his emotions and waited.
Its a great day, sir Hope yen Jine
US. Thar's the happy bridegroom over
yander," and the tipsy tavern-keeper
pointed to the figure of Hi Conley loll-
ing upon dirty table across the room.
At his words Hi arose unsteadily and
| looked at Franklin with an ugly light
in his eyes lie was not as drunk as
Abe, but he was the more dangerous.
Eyes, sir! I'm the bridegroom. An
[ reckon 1 kin look out for my wife
too. I want all you fellers to take
notice." he said, waving his hand te
/ the crowd at the bar. Anybody thai
gifts ter shinnying round my wife'll gil
! inter trouble. That goes!"
"Oh, you're all right, Hi" responded
Franklyn with laugh. But he de
sired with a mighty desire to SEIZE
| the fellow by the throat and choke the
breath out of his cowardly body.
Mrs. Abe followed the engineer into
the dining room for a moment.
"I reckon you kin have some dinner
sir" she said. But Resell hat tel
wait on yer. 'Twon't take her long an
'twont hurt her slong's she actin
SO offish." She went to the foot OF TIT