The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-01-19
CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XII.
Mrs. McLane," Merriam was saying
at the moment, interrupting the plead
ing, weeping woman who was clinging
to his arm, lit is useless to talk of it.
Had you let me know why you wished to
see me, all the pain of this meeting
could have been avoided. Every paper
had was given to Mr.. Parry, your law
yer. months ago. | know less about the
matter, probably, than you do; and
now. forgive me, but must go at once"
Almost furcibly he drew her clasping
hands from his arm. and turning sharp
~ and without another word 10 the
Bringing woman, FASTENED on through
the narrow pathway that led between
Grai't0n's cottage and that to the east
ward, and presently emerged again into
the moonlight at the back Of the house,
going straight to the captains stable.
For moment his late companion stood
there at the trellis, staring after him in
mingled misery and incredulity. She
mad planned it well. She had marked
his coming just as Grafton had said, had
tween the quarters and hated him
lhere-astonished at her daring. lie
would have walked a dozen miles that
night rather than see her at all, but to
meet her this way, to feel that he was
trapped, made Merriams blood boil
with wrath. His voice. though, was
stern and cold as he babe her say why
she wished to see him. But her aim was
to detain, to soften, to charm aud then
TO plead, and she had a dreadful. dread
full story TO tell and none to tell it to
but him. Even then she was baked, for
Merriam b.untly babe her omit the
story, as he knew nj he needed to know.
and come to the point at once. What
could she want of him? Adyice-sym-
pathy, she cried; and for advice lie re-
ferred her to her lawyer-fOr sympathy
she must not cune to him. She must
have some purpose in calling on him
what was it? And then it proved to be
the packet with certain papers, given
him by the young miner in the Mes
calero. ut was turned over to your
lawyer long ago." said Randy: and then
she burst into tears and said she was
undone, and wailed: "Oh, Randy. Ran
dy! what can What am to do?" And
he suggested gravely, conrteously, but
positively, that she should at once 90
indoors, while he went on his way.
His heart was bitter against her as he
strobe ont beyond the fence line, and, aft
ercarefu!ly inspecting the doors of Graf
toms stable, he closed and locked the
gate. lie wished now more than ever
to hurry on westward and enter his own.
little home and surprise Florence.
with grateful eyes he had noted the
parlor lights and interpreted them as
Indicating that she must be well over
The unreasoning stage of this her first,
and he prayed God. her last. Jealous
trouble. lie turned toward his own
gate, intending only to glance at the
other stables on the way and give the
sentry additional orders; but when he
got so far toward the western End of the
row as to enable him to distinguish any |
object as big as a man he found TO his |
'exation that there was no sentry there
It all, and that he must retrace his |
'teps and look for him toward the other
nd. 1t was backward tramp of over
100 yards, and he was irrtated enough
o feel like scoring the sentry when
lnaily he came upon him.
you shouldn't he here, sir" he be-
AN, after the customary challenge and
ep'y. Where you are mnNt needed is
"ong toward the other END, where here
ire private horses in ililnsy stables"
Il know, sir, said the sult!Ger, PROMPT
y but there's something amiss out
here on the road toward town. heard
seufht aud cries for help. and then
INNING down into the creek bottom.
The corporafs gone out to see. I'm
fraid there's been blood spit, sir"
And even as they stood AID listened,
he still night air was split by the loud