The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-02-07
CHAPTER XVI.

noon when the sheriff nut Ronald down
at home. Dave had ridden close be-
hind the buggy oil the way. Now and
tAen. when passing some acquaintance
on the road or In q distant field. he
would wave his slouched hat and give
Q yell that would have done credit 10
the lungs Of q savage. When they ar.
rived at home he fastened the bride
reins 10 q post and sprapQ over the
fence into the yard. Old Fanshaw sat
uoddinR, half asleep, on the porch in
spot where the last rays Of the slant
Ing sunIight were falling; he was we'll
vrapped up in . ragged greatcoat and
wore 3 cap, the flaps Of which GOV.
cred his ears.
"Ron's come cleer!" Dave shouted to
him. and seeing his sister at the small.
psned window, he yelled the same words
IN ber.
~ know better" grun,ed Fanshnw.
Who. being short sighted, had not no, ed
tbe arrival of the buggy. "Come clcer
the deyil!"
.Well. thar he Ia out thar with Rat.
clin," Dave assured him. AK the sher-
~. ~ you think I'm alvin"
with n hand nm either eide NJ HE
chair. the old man got 10 his feet. His
legs shook at the knees, and he put HIS
hand on the railing. Then he saw Rom
ala approaching. and he stood stiil, his
features working strangely.
"What's this I bccr 2" he s.ammered,
A. g. --f-f- a...h .lx..f.- T..
tween his tobacco-stnined lips.
"It was proved that he killed himself
accidentally with his own revolver"
our hero informed him.
"Huh, II is jest some lawyers trick!"
growied the man. who had not felt
enough interest In the matter to attend
the trial. and he tottered down the
steps calling In sort OF human bark
to RatcliR, who was driving away. He
wns bent on getting n confirmation OF
the story from some one outside Of his
family.
Ronald passed into the house and
went up to his room. His heart, de-
spite his recent triumph, was beginning
TO feel heavy again. No sooner was he
assured OF freedom than dire thoughts
Of Evelyn came focking 20 his wcaried
brain. lie was free, II was true. but,
she had, no doubt, brought her fathers
wrath down upon he: head. He stood
at a window watching the sunlight
climb up the side Of a rugged cliff mile
toward the east. He heard the shrill
voice OF Ann Josephine out near the
corn house.
"Oh, mai" she was calling, "I,on's
come cleer-Ron's come cleer!"
Our hero could zee his mothers ro-
tund figure as she emerged from the
corn house and waddled towards the
hog-pcn, her apron filled with apples.
saint you iokin', Josie ?" she asked,
and her son wondered ut her cxprcs.
sioriess face.
"No, the sheriff has Jest now fetched
i'm home"
"well, I feel easier" sighed the old
woman. "I'm glad thar amt goin'
to be no hnngin' amongst us. The Lord
knows we've had mighty nigh ever
thing else to happen to US. Ever since
yore gran'pa was put In Jail. I have
looked for yore pa or one O. the boys.
to-"
Ronald turned from the window; his
heart was very heavy. He was thinking
Of Evelyn again, and the gulf between
him and her. All, how he loved her!
He crossed the room and stood nt an
other window from which he could see
the roof OF Carnleigh.
~ am TO blame" he sighed. sadly to
blame; what right had I to allow her
first TO pity, then to love me, when
I have nothing to offcr-nothing. abso-
iutely nothing, and she everything to