The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-10-24
BY II. s. cANFlELD

Maude glowered at her, his SHARP
teeth meeting upon his black nous
tache. Then he raised his right hand
half threateningly and said:
1T seems singular thing to me
Miss English, that the rascal could
have deceived you so completely as to
his condition. You are said to have
some medical knowledge as we'll as
mere mechanical skill. 1t seems
strange that in the nighttime he could
have found his way SO readily to the
9un-room in another part of the house
and distracted his own weapon in the
dark from the midst of dozens OF
other weapons hanging there. His
pistol was not gone on the morning
before his flight, for l saw it myself.
Therefore he must have taken time to
secure it on the night of mis- sudden
departure-unless," more slowly still,
cit was brought to him by some one.
He was handsome fellow, and is no
doubt responsible for a dozen broken
hearts among the Mexican bellies along
the river"
Now, Maude had planned this at
tack while nursing his bruise, but he
had mistaken utterly the temper of the
woman with whom he had to deal.
With one side Of her many-faced char
-acter he was unacquainted and this
was her sense of humor. His clumsy
attempt to terrorize struck her as dis
dnctly funny, and, because he loved
her and she knew that he loved her,
the game was in her hands. So she
looked at him with every appearance
of earnestness and said:
Il know nothing Of Mr.. Weston's
Typographical knowledge, or of the
manner in which he obtained posses
sion Of his weapon, but certainly he
vas the most beautiful man l have
ever known, with most beautiful
voice and beautiful manners. Reck-
less he was, but am sure he was not
dishonest and he had splendid
strength and courage. I came within
IN ace of falling in love with him
myself and I am not sure that if he
asked me would not have shared his
digit to the nearest Mexican parson-
age and be now a sH,uggler's bride. I
regret his absence more than l can
cay"
Maude looked at her placid face,
then marked a lurking devil of laugh
ter in her reddish hazel eyes and NUT
'tered curse. He saw that he was
tossing ground rapidly and changed
front:
"Of course, Miss English" he said
easily and gsnially, che made his es-
cape unaided. 1t was easy enough.
Indeed If, unfortunately Tor me, 1 had
not been in his way, his progress to
freedom and thievery would have been
sundelayed."
EYES," she said. "News of the flight
vas sent to Fort Clark next day. Did
you hear what Captain Harding said?"
NO." Maude replied incautiously,
what did he say?" ....
"He said: Good enough! Next time
I meet him hope he will be hurt
I'm fair fight"
dhe ex-cavalryman, without another
word, wheeled and left her She looked
after him musingly, with dash of tri-
'umph in her face. She knew that now
he was even more willing to work her
harm, but she cared nothing. Her
heart was sore and, womanlike, she
enjoyed making some one pay for it,
The week which had passed since the
flight of her lover had seemed month
in length to her. She found herself
thinking Of him every waking mo-
ment, picturing to herself his face,
his voice, his pose, his gesture, and
now and then wave Of crimson stole
TO her cheeks as memory of his ca
ress came to her. Work in the school
room seemed intolerable in its irk-
someness; the prattle at meal times
the most inane drivel possible to en-
dure. Even Allyn was hateful in her
sight and she avoided him when nos
.sible. Indeed, her lengthy passage at
arms with Maude was not Of her seek
ing. y He had met her as she was re-
turning from stroll, met her at some
distance from the house and ranged
alongside her in his usual assured
manner. To show how very much in
dove she was it 10 necessary to men
ton only that she had visited" Wes-
toms room on the morning after. his
tight, hoping to, find some token of
him. It HAD been pretty narrowly
searched by the excited males, but in
one corner, under pile Of old maya
zines she had lent to him, she found a
single spur. It was not an attractive
object, dulled from use and rusted
from the river, but It was now locked
In her escritoire along with her most
precious and secret belongings. She
had held It In her hands often and
Thought OF the wild night rides upon
which It had been, and .snuddered at
the perils which had encompassed him,
and prayed feyerishly. for his return.
y Indeed, It would have needed only hia
zones and presence TO persuade her to
lp8wtth him, whether hs had mefided
his somewhat erInnt x1ys 81 rot. To
\ Aach q pass had u strong. proud; re-
I DofyNd cold maiden come. ~ "a. Z. &. 81