Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-06
when he was free again. and he fetched his

when he was free again. and he fetched his
breath in some deliberation.
Are you hurt?' Lucille said anxiously.
How could you do such a wild thing? You
might have been drowned"
Jones came up and stood between her and
Dangerfeld. hand upon each bride. He
was sim little breathless, and the lantern
dangled at his wrist.
Il had to see If 1t were fordable," he said
coolly. 1T is-if lead the horses, and we
go slow. You can't ride over without n
guide; and may be caught by the flood IL
you stand on the banks all night. and 1 sup
pose IN the only one OF US who knows the
crossing by Its feel to the foot. / am going
to get you home, Miss Allin "
Not a a risk to yourself l forbid it,"
the girl said
You don't think 1 would let you stay
here?' Jones said Danger to me! Not
bit of 1t, Miss Alln; You will be snug at
home in an hour, laughing at this. But be-
fore we cross, have a word TO say to Mr..
Dangerfield"
He lifted his hand and let the lantern hang
before his upturned face, which was close
to Dangerfields saddle bow. Every feature
showed wildly, and the other man, meet
ing the challenge of his eyes, paled and
shrank back with an oath
What about the reprobate of the Mel
bourne riverside, Cousin Charles Danger
field?" said Jones, the groom What
about the scamp whose depravity was to
make him deliberately forego his patri-
mony? What of the son whose hardened
him?''
He stopped, and Dangerfield's breathing
was audible even in the stir of the storm.
The yarn was a good one" MaIlow said
1T might be amusing. but that, If it has
foundation OF fact, you have come within
an ace OF seVering my father and me for
ever: Is it true that he has sent me his
forgiveness?"
Dangerfed made no reply He WAS FOO
stricken to speak.
Il have counted myself an outcast for
hVe years, Mallow went on. Il have kept
away, deliberately, from an equality with
people OF my own standing, because | for
1elted my position when | went against my
fathers will, and 1 had no wish to return
II 1t could not be as son. l was young
fool, but God knows If l have been head
strong and disobedient l have paid for
my folly. And now, you say, my father
forgiyes me? / am his son again?"
sun no answer. Lucille, trembling, laid
hand on her guests arm.
Have you nothing to say?" she said, and
she seemed to the two men TO hold the
scales of justice between them.
The man is an impostor," Dangerfeld
muttered thickly al the last
Very WELL" Mallow said, stepping for
ward with Miss Ailin's mare. Il cable home
tomorrow and settle my question. / have
waited long time. i can wait for an
other day to learn my fate And II YOU
have nothing more than that to say, Cousia
Charles, you can sit upon this bank TIL
morning and consider how my temperance
affects you If the flood rises You must take
your chance at sink or swim. For Tm-I'u
be hanged if take you across, while you
call me fraud. That / can disprOve with
out difficulty by referring you to one or
two friends of mine in this colony: and
meanwhile you had better stay here till
we come out to pick up the pieces in day
light
He moved into the stream. and the water
rushed over his boots. A fiercer blast than
before swept through the sheoaks uprooted
the trunk of one of them. and sent it crash
Ing into the roof of the shepherds hut. The
lesser wreckage, boughs and branches
scattered itself along the bank: twig
struck Dangerffeld's hat from his head. and
tore cash from his forehead to his cheek
The racing stream surged at the bank. His
horse gave a squeal Of terror, and MalloW
looked back.
You'd better get under cover such as it
is,' he said. Or will you cross with me
and be shot of the danger? Come. Am /
Herries Mallow or am l not?"
You brute! Dangerfield said. He was
unnerved by the shock of the encounter
and dizzy with the pain of his wound, and
his voice had the despair of terror in It.
You can't leave me here! Miss Allin, tell
him l must cross
rs he your cousin?" said Lucille; and
her tone, too, was relentless.
Dangerfield broke down utterly.
He is!' he sobbed. He is-and-curse
him for it,
Mallow reached back and caught the
mans bride. He advanced into the creek
without another word, and Lucille busted
herself for the first twenty feet of the pas