Mexico Missouri message., 1903-10-22
cHAPTER xvIII.-contlnued.

Il
~The deputies?" Dolores repeated
slowly. The softened color and gentle
expression disappeared from her face;
she drew her hands away from Doras
clinging fingers; she pushed back the
hair that had slipped down on her
forehead. Then the deputies had been
searching for her father. That was
what those men we're there for that
morning when they stopped and asked
of her where he was.
And if those men of the law came
for him when he was not there, when
every one knew that he was not there,
and sought for him over on the oppo-
site mountain among its dangers,
would they not come at any time Tor
him to prove their case? Might they
not even insist upon taking him over
to the town in spite of his condition?
Unconsciously her fingers closed over
the flowers in her lap, crushing them
relentlessly.
Two soft hands released the flowers,
and as Dora wiped away the red stains
of the blossoms from her cousins
hands, she said, with sweet laugh:
DOLORES, what is the matter? See
what you have done to the poor, pref
ty fiowers-you have killed them;
their blood is on your hands, and your
hands have stained mine
The effect of her words on Dolores
was startling. She drew away her
hands sternly and arose to her feet,
clutching the door post to steady her
self; her face was white, and her eyes
wide and terrified. Young Green, re-
turning from up the mountain, heard
DOTa's last words and turned away
with face as pallid as Dolores.
Dora arose quickly, and clasped her
hands around her cousins arm, raising
her sweet, penitent face to hers.
Dolores, Dolores, / did not mean
that was only joking-I could not
have meant It'll would not have said
such thing for the world forgot
you were not used to me, and"
The words ended in a violet fit Of
coughing that racked the slender
frame pitifully. Raising her handker-
chief to her lips she sank upon the
step.
Young Green entered the house un-
noticed and spoke to Mrs. Allen, who
came out at once and sat down beside
Dora, placing her arm around her with
low, tender words Of comfort.
Young Green came out with a CUP
of water, and Mrs. Allen thanked him
with a grateful glance, but as she took
lit and placed it to Dora's lips she
glanced at Dolores, and her glance
was full of hate; while young Green
himself for the moment dared moi
meet her eyes for fear of betraying
what was in his mind and heart.
'fWill she lie down and rest?" asked
dolores, presently, still standing at a
distance from her, speaking as though
her lips were stiff.
At sound of her voice Dora opened
her eyes slowly and looked up at her
with a faint smile; but Mrs. Allen,
without replying, motloned to Charlie
who, understanding her wish, crossed
over to the bedroom and tapped light,
IL on the door. DR.. Dunwiddie opened
It at once, and after a whispered word
or two he went out to the girl. while
yOung Green entered the quiet room.
johnson lay in stupor among the
fpillows, his sunken eyes closed, his
cruel lips apart, showing the discol
-Ored teeth within; his short white
beard was coarse and thin, and lent
additional responsiveness to the narrow
lace. The young man stood at this
Fbedside looking long and earnestly al
tho face of the other, until the expires
sion Of wonder and horror slowly
gave place to one of pity.
"Poor fellOw,"he said to himself;
"pOor fellow! Surely he has suffered