The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-19
Understand" he repeated.
She merely shuddered.

She merely shuddered.
D. it, can't you answer" he cried
! iInpatiently. What do you think I've
raised you for, anyway? You're none
of my breed, -" and he spat out
an eDithet.
She lowered her hands and looked
at him again with wide-open eyes from
which all expression had faded. This
stony silence irritated Lafond.
you've had your head long enough.
Now you're going to show what you're
made for Understand? Great Cod"
he cried. you've got tongue, haven't
you? Why don't you answer when 1
ask you a question:" In one of the
sudden Latin gusts of passion which
generally he held so we'll in control,
Lafond dashed her across the breast
with his blacksnake whip. Almost be-
fore the impulse had quilted his brain
he regretted it, for her scream would
bring out the camp, and Lafond could
see the awkwardne of an explanation.
I 1t was better to break her in gradual
iy. To his relief, she did not cry out,
but merely shivered pitifully, and clos
ed her eyes
That's what you'll get if you don't
toe the mark" threatened Lafond, only
too glad to avoid a scene. He slouched
! out of the door, climbed into his light
wagon shaking his heavy head sullen-
ly, and drove away in the direction of
Rapid.
After he had gone and the sound of
his wheels had died away the girl
| arose, staggeringly, from her bed. The
bright world had crumbled. For the
| first time in her young existence her
thoughts turned to the vague concep-
ton of a higher Being which she had
built, Heaven knows how, from mate
rails gathered, Heaven knows where.
God, God. God" she cried, Il
thought this was a happy world where
people laughed 1 did not know there
was so much sorrow in the world. You
did not make the world to be sorrowful,
did YOU, God?"
She was almost blind. She knew that
she must kill herself; that alone was
clear. 1t was that or the dance hall
She was to be like Bismarck Anne.
And she realized in moment that she
knew Black Mike, his iron will and his
cruel heart; and she was afraid of him.
deadly afraid. She began to grope
about the room. There was a dim
square; that must be the window. Her
hands passed fumblingly over the ia
bic, just missing the long sewing scis-
sors. Nothing there. Quick, quick, he
| might come back! She almost fell
over the cloak, which had fallen to the
feet. There was another square of
light; it must be the door, She stun
bled out into a glare of merciless sun
shine that filled her brain and beat on
the walls of her understanding until
| she covered her eyes, and still STUN
bled on. She thought she heard men
shouting. She was not sure.
From his work of sweeping out the
stale saloon. Frosty had seen her. She
- fOhk hAr~ hot ha1
down, her face white and drawn, her
step so uncertain. Frosty was very
| fond of her in his stupid silent way.
| He yelled and ran toward her.
In this day of excitement a cry
| brought a dozen heads to a dozen win
dows and doors. In a moment the girl
was surrounded. The men were puz-
zled. plain case of bug-juice," said
one, a little sorrowfully.
She felt some one trying gently to
| lead her somewhere. but she resisted,
crying. Let me go, let me go. 1 want
to get to the big rock"
Graham pushed his way anXiously
into the group. He had not been able
to bring himself to attend the dance
the evening before, but he had been
told the details, and up to now had
felt rather relieved than otherwise at
the turn affairs had taken.
why 10 YOU want 10 go 10 the
rock, Molly?' he asked, gently.
At the sound of his voice she began
| to cry a little. 1T is so high up there
so high" she said over and over.
"Of course it's high. Molly, very high;
but don't you think you'd better wait
| until tomorrow"
The men stood about with awe-strik-
en- faces. They saw now that there
was more in this than they had at first
| L -. a.
each other in undertones.
Such long way down, a long way
down. went on the girl. II could jump
from there very easily; such a long
way down."
Graham took her quietly by the
shoulders.
Listen, Molly, it's I, Jack Graham"
Eyes, Jack"
"And 1 want you to do just as I say
Will you do it ?"
Yes, Jack"
II want you to go with nle. Do you
trust me. Molly?"
She began to sob violently, almost
convulsively, dabbingg uncertainty at
her eyes.
What is it, Jack? What am I do
ing here?"
Nothing; it's all right Will you
come with me? All, that's better"
She looked about her with intelli-
| gence.
What is it. boys How did 1 come
here?" Her glance wandered past them
to the dance hall, and she turned away
suddenly. "Ah! l remember" The
strained look began to come back into
her face.
Here, here, Molly" cried Graham in
alarm, that won't do! Here, you must
do just exactly as I say. You must
come with me now, and get something
| to eat and some sleep. Don't you trust
me, Molly?"
He looked steadily into her eyes, his
| brow contorted with anxiety
| "Oh, Jack, Jack" she cried sudden
ly, whom else could 1 trust but you?
| You have been the only man whom I
| could have trusted from the very first,
the only man 1 should have trusted 1