The Washington times., 1905-01-01


window, and the door was opened.
What is it? What do you want?''
asked Nellie
| The sleepy eyes of Charley Ok glow
cred ominoasly behind her.
LET US in said Gavin I'VE won't
eat you. That man has gone"
| What man. asked Nellie, elasping
her hands.
'oh, you know what man. That
| chan you are so sweet on after he
killed your father and mother. It may
please you to know he's done another
murder He killed Nose, the halfbreed
keeper"
mo. no! ImpossibIep' gasped Nellie,
this time wringing her hands in real
horror
Yes" said Gavin. 1--WE heard a
trumpus at the Jail ard went there. We
found Nose dead with knife stuck in
his ribs We tracked the fellow this
4 far. Where is he?"
Gavin spoke roughly Crimes thought
he was making q mistake But Gavin
was the kind Of a man who never be-
lieved he could make mistakes.
Nellie looked from one to the other
of the three. When Gavin had said
they tracked Cayright to the farm she
had seen fieeting smile on Nelson 5
face She took courage from that smile.
Now, Sheriff Gavin she said, speak
ing as calmly as though She had asked
simply for a glass of water, please dis
continue this abuse, and explain why
you have disturbed me at this unrea-
sonable hour. I should have supposed
that after all I had been through, 1
might receive some consideration
5 Nellie answered the sheriff, some
| a,J1o+ oT,a NV her firm,
and manner, ct am simply dom my
, duty I'm sheriff or this county When
, a crimes been done, it's my duty TO get
the criminal. That's all I am doing
: now.
That fellow I arrested here for the
: murder of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbiclz has
killed another man and escaped. 1t is
: my business to find him. If it is within
: your power to assist, 1t is your duty"
You accuse me Of harboring him.
e The house is at your disposal You are
S at liberty 70 search It from one end to
j the other Go to the barns and sheds
OIL If you find him, take him.
1t was a convincing speech. 1t con-
8 WINGED Nelson and Grimes, but not
e Gavin He knew more about Nellie:
determined spirit than they did
Il accept the invitation" he said
| L neIeupOI -DtSdil d -SCcICH SuCli d.
4 that house had never seen before and
few houses ever do see
They uptnrned furniture. They ran
' sacked closets. They pulled beds apart
5 They upset everything. But they die
not find the fugitive.
He isn't IN the house Let's get z
/ lantern and go to the buildings"
They hunted with the lantern till the
lantern was no longer needed Charlie
FOX followed them about with itching
d fingers
!. With what jog could he have throttlec
9 these men who were causing his mis-
tress all this annoyance.
4 There's one thing we've forgot" SAID
= Grimes. IF this chap is hiding here. ht
came on horseback. He couldn't do j
on foot and get here ahead of US. Now
!, | where's the horse he rode?"
That's So" said Nelson These
= horses belong here. His horse it at Hub
: bfcks."
The sheriff was nonp1ussed- He stood
in the door of a shed and scanned III,
= broad acres.
: Not a piece of hewed timber showet
: above the ground except those in tn
buildings they had examined
Well he said, IF he isn't here now
= he Will be. We must work a game
"Well?'' asked Nellie, who was pre-
= pairing breakfast.
Il must beg your pardon. Nellie,
K said the sheriff II may have SCENE,
ugly, but I did ret mean to be. I be
IS ilieve now the man is not here We mus
Ii go and find him"
e Nellie smiled. Her face was still
e white. but she felt treasured.
Your work is exhausting." she sal
s with Just the slightest irony. WI
you not have cup of coffee before yo1
IS go?"
I'VE willa Nellie. You are kind t
l. think of it,
IS They refreshed themselves and re
N mounted.
i 'Good-by. Nellie. You'll forgive ms
won't your asked Gavin
IT a man needs no forgiveness 70
ID performing his duty" she answere
or coIdly.
is They rode away Nellie watche
re them for a while, and then went abou
IN her work.
There was much to be thought of o
~ the farm. a half dozen herders we:
ID out in different directions with thai
cattle These must be communicate
III with to see what losses the storm ha
E. caused.
ly Perhaps some of them had perishe
id in the snow. Charlie Ok was the onI
n one who had put in an appearance
lie Upon him she must depend to do
ne all.
Charlie. have they gone quite OF
r Of sight?" she asked.
40 Il tank so sometam. But hear c
tall man say a tang about da gam
ee 1 tank da came back
She shuddered- She knew that Gavi
at was capable of any game that prom
Used to serve his ends.
>" Il mus SIGHT them alone, Charlie.
en- want you to take the bay and hunt L
:" Johnson. Bertney, and lack If yc
be find lack, tell him to look up II
ly others, and then come to me wit
their reports. You hurry back; 1 ma
ad need you"
st. Il TAX me two. tire day said Cha
nd lie What you dor
RS, I'll get along. You can do nothin
nd Is there enough food to last three da.
he in the dugout?'
''Yas, l tank do food las a week
he So Charlie went, and Nellie was lie