Mexico Missouri message., 1906-03-01
lcOpyrisht. by The cassell Publishing Coz
CHAPTER XI.-CoNT1NUED.

SOhSS ulAoo ANbAlh3 gOu AGDA bCbbVA
now, don't your" he said, awl5wardly,
as he supported her head upon his
arm. And when a sudden betrayal of
fear and shame surged into her white
cheeks he FASTENED to add: There
now, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Not TIE least in the world"
She tlade an effort to disengage her
self and to arise, but she was very
weak, and she only sank back again
with a pathetic sigh. The tears came
into her eyes at once, and she was I'M
able to conceal her weakness or to
check it. Faster and faster they
chased each other down her cheeks.
Her face was wet with them
Come, Miss North" he murmured,
"this will never do. You must not give.
way like this. Don't despair. If there
is anything wrong, you may depend
upon me to help you all can"
"Oh, it's not l who need the help"
she moaned, quite light-headed by rea-
son of. her long sufferings; and, grasp
ing his sleeve with her little hand, she
exclaimed with sudden, passionate in
tensity: ooh, don't let them arrest
her. Don't let them hang her. Marion
nsver could have done 1t in her right
mind. She was out of her head, you
know. You are sure she was, are you
not?"
This unexpected entreaty was a sur
prise, but it was a most welcome one
to Thomas. He had not had an oppor-
tunity for deliberate thought since he
had recognized who it was that had
thrown away the compromising weap-
on with the suspicious smudge upon it,
and fed from the North villa in the
most damaging of circumstances; but
in a vague, general way, his heart had
been conscious of the weight of the ac-
cepted theory that she was in some
way implicated in the dark work of
the tragedy. And now these wild, hys-
terical words, delivered under the pres
sure of her oVerstrung emotions, gave
him more than a hope that she was
innocent of any part in the hideous
crime.
He smoothed her hair. He wiped
away her tears. He induced her to
take little tEore of the brandy. By
ACpSdlSulJ "AhG5 ACl IhcI nSA
ter was in no danger, and afterwards
by turning hsr attention to other
things, he brought her once more into
a condition of sanity. She was not
permitted to test her strength upon
her feet, but she sat up against a tree,
and began to regard her companion
with great, round, wistful eyes, with
an air of mingled timidity and I'M
pulsive confidence.
and now, Miss North" said Thorn
as at last, at is absolutely necessary
that l. should leave you for few min
utes. Will you promise me not to stir
until return? 1 will be gone just as
short a time as possible"
You are so kind" she said, family.
"If ii is for me you are going, hope,
really, you won't trouble yourself In
few minutes / shall be stronger and
can go on"
Wen talk about that after come
back" he sail, cheerfully. "And mean
time have your promise not to STRIP"
"Since you are so good, can refuse
you nothing" she returned, YEARLY,
and closed her eyes.
Thomas was off at an energetic pace.
He first tied his horse to tree, and
then ran onto the nearest farm house.
A well-to-do-looking woman, with a
sunny face, appeared at the door in an
swer to his knock.
Madam" said Thomas, hastily, 81
have to apologize for my unexpected
CALL but the fact is, / am In great
need Of .food-the best you have and
plenty of 1t. I'll pay-anything. Only
let me have it at once"
But 1 can't" said the woman; 81
haven't q thing in the house to eat!"
But / must have something" ex-
claimed Thomas; 'if it's nothing but
milk and water. The case is very
urgent. Here, do what you can for me"
He thrust a five-dollar bill into the
good woman's hand. She thrust it
back promptly.
Here, don't want your money"
she said, rather stifly. Such as |
have you're welcome to. Come in"
She led the astonished Thomas into
an ample pantry, which was in a con-
dition Of neatness that was almost
painful. But it needed no power of
divination TO determine that it was
the pride OF the good woman's life,
and the shelves fairly groaned with
good things. Thomas was dumb with
delighted amazement.
We'll" said the housewife, evident
ly enjoying the condition of stupefac-
!. ton TO which she had reduced him,
do You see anything you'd like? II
30. you are welcome"
''The-the fact is" stammered
Thomas, II wish you'd let me pay for
it. I--I--you see, I might carry away
little more than I'd like to; for tine
fact Is rye got a friend just back here
in the woods. and she-he's starving
to death"
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