Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-10


reply to the Spaniard's tone, which, in
spite OF him was eager, Price contin-
ued: The dead man is Jabez Miller,
whose daughter young Creighton keeps
company with. The other one-the
one who was wounded-see, they are
carrying him to my place."
Then, with quick look at Gonzaga's
face, he added: "A friend of yours,
maybe?" for his listener had grown
white as the brow of the unconscious
Winslow who was at that instant
borne past.
The Spaniard rallied with an effort.
Had his deeply laid plan, his DELHI
crate scheme to ruin Winslow's repu-
tation resulted in his death? To win
in the shadow he would risk much,
but he had not meant this.
IA friend Of mine? Hardly that"
he replied. But I met him on the
boat, as you know. Is he's he dead?"
Price shook his head. "Guess not
but badly cut. Jabez was always
handy with his knife"
I1OW uAu Lucy AdppcA " mcot!
Lord knows. Jabez was skulking
about to catch Sue, l reckon; but l
can't imagine what brought the other
man to this place this time O. night"
"A love affair, possibly?" and Con-
zaga lowered his voice to q suggestive
whisper
The landlord shrugged his shoulders.
Don't know" he said, rising; but the
other stopped him. Zone moment,
have you seen the young Creighton
Gerald?"
NO." was the curt reply, and Price
went indoors.
A lounger near by volunteered:
Hes gone home-along O. the other
gang; helpin' Sue with the funeral
arrangements"
Then he added with litter: First
time he was ever let in at the front
door, I'll bet on that
Somebody else said: do they know
! speaker replied: well, it amt extry
hard TO guess. Sue says her dad and
this city stranger tusseled a bit, then
her dad whipped out knife and stuck
the other fellow. The next she knowed
Jabez himself was deader n coon,
with a slash in the neck just like a
knife cut. faint much of a riddle
how he got it. What dye s'pose that
other man was dom all that time?
Thinkin' O. home and mother?" and
the speaker grinned sarcastically.
Gonzaga rejoined Lavender, whom
he found trembling with fright and
anxiety.
where is Gerald?" she asked.
But he fastened to assure her.
"Your brother is safe~ 1 did not see
him, but hear that he has gone with
those who carried the dead home.''
The girls voice sank to a plying
note. "Then there are two dead?"
mo, senorita. The man whom you
saw borne on the litter is not dead;
only wounded. He will live-yes, he
will live" He repeated this, as if to
an inward accuser. He spoke slowly,
too, in the hope that she would catch
the meaning in his tone, and ask the
decided to make the most of this web
which his own planning and unfore-
seen circumstances had conspired to
weave. But it was evident that Law
ender had, thus far, no suspicious. It
was time they were reused.
1.-THE dead man was Jabez Miller
father of the girl whom you saw to-
night peeping in at the dancers. Do
you remember"
"Oh, yes; the girl with the city
lover It was her poor father who was
killed, you say. BY whom?"
by that city lover"
There was a pause while Lavender
watched the crowd ambling to and fro
about the tavern, her eyes wide with
fright. Both hands pressed the scarlet
blossoms of the Judas tree at her
breast.
Gonzaga continued: from all can
learn her father had heard of the mid
night appointment in the wood and
resolved it should be the last. He in
terfered-with the result we see.'
Lavender interrupted him, half chok-
ing. 1T is too horrible! I have seen
enough-heard enough. Can we not
find Gerald, and then-then let US go
home, home to the forest, where there
is no humanity to pollute the air of
heaven"
She spoke wildly, unnerved by the
sights she had witnessed, by the brawl-
ing and ribald jests. To the daintily
bred girl from far Virginia the back
woodsman was a being whom to meet
was venture to oppose, madness.
She knew that there were exceptions
were not Gerald and her father
frontiersmen? But outnumbering their
class were the "gouger" and the ruff
fan, many of the scum of civilization.
Gradually the jewellers began to dis
perse, and in noisy groups reeled past
where the two yet fingered in the
shadow.
"Why does not Gerald Gomez" Law
ender complained. Then suddenly,
with suspicion of i'll: eve cannot find
him. she said. you do not offer to
bring me to him-the man on the lit
ter her voice rose to little shrek
Of agonized suspense.
"No, no, Miss Creighton; on my
honor it is not your brother" He took
her hand to steady her, and she did not
forbid him. She seemed not conscious
Of his presence. But at the touch Of