The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-05
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| PIOW Woman |
BY ELEANOR GATES.
Author of Biography of a Prairie Girl"
COPYRIGHT Y. PHILLIPS ( COMPANY
By LEANOR GA TES
COPYRIGHT. 1906 BY. MCCLURE. e COMPANY.
Author of THE Biography of Prairie Girl

DAD can't see you today" she an
swered with ready caution. She
thought 1t best TO keep from him, who
ever he was. the knowledge OF her IA |
theirs absence.
"Huhw calculated Matthews in an
ugly tone. He came a few PAGES near
er. Il got t see him, JUS tn same"
But you can't"
Amt he t homer"
MaryIyn pressed close to her sister
Tell him yes" she begged nervously.
Dallas hesitated. Then she answer
ed: He's not home. VIII you please
come again-some other timer
The gambler chuckled. my dear
young lady" he said, his tone the ex-
IRENE of insolence, II can't come no
other time. TIL business l got t do
has got t be done t'day. | might as
well tell you that my names Matthews
Nick Matthews. This claim you're
on is mine, an l mean T. have it
What's more, 1 mean t have it tday."
'Ah!" Dallas was thinking fast. At
her shoulder, aware all at once that
they We're in danger, was Marylyn,
clinging in pitiful terror
Yes" added Matthews, as If that
clinched the matter.
Dallas looked at him without speak
ing.
II JUS come from Dodge CITY," he
went on. MY intention is t live on
my land nll winter. I'm very sorry"
this ironically-'your old man took
tn trouble to build on 1t. He ought t
inquired about tn claim before he
done that. But longs It's all one with
my plans fer improvin' / don't sees
ought t. kick" He chuckled again and
spat.
Il know and so does dad" said Dial
las, that a man filed upon this quarter
section in July. We didn't find it out,
though, till long after we built this
house. We know his six months is al
most up too. But If you're him, and
even il you've got back only a few
hours before it's up, I'm willing, and
l think dad II be, for you to have the
claim. But you must pay for what
we've done on It."
'T never asst y t do anything on IT.
THAT'S so. But the law says
saw, tn law be ID! 1 don't
pay cent?
"'Then know dad won't leave"
''Oh, you dor
"Yes," very quietly.
"Wen. let me tell y, my dear, that
you're dead wrong. You're goin' t. git
your duds an grub t'gether right now.
In half a. hour you leave this cabin!'
At this Marylyn began to sob.
Come, get a move on!' ordered
Matthews threateningly. He knew that
| IL he wished to regain the land there
would be no time better than the
present. He began to walk up and
down, flinging his arms about to start
| the circulation.
Dallas turned to comfort Marylyn
| putting an arm about her protectingly
Hush" she said. Keep quiet, hon
ey!''
"oh, let's go, let's gow walled the
younger girl.
Matthews came forward again and
took out his watch, large open faced
timepiece hung to a braided buckskir
chain. Now, look a-here,'' he said
! peremptorily, II don't want no more
funny business. This claims mine
Your old man amt got a solitary righf
to it. So you got t. go. I'll give yor
JUS ten minutes" With this he re
gumed his pacing, comforting his bea
with occasional drafts from a flask.
| -
II can't do anything till dad comes,
she called to him finally You wan
US to leave. Why, we haven't got an!
place to go. and its cold
Guess 1 know that" interruptet
| Matthews. 'I'm almost friz"
and you've got no right to ask III
to go TIL you've paid for this hous'
and the well-and-and my blowing"
II pay fer nothin' don't see an fe
no hole in tn ground he said "Anc
as far g place to go is concerned
this with leer-"thefe's Shanty Town
Why, tn boys d be tickled t death
see y. Then there's allus room at th'
fort when there's good lookin' gals II
tn family"
Dallas understood the insult Hel
gray eyes famed In her grayer face
She slammed the window.
Matthews came near, so that his face
all but touched the glass. 'Oh.. thai
don't do no good, my dear" he sald
raising his voice. When / get READY
I'll come In"
Marylyn had stilled her weeping e
listen to him. Now, pallid with rear
she threw herself upon her sister aho
again burst forth.
Dallas put her swiftly aside. Inc
face that had been gray was now
tense white Her eyes were oiazlng
: She sprang to the gun rack ana pu
up her arms.
But the pegs were empty!
CHAPTER TX.
; THAT under the shining sum-
w exclaimed I.ounsbury. SPILL