Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-02

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"Steal it," he answered, at which
Dextry grinned deligntedly at his
loose-jointed companion, and Slapjack
showed his toothless gums in answer,
saying:
"He sure is"
A few more words and Glenister ac-
companied by these two, slipped out in.
to the whlrling storm and half-hour
later the rest followed. One by one
the Vigilantes left, the blackness blot
ting them up an arms length from the
door, till at last the big, bleak ware
house echoed holloway to the voice of
the wind and water
Over in the eastern end of town. be.
hind dark windows upon which the
sheeted rain beat furiously other arm
ed men lay patiently waiting-waiting
some word from the bulky shadow
which stood with folded arms close
against a square of gNss, while over
their heads a wretched cid man paced
back and forth, wringing his hands,
pausing at every turn to peer out into
the night and to humble the name Of
his sisters child
CHAPTER XIX.
Early in the evening Cherry Malotte
opened her door to flHd the Broncho
Kid on her step. He entered and threw
off his rubber coat Knowing nim we'll,
she waited for his disclosure of his err
rand. His sallow skin was without trace
of color, his eyes were strangely tired,
deep lines had gathered about his
lips While his hands kept up constant
little nervous explorations as though
| for days and nights he had not slept
and now lowered on the verge of some
| hysteria. He gave her the impression
of a smouldering mine with the fire
eating close UP to the powder. She
| judged that his body had been racked
by every passion till now it hung jaded
and weary, yielding only to the spur Of
his restless, revengeful spirit.
After a few objectless remarks, he
began, abruptly:
do you love Roy Glenister?" His
voice, like his manner, was jealousy
eager, and he watched her carefully as
she replied, without bubble or deceit:
Eyes, Kid; and I always shall. He
Is the only true man l have ever
known. and I'm not ashamed of my
feelings"
For long time he studied her and
then broke into rapid speech, allowing
her no time for Interruption.
'I've held back and held back be.
cause I'm no talker. l can't be. in my
business; but this is my last chance,
and | want to put myself right with
you. I've loved you ever since the
Dawson days, not in the way you'd ex-
pect from man of my sort, perhaps,
but with the kind of love that a WON.
an wants. never showed my hand,
for what was the use? That man out
held me. I'd have quit faro years back
only wouldn't leave this country as
long as you were part Of it, and up
here I'm only gambler, fit for moth
ing else I'd made up my. mind to
let you have nim till something hap
pened couple of months ago, but
now 1t can't 60 through, I'll have to
down him. It isn't concerning you
I'm not welcher. No, it's thing |
can't talk about a thing that's made
me into wolf made me skulk and
walk the alleys like dago. It's put
murder into my heart. I've tried to as
sasinate him. I tried it here last night
butt was gentleman once-till
the cards came. He knows the answer
now. though, and he's ready for me
so one Of us will go out like a candle
when we meet. felt that had to
tell you before cut him down or be.
fore he got me-
You're talking like mailman,
Kid" she replied, land you mustn't
turn against him now He has troubles
enough. never knew you cared for
me. What tangle 1t is, to be sure.
You love me. love him, he loves that
girl, and she loves crook. Isn't that
tragedy enough without your adding to
it? You come at bad time, too, for
I'm nalf insane. There's something
dreadful in the air tonight"
"I'll have to kill him. the man NUT
tered, doggedly. and, plead or reason
as she would, she could get nothing
from him except those words, till at
last she turned upon him f1ercely.
"You say you love me- Very we'll
let's see if you do l know the kind of
a man you are and know what this
feud will mean to him, coming just at
this time. Put it aside and I'll marry
YOU"
| The gambler rose slowly to his feet
"You do love him, don't you?" She
bowed her face, and he WINGED, but
continued: 81 wouldn't make you nv
wife that way. 1 didn't mean it that
way
At this she laughed bitterly. ooh,
l see. OF course not. How foolish of
me to expect it Of man like you. |
4 understand what you mean now, and
the bargain will stand just the same
If that is what you came for | wanted
to leave this life and be good, to 90
away and start over and play tne
game square. but see it's no use. I'll
pay. know how relentless you are
and the price is low enough You can
have me-and that-marriage talk
I'll not speak Of again. I'll stay what ]
am for his sake
"Stop!" cried the Kid. You're
i wrong. Pm not that kind of sport
His voice broke suddenly, it's vehem
ence shaking his slim body ooh
Cherry, l love you the way man
ought to love woman It's one Of
the two good things left in me, and
want to take you away from here
where we can both hide from the mast