West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-12-26

II dom catch dis Teller" he explain
cd Young mans say he gone, come
back mebbe one. two. 'ievep days"
did you deliver the one to Afr. Glen
istcrr
LES. ma'am"
WAS there an answerr'
LES. ma'am"
well, give II to me-"
The note read:
Dear Miss Chester-A discussion Of q
matter so familiar to us both tho Anvil
creek controversy would be useiesa II
your inclination In due TO the incidents of
last night. pray don't trouble yourself.
We don't want your pity. am your ssrv-
ant. ROY GLENIsTER
As she read the note. Judge Stillman
entered. ana II seemed to the girl that
he had aged year for every hour I'm
the last twelve, or else the yellow aft
ernoon light llmned the sagging hol-
lows and haggard lines OF his face
most pitllessly. He showed In voice
and manner the nervous burden under
which he labored.
ALEC has told me about your on
gagement, and Il lifts terrible load
from me. I'm mighty glad you're going
to marry him. He's n wonderful man.
and he's the only one who can save
u.s."
"What do you mean by that7 What
are we I'm danger OFF, she inquired.
avoiding discussion OF McNamara's
announcement.
"Why, that mob. Of course. They'll
come back. They said so. But Alec
can handle the commanding officer at
the post. and. thanks to him. Wen have
soldiers guarding the house hereafter"
"Why-they won't hurt u.s.
Tut, tut! I know what I'm talk
ing about. We're In worse danger
now than ever. and IL we don't break
up those vigilantes there'Il be blood
shed-thats what. They're a menace,
and they're trying TO force me or the
bench 80 they can take the law into
their own hands again. That's what
want to see you about They're plan
ming to kill Alec and me-so he says
and we've got to act quick to prevent
murder. Now, this young Glenister Is
one OF them. and he knows who the
rest are. DO you think you could get
him to talkT"
II don't think quite understand
you" said the girl, through whitening
lips.
"Oh, yes, you do. want the names
OF the ringleaders. so that l can fail
them. You can worm 1t out OF that fell
Tow IL you try"
Helen looked at the old man In n hor-
ror that at first was dumb. "You ask
this of mer' she demanded hoarsely
at last
Nonsense" he said irritabiy. "This
isn't any time for silly scruples. It's
life or death for me, maybe, and for
Alec too" He said the last craftily.
but she stormed at him:
"It's Infamous! You're asking me to
betray the very man who saved us
not twelve hours ago. He risked his
life for u.s.
ut isn't treachery at NIL. It's pro-
lection. If we don't get them, they'll
get us. wouldn't punish that young
fellow, but l want the sothers. Como
now, you've got to do it,
But she said mo" firmly, and quietly
went to her own room, where, behind
the locked door, she sat for long time
staring with unseelng eyes, her hands
tight clinched In her lap. At last she
whispered:
"Pm afraid It's true. I'm afraid It's
true'
She remained hidden during the
dinner hour. and pleaded headache
when Mcnamara. called In the early
evening. Although she had not seen
him since he left her the night before,
bearing her tacit promise to wed him,
yet how could she meet him now with
the conviction growing on her hourly
that he was a master rogue2 She
wrestled with the thought that he and
her uncle. her own uncle who stood I'm
the place of a father, were conspira-
tors. And yet, at memory of the
judges cold blooded request that she
should turn traitress, her whole being
revolted. III he could ask thing
| like that. what other heartless, selfish
act might he not be capable Of? All
the long, solitary evening she kept her
room, but ut last, feeling faint, slipped
down stairs In search of Fred, for she
had eaten nothing since her late break
fast.
Voices reached her from the parlor,
and as she came to the last step she
froze there In an attitude OF listening.