The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-03-01
Continued from last Sunday
CHAPTER XIX.

D.
e Iotte opened her door to find the
Bronco Kid on her step. He
Ia entered and threw off his rub
Der coat knowing him well, she wait
ed for his disclosure OF his errand. His
sallow4 skin was without a 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 hys-
terra lie gave her the impression of
b smoldering mine with the tire eating
close - - the powder. She judged.
that ~ nx.y had been racked by ev-
cry p:3s~s1s: till now it hung faded and
weary. yielding only 10 the spur OF his
restless. revengefui spirit.
After d few objectless remarks he
besan>abruptly:
DO YOU love Roy G!a-is;ar:" His
voice. like his name. s-=s jealousIy
eager. ANA he watchel her carefully as
she replied without Qu5bole or deceit:
Yes, kid, and always shall He is
the only true man I have ever known.
and TIM not ashamed Of my feelings"
For long time he studied her and
then broke uto rapid speech, allowing
her 10 time for interruption.
I've held back and held back be-
cause I'm 20 tailzor | can't be in nay
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
expect from q man of my sort perhaps.
but with the kind of love that a wo-
man 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 nothing
else Ia made up my mind to let you
have him till something happened a
couple of months ago. but now it can't
go through. I'll have TO down him.
1t isn't concerning you. I'm not Il
welchcr. No, its thing ! can't talk
about-a thing that's made me into a
wolf, made me skulk and walk the
alleys like a dago. It's put murder
into my heart. I've tried 10 assassi-
nate him. I tried il here last night
Il
cards came. He knows the answer
now, though. and he's ready for me. so
one Of us VIII go out like candle
when we meet | felt that | had to
tell you before I cut him down or be-
fore he got me-
You're talking like mailman.
Kid" she replied. land you mustn't
turn aga inst him now. He has trou-
bles enough. I never knew you cared
for me. What a tanEle It is. 10 be
sure You love me. l love him. he
loves that girl. and she loves crook
Isn't that tragedy enough without
your adding to II? You come at a
bad time, too, for I'm half insane.
There's something dreadful in the air
tonight
III have to Kill him. the man NUT
tered doggedly, and. plead or reason rs
she would. she could get nothing from
him except those words till at last
she turned upon him fierceIy.
You say you love me. Very well.
lets see If you do. l know the kind
of man you are, and / know what
this feud will mean to him. coming
just st this time. Put ii aside and I'll
marry you"
The gambler rose slowly To his feet
~ on do love him. don't yout'' She
bowed her face ana he WINGED, bat
continued; 4 wouldn't make you my
wife that way l didn't mean 1t that
way"
At this she laughed bitterly. "Oh,
see. OF course not. How foolish Of
me 10 expect it of man like YOU
I understand what you mean now
and the bargain viii stand just the
same If that is what YOU came for
/ wanted To leave this life and be good
To go away and start over and play
the 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 meand that-m marriage talk
III not speak of again. I'll stay
what | am for his sake"
stop" cried the Kid You're
wrong. I'm not that kind of n sport :
His voice broke suddenly. its vehem
ence shaking his slim body. "Oh. Cher
~, | love you the way a man ought
to love a woman. It's one of the two
good things left in me- and | want t.
take you away from here where We
can both hide from the past. where
We can start new. as you -ay."
You would marry me-" she asked.
''In an hour and give my hearts
blood for the privilege. but 1 can
stop this thing. not even if your owr
dear life hung upon it l must xii
that man"
She approached him and laid he
arms about his neck. every line of he
body pleading, but he refused stead
tasty, while the sweat stood out ,rpoi
his brow.
She begged: They're all agains
him. Kid. He's fighting a hopeless
fight. He laid all he had at that girl,
feet. and I'll do the same fer you-'
The man growled sayagely. "Hs go
his reward. He took all she had
Don't be a fool. / guess 1 know
You're a faro dealer, but you haven
any right to talk like that about a goo,
woman. even to a bad one like me"
Into his dark eyes slowly crept ,
hungry Ieok, and she felt him begin b
trembie the least bit. He undertook 4
speak, paused, vet his Lips, then cate
fully choso these words:
DO you mean-fhat he did not-tlla
= ~