The Red Cloud chief., 1908-02-07
TheSpoilers.
BY REX E. BEACH,.
Copyright. 1906, by Rex T.. Beach.


' ~ ''if ~ 'tait -
his comrades i'm town or to make for
the creek arsl DeXtry. The vigilantcs
might still distrust him. and yet he
owed them warning. McNamara's
men were moving so swiftly that ac-
ton must be speedy 10 forpStall them.
Another hour and the net would be
closed, while ii seemed that whichever
course he chose they would snare II
or the ~othcr-eithcr the friends who
remained in town or DcX and Slaplack
out in the hills. With daylight those
two would return and walk unhocding
into the trap, willie if he bore the
word TO them first then the vigilantcs
would be jailed before dawn. AS he
drew near Cherry Malottc's house he
saw a light through the drawn eur.
tains. A heavy mindrOp FLASHED upon
his face. another followed. and then ne
heard the pattcr of falling water in
crcasing swiftly. Before he could gain
the door the storm had broken. II
swept up the street with tropical vic.
lencc. while u breath sighed out Of the
night, lifting the litter from unicrrOot
aud pclting him with flying particles.
Over the roofs the wind rushed with
'rfh. rising moan Of Il hurricane, whiir
the night grew suddenly noisy ahead
OF tho tempest.
lie cn'crel ths door without knock
,ng ~ lind the girl removing her coat.
Her face gladdcncd nj sight of him.
but he checked her with quick and
cautious words, bis speech almost
drowned 10y tho roar outside.
".Arc you alonc?' She nodded, and
he slipped the bolt behind him, saying:
'The marshals are after me. We
just had n run in at The Northern.
and I'm on the 20. No-pothing Scri-
Gus yet, but they want the vir,lantcs,
and I must get them word. Will You
help me?' lie rapidly rccouutcd 'hc
row of the last ten minutes. while she
nodded her quick understanding.
YOU'RE safe here for II little while"
she told him. 'for the storm will cheek
them. If they should come, there's
n back door lcadin" out frum the
kitchen and n side entrance yondcr.
In my room you'll find II French win
dow. They can't corner you very
we'll"
"Slapiack and DcX are out ut the
shafthousc YOU know 60 that quartz
claim ON the mountain above the Mi
das.' lie hcSitatcd. viii YOU lcnd
ne your saddle horse? It's n hlacl;
night. and | may kill him
What about these men in town.
"lll warn them first, then hit for The
hills"
She shook her head. You can't do
1t. You can't got out there before day
light if you wait 10 rouse these pco-
pie. and Mcnamara has probably tclc.
phoncd the mines to send II party ip
IL the quartz claim after hex. He
knows wlrr2 the old man is rs we'll rs
dawn
I'm afraid So, but its all | can of.
fer. VIII YOU give me the horSc:"
NO, He's only II pony. ana you'd
founder him in the tundra. The mud
is knee deep. I'll 20 myself"
Good heavens. girl, IN such n night
Why, it's worth your life. Listen ia
II. The creeks will he mp aud you'll
have to swim. No. | can't let YOU"
Hes Il good It'll" horse. and he'll
take III" through" Then coming clos,
she continued; "Oh, boy. can't yoi
see that want to help: can't
you soc thai I'D die for YOU il il
would do amy good:' lie ga2cd grave
~ into her wide blue eyes and sal,
awkwardly: Yes, | know. I'm sorry
things areas they arc-but YOU
wouldn't have me lie To you, little wa
man."
NO, Your" the only true man
ever knew. ! guess that's why | low,
You. And ! Ito love yo,I, oh. 80 much
want to be good and worthy to 10y,
you too"
She laid her face against his arm an
carcsScd him with cliuging tenderness
while the wind yelled loudly about tn
caves and the windows drumncd be-
meath the rain. His heavy browS knl
themselves together as she whispcrc,I
Il love YOU. | love You. | low
YOU with such AN agony of longin
III her voice that her soft accents wcr
sharply distinguishablc above the tul
mOil. The growing witness Sccnc
a part of the woman's passion, While
whipped and harricd her like Il willo,
in II blast.
Things are fcarfully iumblcd," |
said finally. And This is II bad Tim
10 talk about them. | wish they migl
be different. No other girl would d
what you have offered tonight"
Then why do You think Of III,
womanE" she broke in lirrcrly. "Slc
had and false, She betrayed you ouc
she's in the play nov; you've told II
SO Yourself, Why don't YOU he Il ma