Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-01-10
CHAPTER XIX.

ARLY In the evening Cherry Ma
lotte opened her door to find the
Bronco Kid on her step. He
entered and threw or his rub.
Der coat. Knowing him well, she walt
ed for his disclosure of his errand 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 hys-
terra. He gave her the impression Of
smoldering mine with the fire eating
close up to the powder. She Judged
that his body had been racked by ev-
cry passion till now 1t hung jaded and
weary, yielding only to the spur of his
restless, reyengeful spirit.
After few objectless remarks he
began abruptly:
do you love Roy Glenisterrs His
voice, like his manner, was jealousy
eager, and he watched her carefully as
she replied without bubble or deceit:
Yes. Kid, and always shall He Is
the only true man have ever known,
and I'm not ashamed Of my feelings"
For a 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. can't be In my
business. But this Is my last chance,
and I want to put myself right with
you. I've loved you ever since the
Dawson days, not In the way you'd
expect from a man OF my sort perhaps,
but with the kind of love that 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, at for nothing
else. I'd made up my mind to let you
nave him till something happened a
couple of months ago, but now 1t can't
go through. I'll have to down him.
It isn't concerning you. I'm not a
welcher. No, it's thing can't talk
about-a thing that's made me into a
wolf, made me skulk and walk the
alleys like dago. It's put murder
into my heart. I've tried to assassi-
nate him. / tried 1t here last night
butt was gentleman once-tlll the
cards came. He knows the answer
now, though, and he's ready for me, SO
one of us will go out like candle
when we meet. felt that had to
tell you before / cut him down or be-
fore he got me-"
You're talking like madman.
Kid" she replied, "and you mustn't
turn against him now. He has trou-
bles enough. never knew you cared
for me. What tangle 1t is, to be
sure. You love me, l love him, he
loves that girl, and she loves a crook.
Isn't that tragedy enough without
your adding to 1t? You come at a
bad time, too, for I'm half insane.
There's something dreadful In the air
tonight
"l'll have to kill him." the man NUT
tered doggedIy, and, plead or reason as
she would, she could get nothing from
him except those words till at last
VA uAhCA ulyOtA ucICcly.
"You say you love me. Very well,
let's see If you do. I 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: II wouldn't make you my
wife that way. didn't mean 1t that
way"
At this she laughed bitterly. "Oh, I
see. OF course not. How foolish Of
me to expect it Of man like you.
I understand what you mean now,
and the bargain will stand just the
same, II that is what you came for.
I 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 me-and that-marriage talk
IN 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 sport"
His voice broke suddenly, Its yehem-
ence shaking his slim body. ooh, 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 to
take you away from here where we
can both hide from the past, where
we can start new, as you say"
You would marry met" she asked.
"In an hour and give my hearts
blood for the privilege, but can't
stop this thing, not even IL your own
dear life hung upon It. I must Kill
that man.
She approached him. and laid her
arms about hM neck, every line Of her
body pleading, but he refused stead-
lastly, while the sweat stood out upon
his brow.
She begged: They're all against
him, Kid. He's fighting a hopeless
fight. He laid all he had at that girls
feet, and I'll do the same for you"
The man growled savagely. "He got
his reward. He took all she had
Don't be a fool. guess know.
You're faro dealer, but you haven't
any right to talk like that about good
woman, even to a bad one like me-"
Into his dark eyes slowly crept a
hungry look, and she felt him begin to
tremble the least bit. He undertook to
speak, paused, wet his lips, then care
fully chose these words: