The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-05-22

authorities able to uncover Of the way
ward earthly career of the dead man
Of his haunts and Cronies OF the
period Immediately preceding his
death, the agent could tell nothing
He had not been seen at the agency
for nearly year. The reprObate band
had covered its tracks well. There
was nothing to do but lay the dead
body away and shovel oblivion over
it's secret
In the early morning after the re-
turn Of the men from their unsuccess-
full man hunt, Gordon, gray and hag-
gard from loss of sleep and from hard
thought, stepped out into the kitchen
to stretch his cramped limbs. He
stumbled over the figure Of LangfOrd
prone upon the floor, dead asleep in
utter exhaustion. He smiled under
Standingly and opened the outerdoor
quietly, hoping he had not aroused the
wornout boss. The air was fresh and
COOL with hint Of autumn sharpness,
and premature Indian summer haze,
that softened the gauntness of the
landscape, and made the distances
blue and rest-giving. He felt the need
Of inauguration after his nights virgil,
and struck off down the road with
long strides, in pleasant anticipation
of a coming appetite for breakfast.
Thus it was that LangfOrd, strug-
cling to a sitting posture, rubbing his
heavy eyes with a dim consciousness
that he had been disturbed, and won
dering drOWsily why he was so stupid,
felt something seeping through his
senses that told him he did not do
well to sleep. SO he decided he would
take a plunge into the cold artesian
pond, and with such drastic measures
Danish once and for all the elusive yet
all-perVading cObwebs which chung to
him. Rising to his feet with unusual
awkwardness, he looked with scorn
upon the bare floor and accused it
blindly and bitterly as the direct
cause Of the strange soreness that be.
set his whole anatomy. The lay of the
floor had changed in a night. Where
was he? He glanced helplessly
about. Then he knew.
Thus it was, that when Mary Ian
guidly opened her eyes a little later
it was the boss who sat beside her
and smiled reassuringly.
You have not slept a wink" she
creid, acCusingly.
Indeed | have" he said. Three
whole hours, feel tip-top."
You are-fibbing," she said. "Your
eyes look SO tired, and your face Is all
worm"
His heart leaped with the JOY Of her
solicitude.
You are wrong" he laughed.
teasingly. Il slept on the floor; and a
good bed it was. too. No, Miss Willis
ton, | am not all In yet, by any
means"
In his new consciousness, a new
formality crept into his way of ad.
dressing her. She did not seem to
notice it.
Forgive me for forgetting, last
night she said, earnestly. Il was
very selfish. forgot that you had not
slept for nearly two days and were
riding all the while incur behalf. |
forgot. l was tired, and | went to
sleep. l want you to forgive me. |
want you to believe that l do appre.
ciate what you have done. My faith.
er-"
Don't, don't, little girl" cried
Langford, forgetting his new awe of
her maidenhood in his pity for the
stricken child.
my father" she went on steadily,
would thank you if he were here. |
thank you too, even if l did forget to
think whether or no you and all the
men had any sleep or anything to eat
last night. VIII you try to believe
that l did not forget Willingly? l was
so tired"
When Langford answered her,
which was not Immediately, his face
was white and he spoke quietly with
a touch of injured pride.
If you want to hurt us, Miss Will
liston, that is the way to talk. We
cowmen do not do things for thanks"
She looked at him wonderingly
then said, simply, Forgive
me-" but her lips were trembling and
she turned to the wall to hide the
tears that would come. After all,
she was only woman-with nerves
and the reaction had come.
The sheriff and his party of depu.
ties made diligent search for Willis.
ton that day and for many days to
come. It was of no avail. He had
disappeared, and all trace with him,
as completely as If he had been spir.
tied away in the night to another
and soul. That the
soul of him had really gone to another
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