Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-01-03
By REX e. BEACH.


4 ! -
| bad. found tonight that she's good
and brave and honest. The part she
played was played innocently, I'm sure
of that, In spite of the fact that she'll
marry Mcnamara. 1t was she who
heard them plotting and rlsked her
reputation to warn me-
Cherry's faco whitened, while the
shadowy eagerncss that had rested
there died utterly. t.She came into
that dive alone? She did tfat?" He
nodded, at which she stood thinking
FOR some time, then continued: You're
honest with me. Roy, and I'll be the
same with you. I'm tired OF deceit,
tired Of everything. tried to make
you think she was bad, but in my own
heart l knew differently all the time.
She came here today and humbled her
self to get the truth, humbled herself
to me, and sent her away. She sus-
pected, but she didn't know, and when
she asked for information insulted
her. That's the kind Of creature
am. sent her back to Strive, who
offered to tell her the whole story"
what does that renegade want?"
Cant you uess?"
''Why, I'd rather''- The young man
ground his teeth, but Cherry hasteped,
"You needn't worry, she won't see
him again; she loathes the ground he
Walka on"
And yet he's no worse than that
other scoundrel. Come, girl, we have
work to do; we must act, and act
quickly" he gave her his message to
Dextry. then she went to bar room and
slipped into a riding habit When she
cApS cut he asked: Where is your
faincoatls You'll be drenched in no
time"
II can't ride with IL. I'll be thrown,
anyway, and I don't want to be oil
bound up. Water won't hurt me-
She thrust her tiny revolver into her
dress, but he took II and upon examina.
ton shook hts head.
you need gun you'll need
good one" He removed the belt from
his own waist and buckled his Colts
about her.
"But syeup' she objected,
uiNl get another in ten minutes"
Then as they were leaving, he said:
Zone other request, Cherry. I'll be
n hiding for a time. and ] must get
| Werd to Miss Chester to keep watch
Of her uncle, for the big fight is on
at last and the boys will hang him sure
II they catch him. owe her this last
warning. VIII you send 1t to herr"
| "I'll do It for your sake, not for her,
no, no; don't mean that. I'll do the
right thing all round Leave It here
and I'll see that she gets 1t tomorrow.
And. Roy, be careful Of yourself
Her eyes We're starry and In their
depths lurked neither selfishness nor
| Jealousy now, only that mysterious
glory Of a woman who makes sacrifice.
Together they scurried back to the
stable, and yet, In that short distance,
she would have been swept from her
feet had he not seized her. They blew In
through the barn door, streaming and
soaked by the binding sheets that.
drove ecythelike ahead of the wind.
He struck a light, and the pony
Unlimited at recognition Of his mis-.
Hess She stroked tho little fellows
muzzle while Glepister ctnched on her
saddle, Then when she was at last.
mounted, she leaned forward:
'sWili you kiss me once, Roy, for
the last timer"
He took her rain wet face between
his hands and kissed her upon the lips
as he would have saluted little maid.
a hn co h hot, nf How
a face was pressed for an instant
against the pane of glass in the stable
| wall.
| You're a brave girl and may God
bless yod," he said, extinguishing the
light. He flung the door wide and
she rode out into the storm. Locking
the portal, he plunged back toward the
house to write his hurled note, Tor
there was much to do and scant ting
for Its accomplishment. despite the
helping hand Of the hurricane. He
heard the voice Of Bering as it thun-
dered on the golden sands, and knew
that the first great storm of the fall
| had come. Henceforth he saw that
the violence of men would rival the
| rising elements, for the deeds Of this
night would stir their passions rs
Aeolus was rousing the hate 81 the
| ga. 80 80
He neglected to bolt the house door
es he entered, but flung of his dripping
coat and, seiaing pad and pencil
sorawled his message. The wind
screamed about the cabin, the lamp
Jared smokily and Glenister felt
draft suck past him as though from nh
open door at his back us he wrote:
I can't do anything more. The end has
come. and 1t has brought the hatred and
bloodshed that have been trying to pre-
vent. played the game according to
your rules. but they forced me back to
first principles in spite Of myself, and now
don't know what the finish will be. To-
morrow will tell Take care of your un-
Gle, and II you should wish to conmuni-
cate with me- go to Cherry Malotte. She
ID friend to both Of us Always your
| servant, ROY GLENISTER
AS he sealed this he paused, while be
felt the hair on his neck rise and bris-
tie and chill race up his spine. His
heart futtered, then pounded onward
till the blood thumped audibly at his
po| AfAiA4S Auu NV .tVus4Q ui1uSpiS bWuy~
Ing in Rhythm t6ats beat. The muscles
Of his back cringed and rippled at the
proximity Of some lowering peril, aud
yet an irresistible feeling forbade him
to turn. A sound came from close be-
hind his chair-the drip, drip. drip of
| water It was not from the caves, nor
yet from a faulty single. His back
WAS to the kitchen door. throIrh which