The Irish standard., 1908-05-02
call him. won't you?"

call him. won't you?"
Another time Sally B. would have
needed the distress in Stella's tone,
and questioned her; but she was in.
tent on her work, caught in the hours
excitement. She gave absent-minded
assent; and Stella crept back to the
parlor. where she lowered the lamp
and again sat down with her fears.
Had Gideon been able to get seat in
Uncle Billy's coach? She would go
and see. She opened the door and
peered out. The street was deserted.
Yet bright, nnshaded windows gleam-
ing in all directions; extra lights In
the saloon across the way; knots of
men at the doors; the rattle Of chips,
the clink Of ice and glass, and an oc.
casional voice raised above the sub
dued murmur that came from Sally
BIS barroom-all told Stella that the
town waited awake for the nights
event.
She stole out. passed the hotel and
peeped guiltily into the stage office.
Only the clerk on duty was within,
and he was nodding. Cautiously she
approached and looked over the pas.
senger list that lay open on the coun.
ter. Gideon had not booked.
Though half stunned by dread and
fear she yet could not face Sally B.
again and the busy kitchen. She paced
restlessly. stopped to reread her letter
and add a penciled word. and went
into the hall to listen for Uncle Billy.
Silence. No one was stirring in the
house outside of the cooks domain.
Back she turned to her nervous
tread. counting her steps mechanical
ly. Her mind was painfully alert,
supersensitive. The half-hour struck.
"The clock is surely wrong!" Stella
whispered. But the dining-room clock
quickly rang confirming chime; and
the doomful tick. tick. went slowly on.
She crept out again to the stage Of
flee. where the clerk no longer CO.
qnetted with duty in his chair. but
lay full length on the counter. frankly
seduced by Morpheus. The passenger
list still lay open. and Stella looked.
Gideon's name was not there!
She wondered why. since his looks
even more than his words told her
that he would seek Alfred at once.
AS she walked back new fears beset
her. Why was Gideon not going on the
stage? Could Alfred be already on his
way to Colfax? Near? Coming now,
and Gideon had learned it? A terrify-
ing vision of their meeting shook her;
yet quick comfort came with the recol.
lection Of Alfred's promised telegram.
He would surely keep his word.
Ten minutes of two! Ten minutes
past-fifteen!
A light step came down the stair,
and Stella flew into the hall.
Uncle Billy" she called softly, and
drew him into the parlor She put her
letter in his hand. told him of Gideon,
breathlessly describing Alfred's dan.
GER though concealing it's cause. She
did not drRam that Uncle Billy guessed
1t WELL
He promised to mount guard over
Alfred, though he scoffed at her fear,
and declared that Gideon, son of the
night, was doubtless alone somewhere
fighting out his anger.
"Oh. Uncle Billy, you're such dear.
good father to me-" she cried impetu-
ously; and. needless, did not see the
light die In his eyes, rocked not of
missed heartbeat.
His back was toward the lamp. his
face downcast; yet when he lifted it
again. he was calm. his voice steady.
though Stella caught a vibrant sad.
ness in 1t she could not understand
Honey. there's something I've been
wishing to speak to you about for
month o Sundays, but couldn't raise
the pluck" He stopped, and Stella,
SO overwrought. grew suddenly ap-
prehensive, though she did not speak.
."Yo, Uncle Rllys. stake in Mann