The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-20
TheSpOilers.
NJ REX e. BEACH-
Copyright 1905. by Rex n Beach
CONTINUED from last issue.)

He entered the door without knock
ing to find the girl removing her coat.
Her face gladdened at sight Of him.
but he checked her with quick and
cautious words. his speech almost
drowned by the roar outside.
Are YOU aloneY She nodded, aud
he slipped the bolt behind him, saying:
.'The marshnls are after me. We
Just had run in at the Northern,
and I'm on the go No-nothlng seri-
Gus yet but they want the vigilantes,
and | must get them word. VIII you
help me?" He rapidly recountcd the
row OF the last ten minutes, while she
nodded her quick understanding.
You're safe here for a little while"
she told him. "for the storm will check
them. If they should come. there's
back door leading out from the
kitchen and side entrance yonder.
In my room you'll find French win
dow. They can't corner You very
we'll"
"Slaplack and Tex are out at the
shafthousc - you know - that quartz
claim on the mountain above the Mi
das." He Eesitatcd. "Will You lend
me- your :. idle horse? It's "A blacl;
night ana | may kill him"
what al, ut these men In town.
I'm warn them first then hit for the
hills"
She shook her head. You can't do
It. Gou can't get out there before day
light If YOU wait to roucc these peo-
pie. and Mcnamara has probably tcle
nh1mel the mines 10 send Il party ~
10 the quarts claim after peN. lie
knows where the old man is as well as
you do. and they'll raid him before
dawn"
I'm afraid so. but it's all can Of
fer VIII You give me the hOrseT'
NO, He's only a pony. and you'd
founder him in the tundra. The mud
is knee deep. IN go myself"
Good heavens. girl. in such night!
Why. its worth your life. Listen ~
il! The creeks will be mp aud you'll
have to swim No. can't let YOU"
Hes u good little horse. and he'll
take me through" Then coming close
she continued: "Oh, boy, can't yOn
see that want TO help? Can't
you see that I'D die for you IL II
would do any good;' He gazed grave
ly into her wide blue eyes and said
awkwardly: Yes. | know. I'm sorry
things areas they are-but You
wouldn't have me lie to you. little wo-
man?"
NO. You're the only true man l
ever knew. | guess that's why | love
you And do love you. oh. 50 much
| want 10 BE- good aud worthy TO love
yOu too"
She laid her face against his arm and
caressed him with clInging tenderness
while the wind yelled loudly about the
caves and the windows drummed be
meath the rain. His heavy brows knit
themselves together as she whispered.
Il love you, love you. love
you with such an agony OF longing
In her voice that her soft accents were
sharply distinguisbabe above the tur-
moil. The growing wildness seemed
part OF the woman's passion, which
whipped and harried her like a willow
In blast.
Things are fearfully iumbled." he
said finally. And this IS n bad time
TO talk about them. wish they might
be different No other girl would do
what you have offered tonight"
Then why do you think Of that
woman" she broke in fiercely. shes
bad and false. She betrayed you once;
she's in the play now; you've told me
so yourself. Why doa't you be a man
and forget herr
IL can't" he said simply YOU'RE
wrong, though, when you think she's
bad. | found tonight that she's good
and brave and honest The part she