The Tupelo journal., 1909-10-15
CHAPTER XXI.
A Midniuht Visit.

The lights, but one, were out. Nc
Cloud and Whispering Smith had gone,
and Marion was locking up the house
for the night, when she vas halted by
a knock at the shop door. 1t was a
summons that she thought she knew,
but the last in the worldth she wanted
to hear or to answer. Dicksie had
gone to the bedroom, and standing
between the portieres that curtained
the workroom from the shop Marion
in the half-light listened, hesitating
whether to ignore or to answer the
midnight intruder. But experience,
and bitter experience, had taught her
there was only n way to meet that
particular summons, and that was to
act, whether at noon or at midnight,
without fear. She waited until the
knocking had been twice repeated,
turned up the light, and going to the
door drew the bolt; Sinclair stood be.
fore her, and she drew back for him
to enter. "Dicksie Dunning is with
me tonight" said Marion, with her
hand on the latch, 'and we shall have
to talk here"
Sinclair took off his hat. II knew
you mad company" he returned in the
low, gentle tone that Marion knew
very well, $50 I came late. And I
heard tonight, for the first time, that
this railroad crowd is after me-God
knows why; but they have to earn
their salary somehow. l want to keep
out of trouble if l can. l won't kill
anybody if they don't force me to it.
They've scared nearly all my men
away from the ranch already; one
crippled-up cowboy is all l have got
to help me look after the cattle. But
l won't quarrel with them, Marion, if
| can get away from here peaceably,
so I've come to talk it over once more
with you. I'm going away and 1 want
you to go with me; I've got enough to
keep us as we'll as the best of them
and as long as we live. You've given
me a good lesson. l needed it,
grille"
Don't call me that"
He laughed kindly. why, that's
what it used to be; that's what 1
want it to be again. I don't blame
you. You're worth all the women /
ever knew, Marion. I've learned to
appreciate some few things in the
lonely months I've spent up on the
Frenchman; but I've felt while / was
there as if 1 were working for both of
us. I've got a buyer in sight now for
the cattle and the land. I'm ready to
clean up and say good-by to trouble
ALI I want is for you to give me the
one chance I've asked for and go
along"
They stood facing each other under
the dim light. She listened intently
to every word, though in her terror
she might not have heard or under
stood all of them. One thing she did
very clearly understand, and that was
why he had come and what he wanted.
To that she held her mind tenaciously,
and for that she shaped her answer.
Il cannot go with you-now or ever"
He waited a moment. I'VE always
got along, Marion, when I behaved my
self"
Il hope you always will behave
yourself; but / could no more go with
you than / could make myself again
what I was years ago, Murray. ! wish
you nothing but good; but our ways
parted long ago"
sStop and think a minute, Marion.
I offer you more and offer it o
honestly than / ever offered it before,
because / know myself better. | am
alone in the world-strong, and better
able to care for you than I was when
I undertook to-
4 have never complained"