Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-16
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my kid. That's her he calls Necia.
She's mine. Amt right, lieutenant"
At this final desperate effort to fix
the crime upon his rival Burrell turn
ed on him with loathing.
'It's no use, Stark. We heard you
say she killed herself. We were stand
ing outside the door, both OF US, and
got it from your own lips"
Until this moment the man had
stood on his own feet, but now he
began to sag, seeing which POleon
supported him to the bed, where he
sank weakly, collapsing in every joint
and muscle.
"Its a job" he snarled. "YOu put
this up, you three, and came here to
gang me-" An unnatural shudder con-
vulsed him as his wounds bit at him,
and then he Jared up viciously. But
I'll beat you al. I've got the girl.
I've got her."
"Neciaw cried Burrell, suddenly re-
Numbering, for this ARRAY had driven
all else lTOul Ills lullu.
Stark crouched on the edge Of his
bunk, q CHASTITY gray grinning thing.
One weapon still remained to him, and
he used it.
"Yes, I've got my daughter"
"Where is she?' demanded the trad
er hoarsely. "Where's my girl?"
The gambler chuckled. An agony
seized him till he hiccoughed and stran-
gled. Then, as the spell passed, he
laughed again.
"She's got you in her head, like the
mother had, but I'll drive 1t out. I'll
treat her like did her."
Gale uttered terrible cry and
moved upon him, but Burrell Shout
dered the trader aside himself pos
sessed by O cold fury that intensified
his strength tenfold.
"Stop 1t, Gale. Let me attend to
this. I'll make him tell"
ooh. will you?" Knocked the girls
father.
"Where is she?"
.None Of your id businesst" Again
he was seized with paroXysm that
left him shivering and his lips color
less. The blankets were soaked and
soggy with blood, and his feet rested
In red pool.
"Ben Stark" said the tortured lover,
you're sick man, and you'll be gone
in half an hour at this rate. Won't
you do one decent thing before you
die?'
Bah! I'm all right"
"Ill get you a doctor If you'll tell
us where she is. If you don't I'll-iet
you die. For Gods sake, man, speak
up"
The wounded man strOve to rise, but
could not, then considered for a mo-
ment before he said:
81 sent her away"
"Where"
Cup river on that freighter that left
last night. She'll go out by Skagway,
and III join her later. where | can
have her to myself. She's forty miles
up river now and getting farther every
minute. Oh, you can't catch herr
The three men stared at one another
blankly.
"Why did she go?' said Gale duly.
Because | told her she was
and who you arc; becau-e she thinks
you killed her mother; because she
was glad to get away" Now that he
was grown too weak to infict violent
pain the man lied malevolently, gloat-
ing over what he saw in the traders
face.
Never mind, old man; I'll bring her
back" said Burrell and laid comfort
Ing hand on Gales shoulder, for the
fact that she was safe, the fact Of
knowing something, relieved him i'm
mensely, but Stark's next words plung-
ed him into even blacker horror than
the trader felt.
"You won't want her if you catch
her. Runnion will see to that"
"Runnionp
eyes. | sent him with her."
Lie lOSeE CTltu Oul III UhSuioh ohu
hid his face in his hands.
Hes wanted her for long time, so
/ told him to go ahead"
None of them noticed PoleOn Doret,
who upon this unnatural confession
alone seemed to retain sufficient con-
troll to doubt and to reason. He was
hard, Strengthening out GER
tain facts and trying to square this
horrible statement with things he had
seen and heard tonight. All of a sud-
den he uttered a great cry and bolted
out into the darkness UNDECIDED by
Gale and Burrell, who stood dazed and
distraught with fear greater than
that which was growing in Stark at
sight Of his wounds:
The gambler looked down at his In.
juries. opened and closed the fingers
Of his hand as IL TO see whether he