Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-02


and crossed quickly to the door of his
bedroom and flung It open. On the
threshold he paused stock-still. The
place was empty; a draught sucked
through the open window, flirting with
the curtain and telling the story of the
traders exit.
IF you're looking for your coat, it's
here" he heard Stark say. Get into It,,
and we'll go for him.
The lieutenant's mind was working fast
enough now, in all conscience, and he
saw with clear and fateful eyes whittier
he was being led, at which a sudden reck-
less disregard for consequences seized
him. He felt blind fury at being pulled
and hauled and driven by this creature,
and also an unreasoning anger at Gales
detection. But 1t was the thought of Ne
ella and the horrible net of evil in which
this man had ensnared them both that
CALLED him most. 1t was all a terrible
tangle, in which the truth was hopelessly
hidden, and nothing but harm could come
from attempting to unravel it. There
was but one solution, and that, though
fundamental and effective was not to be
expected from an officer or the law. New
ertheless, he chose it, for Ben Stark was
too potent force for evil to be at large,
and needed determination as truly as II
he were some dangerous beast. He deter
mined to finish this thing here and now.
Meade went to his bureau, took his re-
volver from the belt where he had hung
it, and came out into the other room.
Sark, seeing the weapon, exclaimed:
You don't need that; he won't resist
you"
1--WE decided not to take him. said
Burreu.
Decided not to take him?" shouted the
other. "Have you weakened? Don't In
tend to arrest that MANI"
MOP cried the soldier. 1--WE listened
to your lies long enough; now I'm going
to stop them, once for all. You're too
dangerous to have around"
They faced each other silently mo-
ment; then Stark spoke in very quiet
voice, though his eyes were glittering:
whats the meaning of this? Are you
crazy?"
'Gale was here just before you came.
and told me who killed your wife. l
know"
"You do?"
ct do"
"Well?"
tits pretty late. This place is lonely
This is the simplest way"
The gambler fell to studying his antag-
onist. and when he did not speak Burrell
continued:
Come, brace up! I'm giving you a
chance"
But Stark shook his head.
Don't be afraid" insisted the lieuten-
ant ''There are no witnesses. If you get
me, nobody will know, and your word IS
good. If motifs much simpler than the
other" Then, when the gambler stllI
made no move, he insisted, t'You wouldn't
have me kill YOU like a rattlesnake?"
you couldn't" salu the older man.
you're not that kind-and I'm not the
kind TO be cheated, either Listen! I've
lived over forty years, and l never TOOK
less than was coming to me. 81 won't be-
gin tonight"
you'll get your share"
bah! You don't know what mean.
don't want you; it's him I'm AFTER anu
when I'm done with him I'll take care OF
Won. hut I won't run any risk right now
I won't take a chance on losing what I've
r,sked so much to gain, what I've lived
those fifteen years to get. You might put
me away-there's the possibility-and
u,cSa,t LET YOU or any other manor
woman either. not even my girl-cheat
me out of Gale. Put up your gun.
The soldier hesitated, then did as he
was hidden, for this man knew MIN oet-
ter than he knew himseh.
'T ought to treat you like mad dog,
hut 7 can't do it while your hands arc
mn. I'm going to fight for John Gale,
however. and you can't take him"
"II have his carcass hung to my ridge
pole before daylight"
mo" -
~ saw vesl" stark turned to go. but
paused at the door And you think youH
marry Necia, do your
81 know it,"
Like hell you will. Suppose you find
her first"
'eWhat do you mean? Wait"
But his visitor was gone, leaving behind
him a lover already sorely vexed, and
now harassed by a new and sudden APP
prehension. What venom the man distill-
edl Could it be that he had sent Nicola
AWAY? Burrell secuted the idea. She
wasn't the kind to go at Starks mere
behest: and as for his forcing her, why,
this was not an age of abductions! he
might aim to take her, but 1t would re-
uuire some time to establish his rights,
and even then there were Gale and HIM
self to be reckoned with. Still, this was
no time for idling, and he might as well
make certain, so the young man put on
his coat hurriedly, knowing there was
work to do. There was no telling what
this night would bring forth, but first
he must warn his friend, after which
they would fight this thing together, not
as soldier and civilian, but as man ami
man. not for the law, but against it, He
smiled as he realized the situation. Well,
he was through with the army, anyhow;
his path was strange and new from this
time henceforth, and led him away from
all he had known, taking him among
other peoples; but he did not finch, for 1t
led to her. Behind him was that for
mer life; tonight he began anew.
Stark traced his way back to his cabin
| in a ten times fiercer mood than he had
come. reviling, cursing, hating back back
past the dark trading-post he went, paus-
ing to shake his clenched fist and grind
out an oath between his teeth; past the
dooro of his own saloon, which was
a-light, and whence came the sound of
revelry, through the scattered houses,
where he went more by feel than by sight,
up to the door of his own shack. He fit
ted his KEY in the lock, but the door
swung open without his aid, at which he
remembered that he had only pulled it
after him when he came away with Ne
cia He closed it behind him now, and
locked it, for he had some thinking to
do; them felt through his pockets for a
match, and, striking it, bent over his
lamp to adjust the wick. 1t flared up
steady and strong at last, flooding the
narrow place with it's illumination; then
he Strengthened up and turned towards
the bed to throw off his coat, when sud-
denly every muscle of his body leaped
with ba