Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-05

II makes it ten times harder"
His incoherence alarmed his listener
more than his words
Were have you look?"
''rve been to the house. but Alluna
is crazy. and says Gale has gone to kill
Stark, as near as l can make out. Both
of them were at my quarters tonight and
I'm afraid the squaw is right"
But Were is Nectar"
I'VE don't know; maybe Stark has got
her"
The Frenchman cursed horribly. Have
you try hees cabane?'
No"
Without answer the Frenchman darted
away, and the lieutenant sped after him
through the deserted rows of log houses.
"Ha. Dere's light" snarled Doret, over
, his shoulder as they neared their goal.
BE careful" painted Burrell. "Waitl
Don't Knock He forced Poleon to pause.
Lets find out who's inside. Remember,
we're working blind"
He gripped his companions arm with
fingers of steel and together they crept
up to the door. but even before they
had gained it they heard voice within.
1t was Stark's. The walls of the house
were Of moss-chinked logs that deadened
every sound, but the door itself was of
thin. whip-sawed pine boards with ample
I
being of small dimensions, they heard
plainly. The lieutenant leaned forward,
then with difficulty smothered an excla-
nation, for he heard another voice now
the voice of John Gale. The words came
TO him muffied but distinct and he raised
his hand to knock, when, suddenly ar
rested, he seized Poleon and forced him
10 his knees, kissing into his ear:
Listen! Listen! For Gods sake,
listen!"
For the first time in MS tempestuous
life Ben Stsrk lost the iron composure
that had made his name a byword in the
west, and at sight of his bitterest enemy
seated in the dark of his own house
waiting for him he became an ordinary,
nervous, frightened man faced by great
peril. 1t was the utter unexpectedness of
the thing that shook him, and before he
could regain his balance Gale spoke:
I've come to settle, Bennett"
What are you doing here?' the gam
bier stammered.
II was up at the soldiers place just
now and heard you. / didn't want any
interruptions, so 1 came here where we
can be alone" He paused. and, when
Stark made no answer continued,
! well, let's get at It," But still the other
made no move. You've had all the best
of it for twenty years." Gale went on
in his level voice, but tonight 1 get
even. By God! I've lived for this"
THAT shot in Lees cabin?" recalled
Stark, with the light of new under
standing. you knew me then?"
Yes"
stark took a deep breath. what a d.
fool I've been!'
Your devils magic saved you that
hut thiSp' said the
gambler, unsteadily. at which Gales face
blazed.
'Har' exclaimed the trader. exultingly;
you can feel it in your CUTS already,
eh?"
With an effort Stark began to assemble
his wits as the trader continued:
You saddled your dirty work on me,
Ben Stark. and I've carried it for fifteen
years; but tonight 1 put you out the way
you put her out An eye for an eyer
II didn't kill her." said the man.
Don't lie. This isn't grand jury.
We're all alone"
IT didn't kill her."
so? The yellow is showing up at last.
I knew you were a coward. but l didn't
think you'd be afraid to own it to your
self That thing must have lived with
you"
Look here" said Stark. curiously, do
you really think killed Merridy?"
L know it, A man who would strike
woman would kill her-if he had the
nerve"
Stark had now mastered himself, and
smiled.
INV hate worked better than 1 thought.
Well, we'll, that made it hard for you,
didn't it?'' he chuckled. 81 suppose, OF
course, you knew"
KNEW Gales face showed emotion
for the first time. KNEW WHAT" His
hands were quivering slightly.
"She killed herself"
so help you God?"
$50 help me God!'
There was a long pause.
"Why?"
Say, it's kind of funny our standing
here talking about that thing, isn't it?
Well. if you want to know, 1 came home
early that night guess you hadn't been
gone two hours-and the surprise did it.
more than anything else, l suppose-she
hadn't prepared a story. I got suspicious,
named you at random, and hit the nail on
the head. She broke down, thought
knew more than 1 did, and-and then
there was hell to pay"
GO on"
81 suppose I talked bad and made
threats-I was crazy over you-till she
UuuSl nave NIOu6HL hACdhA " nil AASAs
but didn't. No. never was quite that
bad. Anyhow, she did it herself"
Gales face was like chalk, and his
voice sounded thin and dry as he said:
You beat her, that's why she did it,"
Stark made no answer.
1.-The papers said the room showed a
struggle"
When the other still kept silent, Gale
insisted:
Didn't your"
At this Stark famed up defiantly.
'well, I guess 1 had cause enough. No
woman except her was ever untrue to me
wife or sweetheart"
You didn't really Think"
Think hell 1 thought so then, and
think so now. She denied it, but"
"And you knew her so well, too I guess
you've had some bad nights yourself
Bennett, with that always on your
mind"
ct swore I'd have you"
and so you put her blood on my
head, and made me an outlaw" After
an instant: why did you tell me this.
anyhow
Its our last talk, and / wanted you
to know how well my hate worked"
"Weu, L guess that's ALL" said Gale. So
far they had watched each other with
unwavering. unblinking eyes, straining al
the leash and taut in every nerve. Now
however, the traders fingers frightened on
4 IL - - Il n