The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-01-14
In Place
OF Paul.
By EFEy W. SARGENT.
COPYRIGHTED, 1906 by Associated
Literary Press.


conceal 1T seems to me. Jeanne, that
you are always fooIing with that muir
derous looking thing"
Not always was the grave re-
spouse For whole weeks it lies In the
TOD drawer, Frank, but once month
take 1t out aud clean 1t that II may al
ways be ready and that l may not Tor
get. as though ! ever could" she added
wildly.
Musgrave shuddered. He disliked the
sight Of weapons, and there was some
thing sinister in the care with which
the girl kept the revolver always In
good condition
1t was 40 pearl handled toy such as
Il WOMAN might be supposed to carry,
but blue barreled As that would
stop man with single shot. the
sort Of weapon that was meant Tor
men.
1t struck 4 Earring note in the femi-
ninity Of Jeanne Barthon's personality.
It was absurd and yet repelliny that
the dainty little artist should devote 30
much time 70 the care OF the black
nuzZled threat. All about were half
finished sketches. bits Of French sea
coast ideal heads and fashion draw
ings in odd confusion. with Il hand
some toilet over dresamaker's form
in one corner
Jeanne herself was essentially femi-
nine tiny mite Of a woman with
coropet Of golden hair suruiountlng a
fragile face. She was scarcely five feet
tall, and the gun WAS oddly out % pro-
portion.
Musgrave sank into a chair from
which he swept the fashion maya
zines to the floor and watched the girl
with gloomy face.
Perhaps II Will be as we'll to tell you
my secret Frank" she said ut length
when the weapon had been oiled and
reassembed Then you will under
stand my care and also why | cannot
promise To marry you. dear. 1t Is best
that you should understand"
Il have no wish to pry into your
secrets" he demurred. They cannot
be very iInporrant-e1cept your reason
for not wanting 10 marry me- You ad-
NIT that you are unmarried and free
and that you love me Those are the
essentials
Unmarried Yes" the girl breathed
tsnsely. but free no. Ii Is that
| would tell YOU. dear, so sit that I
may not see the horror tn your face,
and do not speak until have finished.
Sir So che added as she placed 4
chair SO that II stood directly before
hsr own
1T is the gun with which some day
am to XIII Il man" she began, plung-
ing into the middle OF her story Dc
not stir until | say that you may.
cannot talk II YOU Interrupt. 1t IL
hard enough TO tell even So
Then don't tell urged the man.
You never will kill man. You are
afraid even or the dark"
''Of the dark. yes" she admitted
softly. but when the moment OF re-
Venge comes | shall shoot to kill. with
never a thought Of what viii follow
They may not kill me, but | will spend
years in prison. and all because I have
done the justice that men would not
DO That is why | may not marry
Il had a brother once He was all
that | had Not even cousins had |,
and when my Paul went to your klon-
dixie I grieved and grieved. even
though he had promised that in one
year he would return with millions Of
francs aud should enter the atelier
OF the great artist with whom would
study and become famous
For year | had his letters. Then
none came. said that mails were not
Regular in that far off land and So |
waited almost another year Then
with the little money that l had |
sought him. for | knew that evil must
have hefallen.
Il journeyed across this great land
to the frozen north. and there learn.
ed the worst. Paul was dead-killed
b! his friend. they said-his friend
who could shoot him down for the lit
Tie gold that he had.
They said 1t was all an accident.
Bah, Men who handle guns do not
have accidents. Is IL reasonable to tell
that one is killed by another by acct
dent: This man said that he was
cleaning hr; revolver aud that 1t went
OF by itself. They had let him 60
He had fled the scene He came to
New York. they said. and he was q
lawyer.
There was little photograph OF
him That | brought with me- OF
course he would shave his beard, but
l have made other sketches-you have
sesn them with the face clean shaven
and with the mustache One mark lie
had--a great scar across the cheek. II
is his brand OF Cain. BY 1t | shall
Know him
Now | study art no more. l draw
fashions because it pays. and when l
am idle | haunt the courts. look for
lawyer With great scar. and when
End him this gun shall speak
Musgrave had risen from the chair.
and as She spoke she raised the re-
Solver and pointed 1t at an lima ginary
Toe. His turning disconnected her. the
gun waSered. there was 4 report. and