The Holly chieftain., 1909-07-02

my kid. That's her he calls Necli
She's mine Amt l 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 1t 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.
'It's 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 fared up viciously, But
I'll beat you ALL I've got the girl.
I've got her."
"Neciav' cried Burrell, suddenly re-
membering. for this affray had driven
all else from his mind.
Stark crouched on the edge of his
bunk, ghastly gray grinning thing.
One weapon still remained to him. and
he used it.
EYES, 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
- h,,& ,Jvf,- L.
treat her like l did her.
Gale uttered terrible cry and
moved upon him, but Burrell shoul-
dered the trader aside, himself pos
sessed by cold fury that intensified
his strength tenfold
"Stop it, Gale. Let me attend to
this. I'll make him tell"
tOh. will you?" Knocked the girls
father
where is sheY'
None Of your id business!' 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 q red pool.
"Ben Stark" said the tortured lover
you're IL sick man. and youll be gone
in half an hour at this rate. Won't
you do one decent thing before you
die?"
"Eahl Pm all right"
I'll get You a doctor If f'you'll tell
us where she is. If you don't I'll--let
you die For Gods sake. man, speak
upr
Tbo l,l
could not. then considered for mo-
ment before he said:
Il sent her away"
'Where:"
"Up river on that freighter that left
last night. She'll go out by Skagway.
and I'll 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 mt one another
blankly.
"Why did she go?" said Gale duly
"Because told her who she was
and who you are; because she thinks
you killed her mother: because she
was glad to get away" Now that he
was grown too weak to inlict violent
pain the man lied maleyolently, glont-
ing over what he saw In the traders
fAoe.
"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"
"Runnion!'
Eyes. sent him with her"
The lover cried out in anguish and
hid his face in his hands.
Hes wanted her for long time. so
l told him to go ahead"
None of them noticed Poeon Dorei.
who upon this unnatural concession
alone seemed to retain sufficient con
troll to doubt and to reason He was
thinking hard. Strengthening out cer-
tain facts and trying to square this
horrible statement with things he had
seen and heard tonight All of sud.
den he uttered great cry and bolted
out into the darkness unheeded by
Gale and Burrell who stood dazcd and
distraught with n fear greater than
that which was growing in Stark at
sight OF his wounds.