The Huttig news., 1909-07-24
CHAPTER VI.
In Marion,s Shon.

In Marion's Shop.
 In Poney street. Medicine Bend, stands an early.day row of one-story buildings; they once made up pros porous block which has long since fallen into the decay of paintless days. There is in Boaey street a livery stable, 3 secondhand store, a laundry a bakery, a moribund grocery, and bicycle shop, and at the time of this story there was also Marion Sinclair's millinery S, op; but the better class of Medicine Bend business, such as the gambling houses saloons pawnshops. restaurants, barber shops, and those sensitive. clean-shaven. and alert es. tablishments known as gents stores, had deserted Boney street for many years. Bats fly in the dark of Boney street while Front street at the same hour is a blaze of electricity and iron tier hlarity. The millinery store stood next to the corner of Fort street. The lot lay in an l., and al the rear of the store the first owner 10 live in This faced on Fort street, so that Marion had her shop and liy. ing rooms communicating, and yet apart The store building is still pointed out as the former shop of Marion Sinclair where George Me Cloud boarded when the Crawling Stone line was built, where Whisper ing Smith might often have been seen. where Sinclair himself was last seen alive in Medicine Bend. where Dicksie Dunning's horse dragged her senseless one wild mountain night. and where. indeed, for a time the affairs of the whole mountain division seemed to tangle in very hard knots.
 In her dining room. which con nected through a curtained door with the shop. McCloud sat one day alone eating his dinner Marion was in front serving customer McCIoud heard voices in the shop. but gave nc heed till man walked through the curtained doorway and he saw Murray Sinclair standing before him. A stormy interview with Callahan and Blood at the Wickiup had taken place lust a week before. and McCloud after what Sinclair had then threatened though not prepared, felt as he saw him that anything might occur. Me Cloud being in possession of the little room, however, the initiative fell on Sinclair, who, locking his best. snatched his hat from his head and bowed ironically. My mistake" he said blandly.
 Come right in, returned McCloud, not knowing whether Marion had a possible hand in her husbands unex- pected appearance. Do you want to see me?"
 q don't" smiled Sinclair; "and to b. perfectly frank" he added with studied consideration, q wish to God l never had seen you. Well--youve thrown me. McCloud."
 You've thrown yourself, haven't you, Murray?"
 From your point of view. of course. But, McCloud, this is small country for two points of view. Do you want to get out of it, or do you want me to-"
 "The country suits me, Sinclair"
 No man that has ever played me dirt can stay here while I stay" Sin clair, with hand on the portere, was moving from the doorway into the room. McT ssld in a leisurely way rose thou - gith slightly flushed face. and at that juncture Marion ran into the room and spoke abruptly sHere is the silk, MT Sinclair" she i exclaimed, handing to him a package she had not finished wrapping T meant you to wait in the other room"
 Tt was an accidental intrusion re- turned Sinclair, maintaining his irony. q have apologized and Mir McCloud end I understand one another better than ever"
 Please say to Miss Dunning," con tinued Marion. nervous and insistent, that the band for her riaing-hat hasn't come yet, but it should be here tomorrow"
 As she spoke McCloud leaned across the table, resolved to take advantage of the opening, if it cost him his life And by the way, Mir Sinclair Miss Cunning wished me to say to you that the lovely bay colt you sent her had sprung his shoulder badly, the hind shoulder, I think. but they are doing everything possible for it and they i think it will make a great horse" ] Sinclair's snort at the information