The Holly chieftain., 1909-04-16
e By -

'.iS "a. ''..,
'.Good-tive against three. not count
ing the girl and the lieutenant Stark
mused. well, that will do it, He
outlined his plan: then the two re-
turned to the cabin to find Lee cook
ing supper.
Poleon had finished several pipes
and after supper sat I'm the shadows In
the open doorway apparently tired and
detected, though his eyes shone like
diamonds and roved from one to the
other. Half unconsciously he heard
Stark saying:
''This girl was about your size but
not so dark. However. you remind me
Of her In some ways That's why 1t
puts her in my mind, ! suppose. She
was about your age ut the lime-nine-
teen"
"Oh, I'm not eighteen yet" said Ne
cia.
We'll. she was a fine woman any
how, the best that ever set foot in
Chandon. and there was Il great deal
OF talk when she chose young Bennett
over the Gaylord man. for Bennett
the start. and everybody thought it
was settled between her and the other
one. However. they were married
quietly
The story did not interest the Cana
dian. His mind was in too great ugi-,
tation to care for dead tales. His
heart burned within him too iiercely,
and be felt too great desire 10 put
his hands to work As he watched
Burrel and Runnion bend over the
table looking at a little can OF gold
dust that Lee had taken from under
his bunk his eyes grew red and blood
shot beneath his hat brim. Which one
Of the two would it be? he wondered.
From the corner of his eye he saw
Gale rise from Lees bed. where he
had stretched himself to smoke. and
take his six shooter from his belt,
then remove the knotted bandanna
from his neck and begin to clean the
gun. his head bowed over 1t earnestly,
his face In the shadow. He had ever
been careful and methodical man,
reflected Poleon, and evidently would
not go to sleep with his tirearm in bad
condition
"Nobody Imagined that Gaylord
would cause trouble" Stark was say
ing. "for he didn't seem to be jenl-
GUS sort, just stupid and kind of heavy
witted But one night he took advan-
tage Of Benefits absence and sneaked
up to the house" The story teller
paused, and Necia, who was under the
spell of his recital, urged him on:
sYes. yes. What happened then?
Go on" But Stark stared gloomily Mt
his hands and held his silence for n
full minute, the tale appearing to have
awakened more than feeting inter-
est IN him.
1T was one of the worst killings
that ever happened iii those parts" he
continued. Bennett came back to find
his wife murdered and the kid gone
"Oh." said the girl In shocked
voice.
Eyes, there was deuce Of time.
The town rose up in a body. and We
you see, happened to be there-we
followed the man for weeks. We
trafled him and the kid clear over into
the Nevada desert. where we lost
them"
"He died of thirst in the desert may
be. he and the little one"
..That's what We thought at the time.
but I've crossed his trail since then.
No. Gaylord is alive today. and so is
the girl Some time we'll meet" His
voice gave out, and lie stared again at
the floor.
Couldn't the little girl he traced?''
said Necia. what was her name?"
Stark made to ayeak, but the word
was never uttered. for there came u
deafenlng roar that caused Lees can
die to leap and flicker and the air IN
side the cabin to strike the occupants
like a blow. Instantly there was con
fusion, and each man sprang to his
feet. crying ont nffrightedly, for the
noise had come with utter unexpected
ness
"My God. I've killed him. cried
Gale. And with one jump lie cleared
half the room and was beside Stark.
while his revolver lay on the floor
where he had been sitting.
what is it?'' exclaimed Burrell
But there was no need to ask. for
powder smoke was beginning to fill
the room. and the traders face gave
answer. 1t was whittier ti.an that OF
his daughter, who had crouched fear
fully against the wall, and he shook