Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-01-07
copyriEht, lSOs. b. CAAa Scribner'sSOuA
CHAPTER xxxIII.
Duty.

The stir of the town over the shoot
ing OF Banks seemed to Marion, in her
distress, to point an accusing finger at
her. The disgrace Of what she had
felt herself powerless to prevent now
weighed on her mind, and she asked
herself whether, after all, the respon-
sibility of this murder was not upon
her. Even putting aside this painful
doubt, she bore the name of the man
who had saVagely deied accountable
ty and now, 1t seemed to her, was
dragging her with him through the
slough Of blood and dishonor into
which he had plunged.
The wretched thought would return
that had she listened to him, had she
consented to 90 away, this outbreak
might have been prevented. And what
horror might not another day bring
what lives still closer to her life be
taken? For herself she cared less:
but she knew that Sinclair, now that
he had begun, would not stop. In
whichever way her thoughts turned,
Wretchedness was upon them and the
day went in one Of those despairing
and indecisive battles that each one
within his own heart must fight at
times with heaViness and doubt.
. McCloud called her over the tele-
phone in the afternoon to say that he
was going west on the evening train
end would not be over for supper.
She wished he could have come, for
her loneliness began to be insupport-
able.
Toward sunset she put on her hat
and started for the post-office. In the
meantime, Dicksie, at home, had
called McCloud up and told him she
was coming down for the night. He
Immediately Cancelled his plans for
going west, and when Marion returned
at dusk she found him with Dicksie
at the cottage. The three had supper.
Afterward Dicksie and McCloud went
= out for walk, and Marion was alone
in the house when the shop door
opened and Whispering Smith walked
In. 1t was dusk.
Don't light the lamps, Marion" he
said, sitting down on a counter-stool
as he took off his hat. 81 want to talk
to you just a minute, if you don't
mind. You know what has happened
/ am called on now to 90 after Sin.
clair. have tried to avoid it, but my
hand has been forced. To-day I've
been placing horses. l am going to
. ride tonight with the warrant. have
given him start of "a hours, hoping
ne may get out Of the country. To
stay here means only death to him in
the end, and, what is worse, the kill
ing of more and innocent men. But
he won't leave the country; do you
think he will?"
"Oh, do not know! anu afraid he
will not"
81 do not think have ever hesitated
before at any call of this kind; nor al
what such a call will probably some
time mean; but this man | have
known since we were boys"
IF | had never seen him."
That brings up another point that
has been worrying me all day.
could not help knowing what you have
had to go through in this country. Il
is tough country for any woman
Your 'pe$3le and mine were always
close together and l have felt bound
to do what l could to"
Don't be afraid to say it-make my
path easier"
Something like that, though there's
been little real doing. What this stu
alton in which Sinclair is now placed
may still mean to you l do not know
but | would not add straw to the
weight of your troubles. | came to
night to ask plain question. If he
doesn't leave the country | have go
to meet him. You know what, in al
human probability, that will mean
From such a meeting only one of III
can come back. Which shall it be-"
I'm afraid l don't understand yor
do you ask me this question? How
can know which it shall be? Wha
is it you mean?"
=. 81 mean | will not take his life in
hght-if it comes to that-if vol
would rather he should come hack"
A sob almost refused an answer t
him. How can you ask me so ter
rible question:?
1T is question that means a gooC
deal to me, of course, and | DON
know just what it means to you; tina
Is the point l am up against ma,
have no choice in the matter, but
must decide what to try to do if
have one. Am l to remember frs
that he is your husband?"
sThere was a silence. What shall
say-what can say? God help me
how am | to answer a question lik
that?"
How am to answer it?"
Her voice was low and pitiful whel
her answer came: "You must do you
duty"
What is my duty, then? To serv
the paper that has been given t
me, know-but not necessarily to dc