The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-10-15

strange, joyous tumult in his
heart-betrayed itself in his face
and before that betrayal the girl
drew back slowly, the color fad
ing from her cheeks.
And l believe you will not lie
to me again." he said.
She rose to her feet and flung
back her hair, looking down on
him in the manner of one who had
never before met this kind OF
man, and knew not what to make
of him.
mo, / will not lie to you
again." she replied, more firmly.
do you believe me now?"
Yes"
Then go back into the South.
| have come to tell you that again
tonight-to make you believe me.
You should have turned back at
LIE Pas. If you don't go tomor-
row"
Her voice seemed to choke her,
and she stood without finishing
leaving him to understand what
she had meant to say. In an in
slant Rowland was at her side
Once more his old, resolute fight
ing blood was up. Firmly he
took her hands again, his eyes
compelling her to look up at
him.
"If l don't go tomorrow-they
will kill me-" he completed, re-
peating the words of her note to
him. Now, if you are going to
be honest with me, tell me this
who is going to kill me, and why?''
He felt a convulsive shudder
pass through her as she answered,
81 said that / would not lie to
you again. If l cannot tell you
the truth l will tell you nothing
1t is impossible for me to say why
your life is in danger"
But you know?"
Eyes"
He seated her again in the chair
beside the table and sat down OPP
posite her.
will you tell me who you
are?"
She hesitated, twisting her fin
gers nervously in a silken strand
of her hair.
''Will your" he persisted.
eff l tell you who l am" she
said at last, you will know who
/ is threatening your life."
He stared at her in astonish-
ment.
"The devil, you say!" The
words slipped from his lips be-
fore he could stop them. For a
second time the girl rose from her
chair.
you will go?" hse entreated.
You will go tomorrow?
Her hand was on the latch OF
the door.
You will go?"
He had risen, and was light
ing a cigar over the chimney OF
the lamp. Laughing, he came to.
ward her.
Eyes, surely I am going-to see
you safely home" Suddenly he
turned back to the lounge and
belted on his revolver and holster
When he returned she barred his
way defiantly, her back against
the door.
"You can not go!"
"Why?"
Because" He caught the
frightened flutter of her voice
again. Because they will kill
Iyou!"
The low laugh that he breathed
in her hair was more of joy than
fear.
81 am glad that you care" he
whispered to her softly.
you must go!" she still per-
sisted.
with you, yes" he answered.
mo, no-tomorrow. You must
go back to LIE Pas-back into the
South. Will you promise me
that
Perhaps" he said. 81 will tell
you soon" She surrendered to
the determination in his voice and
allowed him to pass out into the
night with her. Swiftly she led
him along a path that ran into
the deep gloom of the balsam and
spruce. He could hear the
throbbing of her heart and her
quick, excited breathing as she
stopped, one of her hands clasp
ling him nervously by the arm.
ut is not very far-from here"
she whispered. You must not
go with me. If they saw me with
you--at this hour" He felt her
shuddering against him.
"Only little farther" he
begged.
She surrendered again, hest
tatingly, and they went on, more
slowly than before, until they
came to where a few faint lights
in the camp were visible ahead OF
them.
"Now-now yoJ must go!"
Rowland turned as IL tor obey
In an instant the girl was at his
side.
"You have not promised" she
ientreated. viii you go-tomor-
ROW."
In the iuster of the eyes that
were turned up to him in the
gloom Rowland saw again the
strange, sweet power that had
taken possession of his soul. II
X