The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-12-12

] leUer were HOueSl. AlllI SOlHthON
Guy, however much he desired to
believe otherwise, felt that all that
was written above that plain sigma
ture was the simple truth.
He looked up from his reading;
nor could he keep the bitterness OF
his feelings out of his face. Elwood
was not looking at him. He felt
rather than saw what the effect of
the letter must be, and he had not
come to triumph over fallen enemy.
you have done this" Guy said at
| last, and his mouth was dry, and his
tongue seemed suddenly to have be-
come too big for it. His speech
was quite thick.
IL have taken my share in it,
you knew all along what was
being &one?"
yes"
How
Elwood remained silent a minute
measuring his adversary with steady
eyes.
rs it of consequence" he asked
at last, with an indifferent raising
of his eyebrows.
Guy gave short, hard laugh.
mo, suppose it isn't"
We'll? And you will turn back?"
Guys retort came at once, and
with dogged force.
NO, / shall go on
The other shook his head
You win not There are two
courses left open to you. One is 10
tur back and remain in Mafehng
until such time as our compact is
settled. The other is to remain here.
Don't make any mistake he went
on, as Guy smiled contemptuously at
his woHds. Let me explain your po-
sition You are watched. There is
not a single move you make but
what hear of it. And there are
enough men surrounding this camp
at this very moment to carry out
any instructions they may receive
from me. If you attempt to go on
1t means"
He shrugged.
Hell take you Mo-"
Then you will have to stay here
as you are. All communication is cut
off by my Kaffirs. Your supplies
will last you just so long. After that
-"
Starvation, | suppose Guy added
sneeringly, as the other broke off.
Il suppose"
"And if / return, do you know
what it means to me? You. who seem
to have spied everything out. 1t
means death anyway. Our conspiracy
is not childs play
mo. But you arew rong. Your con-
federates will be far too busy short
ly looking after their own safety to
bother about you. In a week or two's
time they will know what is doing,
and then, like all true conspirators
and meerkats, they will hunt their
respective holes. Besides, my inter
ests are TO preserve your life until
our compact is fulfilled, and ! give
you my word shall spare no trouble
in that direction. By next August
should Like to say that all these
people viii be out of the country, or
have developed into good, sound law
abiding citizens. There is less to
fear from them than you think"
There was something so quietly
matter-of-fact in Elwoods manner
that it was impossible to doubt his
sincerity. Guy listened because he
HAD to. And in spite of his feelings.
in spite of his hatred of the man
who was thus calmly forcing his will
upon him, he found himself trying
to estimate the nature which prompt
ed these actions. He had a feeling
similar to that of a man bound hand
and foot, who, powerless, has lost
all desire for resistance and is left
mute and wondering, calmly awaiting
what is to happen
His handsome face was serious. 1t !
was something mor-. There were |
drawn lines about his eyes and |
mouth, lines which suggested mental |
strain. But he was unconscious of
such a strain. His brain at that |
moment was super!atively active, but |
with a sort of sub-conscious thought |
fitting through it, Just as curious
fear was gripping him of which he |
had no realization. And the trend |
OF both thought and fear were not |
of his baffled enterprise, but of the
purpose OF this man. For the first |
time since its making the compact |