The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-25

If they look back" he muttered. fling
ing his rifle lovingly. AZ nightfall he
watched them depart and grinned at
the chase he would lead them when
they returned.
-Four weeks passed, weeks OF hunger
and nervous strain, and he was getting
desperate. He had learned that
Greener and his fiancee were going
down TO Linnville soon, since Perry's
Bend had no parson; and his cup OF
bitterness, overlooking, drove him to
FISK an attempt to leave that part of
the country. He had seen none OF
Pete's Gordon" although he had look
ed for them, and he believed he could
get away. So he rode cautiously down
Apache Pass one noon. planning his
route. The sand, washed down from
the rock walls by the last rain, dead
ened all sounds of his progress, and as
he turned a sharp bend he ran into
Greener and Norah Joyce, not fifty
feet away. They were laughing at
how they had eluded and escaped the
crowd of friends eager to accompany
them-but the laughter froze when
Johnny's gun swung up.
\ dis up, Greeneri' he snapped, vi
ciously, remem bering his promise to
Nolan. Miss Joyce, il you make
trouble it'll cost him his life"
Turned highwayman, Ell? ?" sneered
Greener, keenly alert for the necessary
traction of a seconds carelessness on
the part of the other.
Miss Joyce, you will please ride
along; l want To talk To him alone.
Johnny requested.
Yes. dear. that's best. I'll join
you soon" urged Greener, flashing her
look she understood instinctively.
But Johnny was too wise to fail into
the trap: Don't get out of my sight,
an don't make no noise or SIGNS: II
YOU do he'll have to pay for it.
Hou coward she cried angrily.
Coward and delivered an impromp-
tu lecture that sent the blood surging
into the fUgitive's wan cheeks. But
she obeyed, slowly, and when she was
out of hearing Johnny spoke.
"Greener yo're not going to marry
her. You know what you are, you
know how yOre first wife died-an'
abused as the other was. I'm a fugi-
tive. hard pressed; I'm weak from
want of food. and from hardships; all
L have left is a slim chance of gettin'
away. I've reached the point where
l can't harm myself by shooting you,
an I'm going TO do it rather than let
any trouble come to her. But youth
get an even break, because l amt
never going TO shoot man when he's
helpless. Got anything to say?"
Yes, yore tn biggest fol l ever
saw replied Greener. "Yo're locoed
II
to take great pleasure in putting you
away. But / want to thank you for
one thing you did. You were drunk
at the time an may not remember it.
When you hit Nolan for talking like
he did l liked you for it, an I'm goin'
90 tell you so. Now Wen get at tn
matter before US so l can move
along"
Neither had paid any attention to
Norah in the earnestness and keen
eyed scrutiny of each other. and the
first sign they had of her actions was
when she threw her arms around
Greeners neck and shielded him. He
was too much OF a man TO fire from
cover and Johnny realized il while
the other tried TO get her TO leave
the scene.
4 won't leave you to he murdered
i know what il means, L know it,"
Moran cried. My place is here, and
you can't deny your wifes first re-
quest, What will l do without you,
oh, dear, let me stay! l will stay.
What woman ever had such a we'd
ding day before! Dear, dear, what
can l do? Tell me what To do"
Johnny SMILED and wished the
posse had taken him. This was a side
he had never thought of. His Wife,