The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-28
"If You'd Just Let Me Buy Her Back"

don't mention her to me again. II
you think 1t was easy to part with
her, you are mistaken. But I've seen
the last Of her, and l want to forget
her."
Daylight made no answer, and the
door closed behind her.
Half an hour later he was con.
ferrfng with Jones, an erstwhile ele-
ator boy and rabid proletarian whom
Daylight long before had grubstaked
to literature for a year. The result
Ing novel had been failure Editors
and publishers would not look at 1t,
and Daylight was now using the dis,
gruntled author In a little private
secret service system he had been
compelled to establish for himself.
Jones, who affected to be surprised att
nothing after MS crushing experience,
betrayed no surprise now when the
task was given him to locate the pur-
chaser OF a certain sorrel mare.
How high shall l pay for herr" he
asked.
ANY price. You've got to get her,
that's the point. Drive a sharp bar.
gain so as not to excite suspicion, but
get her. Then you deliver her to that
address up in Sonoma County. The
mans the caretaker on a little ranch
/ have there. Tell him he's to take
whacking good care of her. And after
that forget all about 1t. Don't tell me
the name Of the man you buy her
from. Don't tell me anything about
1t except that you've got her and de-
livered her. Savvee?"
But the week had not passed, when
Daylight noted the fash In Dede's
eyes that BODIED trouble.
Something's gone wrong-what is
itT' he said boldly.
"Mab," she said. "The man who
bought her has sold her already. If
thought you had anything to do with
it"
Il don't even know who you sold
her to-" was Day1ight's answer. "And
what's more, I'm not bothering my
head about her. She was your mare,
and It's none of my business what you
did with her. You haven't got her,
that's sure, and worse luck. And
now. while we're on touchy subjects,
I'm going to open another one with
you. And you needn't get touchy
about 1t, for It's not really your busi-
ness at all. It's about that brother Of
yours. He needs more than you can
do for him. Selling that mare Of
yours won't send him to Germany.
And that's what his own doctors say
he needs-that crack German spe-
cialist who rips mans bones and
muscles into pulp and then moulds
them all over again. Well, I want to
send him TO Germany and give that
crack fiutter, that's ALL"
III 1t were only possible!" she said
half breathlessly, and wholly without
anger. Only 1t isn't, and you know
1T isn't. l can't accept money from
you"
Now look here, Miss Mason.
You've got to get some foolish no
tions out Of your head. This money
notion is one Of the funniest things I've
seen. Suppose you was falling over
cliff, wouldn't 1t be all right for me TO
reach out and catch you by the arm?
Sure 1t would. You're standing in
your brothers way No matter what
notions you've got in your head.
you've got to get out of the way and
give him chance. VIII you let me
go and see him and talk 1t over with
him? I'll make it a hard and fast
business proposition. I'll stake him to
get well, and that's all, and charge
him interest"
She visibly hesitated.
And just remember one thing. Miss
Mason: it's his leg. not yours
Still she refrained from giving her
answer, and Daylight went on
strengthening his position
And remember, | go over to see
him alone. He's a man, and | can
Zeal with him better without women
folks around. I'll go over tomorrow
afternoon"