Middletown transcript., 1912-06-15
CHAPTER xxIII..
The Becoming End.


He'd Oughter die sure nuff," draw
led old Kirkby, rising from where he
had been kneeling by Armstrong; 8
.side," but l don't knows how you're
bound to be his executioner. He's all
right now, Miss Enid" said the old
man. "Here"-he took a pillow from
the bed and slipped it under his head
and then extending his hands he lift
ed the excited almost distraught wO-
man to her feet" 'taint fittin' for you
to tend on him."
"Oh," exclaimed Enid, her limbs
trembling, the blood flowing away
from her heart, her face deathly white,
fighting against the faintness that
came with the reaction, while old
iKirkby supported and encouraged her,
II thank God you came. don't know
what would have happened if you had
not"
Has this man mistreated your
asked Robert Maitland suddenly, tight
ening his grip upon his hard breathl
ing but unresisting passive prisoner.
mo, no." answered his niece. "He
has been everything that man should
be-"
And Armstrong" continued her
uncle.
mo, not even he"
II came in tiIS7. thank God!" ejacu-
lated Newbold.
By this time Armstrong had recoV-
cred consciousness. To his other
causes for hatred were now added cha
grin, modification, shame. He had
been overcome. He would have been
a dead man and by Newbold's hands,
If the others had not interfered. He
almost wished they had let his en-
emy alone. Well, he had lost every
thing but a chance for revenge on
them all.
"She has been alone here with this
man in this cabin for a month" he
said thickly. 81 was willing to take
her in spite of that, but"
'He made that damned suggestion
before" cried Newbold, his rage re-
turning. Il don't know who you
are"
my name is Robert Maitland, and
/ am this girls uncle"
"Well, If you were her father, l
could only swear"
''It isn't necessary to swear any
thing" answered Maitland serenely.
Il know this child, and believe I'm
beginning to find out this man."
"Thank you, Uncle Robert" said
Enid gratefully, coming nearer to him
as she spoke. "No man could have
done more for me than Mr.. Newbold
has, and no one could have been more
considerate of me. AS for you," she
turned to Armstrong, who now slowly
got to his feet, your insinuations
against me are on a par with your
charges against the dead woman, be,
meath contempt"
What did he say about herr" asked
old Kirkby.
"You know my story7" asked New
bold.
"Yes."
HE said that my wife had been un
faithful to me-with him-and that he
had refused to take her back. Great
God!"
"And 1t was true" snarled Arm
strong.
1t was all Maitland could do tt
check Newbold's rush, but in the enC
1t was old Kirkby who most effectively
interposed.
That's a damned lie," he said quiet
ly with his usual drawing voice.
you can say So" laughed Arm
strong, ''but that doesn't alter tn,
facts"
"And ! can prove it," answered thu
old man triumphantly.
It was coming, the secret that sht
had tried to conceal was about to b,
revealed, thought Enid. She made
movement toward the old man. Sh,
opened her mouth to bid him be silen
and then stopped. 1t would be use
-leaa she knew. The determination
was no longer hers. The direction o
affairs had been withdrawn from her
After all it was better that the unlov
Ing wife should be proved faithful
even II her husbands cherished mem
sory of her love for him had to be de
stroyed thereby. Helpless she list
ened, knowing full well what the oil,
frontiersman's next word would be.
prove it." Knocked Armstrong
"HowT
"By your own hand, out of your owl
mouth, you dog" thundered old KirH
by. Miss Enid, where are them lei
tiers l give your"
IL" faltered the girl, but ther
was no escape from the keen glance c
the old man; her hand went to tn
bosom Of her tunic.
Letters" exclaimed Armstrong
What letters?"
These" answered Enid Maitland
holding up the packet.
Armstrong reached for them, bU
Kirkby again interposed.
''No, you DON'T" he said dryly
Them amt for your eyes yet. Nj
NeEbOld, found them letters on tn
little shelf where your wife first struc
when she fell over onto the butt
where she died. figured out he
dress was tore open there, and theI
letters she was carrying fell out an
lodged there. We had ropes an W
went down over the rocks that wal
I went first an picked 'em up. 1 .ne7
er told nobody about 1t, an l neve
showed 'em to single human beiI
until / give 'em to Miss Maitland 8
the camp"
why nOt?" asked Newbold, takin
the letters.
There wasn't no good tellin nobod
then. jest fer the sake O. stirrin' u
trouble"
But why did you give them to he
at last2"
Because I was afeered she Nigh
fall In love with Armstrong. sui
posed she'd know his writin', but we
ahe didn't / Just let her. keep 'el