The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-12-13

had tried to conceal was about to be
revealed, thought Enid. She made a
| movement toward the old man. She
opened her mouth to bid him be silent
and then stopped. 1t would be use.
less she knew. The determination
was no longer hers. The direction of
affairs had been withdrawn from her.
After all it was better that the unloy.
ing wife should be proved faithful,
even If her husbands cherished mem.
DRY OF aer love for him had to be de-
stroyed thereby. Helpless she list
ened, knowing full we'll what the old
frontiersman's next word would be.
Prove it," Knocked Armstrong.
Howe"
by your own hand, out of your own
mouth, you dog" Numbered old Kirk.
by. Miss Enid, where are them let
tiers give you?"
IL" faltered the girl, but there
was no escape from the keen glance of
the old man; her hand went to the
bosom Of her tunic.
/ Letters" exclaimed Armstrong.
What letters?"
; These" answered Enid Maitland,
holding up the packet.
; Armstrong reached for them, but
ktrkbysagain interposed.
mo. you DON'T" he said dryly.
Them amt for your eyes yet. Mr..
,Newbold, found them letters on the
little shelf where your wife first struck
when she fell over onto the butte
where she died. l figured out her
dress was tore open there, and them
letters she was carrying fell out and
lodged there. We had ropes an we
went down over the rocks that way.
went first an l picked 'em up. nev-
ar told nobody about it, an l never
showed EN- to single human bein'
until l give 'em to Miss Maitland at
the camp"
"Why not?" asked Newbold, taking
the letters.
There wasn't no good tellin' nobody
then, jest fer the sake o. stirrin' I'D
trouble"
But why did you give them to her
at last?"
|. because was Altered she might
fall in love with Armstrong. sup
posed she'd know his writin', but wen
she didn't ! just let her keep EN-
anyway. knowed It'd all come out
somehow; there is a God above us in
spite of all the damned scoundrels on
earth like this 'un."
Are these letters addressed to my
dead wife," asked Newbold.
"They are" answered Enid Matt
land. Look and see."
And did Mr.. Armstrong write
them?'
He'll deny 1t, l suppose" answered
Kirkby.
But l am familiar with his hand
writing" said Maitland.
Taking the still unopened packet
from Newbold, he opened it, examined
one of the letters and handed them all
back.
There is no doubt about it." he
said. Its Armstrong; hand, I'd
swear to it."
"Oh, I'll acknowledge them" said
Armstrong, seeing the absolute fulfil.
ity of further denial. He had forgot.
ten all about the letters. He had not
dreamed they were in existence.
you've got me beat between you; the
cards are stacked against me. I've
done my damndest"-andi indeed that
was true.
Well. he had played great game.
battling for high stake he had stuck
at nothing A career in which some
good had mingled with much bad was
now at an end. He had lost utterly:
would he show himself a good loser?
"Mr. Armstrong" said sNewbold
quietly, extending his hand, here are
your letters"
what do you mean?"
II am not in the habit of reading let.
tiers addressed to other peoTle without
permission, and when the recipient OF
them Is dead long since. am doubly
bound"
You're a damned fool" cried Arm.
strong CONTEMPORARY
THAT kind of charge from your
kind of q NAN is perhaps the highest
complaint you could pay me. don't