The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-03-14

hound. There's only one thing YOU can
do. Acknowledge yourself liar and
Apologize
Linton did not speak. He raised his
eyebrows. 1t was unspoken comment
on the peculiar actions of this young
savage from the woods.
"Presson, get out of here and bring
help" muttered the duke.
The chairman slipped the document
into his pocket and tiptocd around the
side OF the room. Harlan paid no at
fenuon TO him. His eyes were for
Linton
Are you going to apologize?''
"Ill wait until began the lawyer,
but he got no further.
The Thornton temper had been
strained beyond the breaking point
Harlan was upon him.
Bring n dozen" yelled the duke
after the chairman. who had been tug
gins at the door and now escaped
Linton was tall and muscular. but
law practice Is not numbering He
struck viciously at Harlan. ducking to
and fro with the briskness of the
trained boxer. But the woodsman
merely leaped upon him, needless of
his blows. He bore him down. lie
drove resistlcss knees into his shoul-
ders. He thrust L.inton's face against
the floor and ground ii against the
boards. Then he dragged the limp
figure past the duke toward the girl
She had fled to corner, covering her
eyes and sobbing in terror
you'll apologize to the girl who's
going to be my wifc," raved Harlan.
When Presson returned at the head
OF volunteers the victor was grinding
the bleeding face on the floor once
more. and Linton was screaming ap-
peals.
There were enough OF them to sepa-
rate the men. They dragged Harlan
away out of the room in spite of his
struggles. The mere sight of the law
yer seemed to infurate him more.
The duke hurried the q out and
away while the peacemakers were
struggling with the young combatants
stop that blubbering," he com
manded roughly. 'If you've got any
grit left in YOU brace up. Don't let
people here notice"
He WAS trying to hide MS much OF
the true reason for the alrray as he
could He wanted to get the girl out
Of sight
Il didn't know-I did nothins-if it
was about me | didn't He stoppc1
her brutally.
About you, you little fool? OF
course 1t wasn't about you. My grand
son is going TO marry Luke Pressons
daughter"
She stiffened in the hook Of his arm
They were in the corridor and had not
come into the view of the people
Every one knows it," he hurried on.
He saw an opportunity to get in a
cruel blow at the romance he suspect
ed and hated. "Thcy have been going
together for months. She'll be the
right kind of wife for him. They
were fighting about her-those two
young hyenas.'
She pulled away from him. The
tears were on her cheeks but she held
herself straight and looked him In the
eye.
That's lie, Mr.. Thorntonw
Its the truth He'll marry her II
you haven't spoiled 1t all for him
spoiled his good name and stirred up
all this scandal for him just as he was
getting ready TO amount to something
In the world, with wife that could
help him! You get away from here
as quickly as you can. You hear me?
If his career is spoiled you've done it.
Don't stay around lere and disgrace
him any more. It's bad enough, as 1t
Is, for him and Miss Presson"
She stared at him, stricken and puz-
zled. Then she left him
Il don't need any further escort"
she Informed him, turning after she
had gone a few steps. 1t was Dennis
kavanagh's girl speaking now. II
have been escorted by the Thorntons
quite enough during the past ten min
utes. tell you again believe you
lie. But propose to understand some
thing more about this, and I'll not
disgrace you nor your grandson"
go ask some questions!" he called
after her. He felt sure that gossip
would confirm him. But to make sure
that Harlan did not follow her and
find her and discredit gossip he turned
back down the corridor, purposing to
keep that belligerent young man un-
der watch md ward for time.
The duke found his grandson in an
anteroom where the half dozen cxcit-
ed. wondering men had conveyed him.
The old man and the young man
stood for a few moments and gazed at
each other. Harlan was breathless
disheveled; his knuckles were bleeding.
Where IS she;'
The duke came close to him. "She
went away. Now keep your mouth
closed. You talk about dlsgracing a
GIRL he muttered in his erandsons
ear. ''If you haven't disGraced her and
yourself and all Of us here today It
isn't because you haven't done your
best"