Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-07-18

Mad With Terror, She Pulled the
Trigger.
greuul of having permitted herself to
drift into this position, yet not in the
least knowing how to extricate herself.
Hawley took everything for granted,
her very silence cling him OF her
acquiescence. With throbbing pulse,
Hope felt the small revolver hidden
within her dress, undoins button so
that. IN emergency, she might grasp 1t
moro quickly. Hawley felt the move
ment, the trembling OF her arm.
You are afraid. just the same" he
said. pressing her to him lover-like
Darkness always gets on a womans
nerves."
Yes, that and loneliness" resent
ing his familiarity DO We need to
go any farther? Surely, we are alone
here"
Only few steps; the ravine is
yonder and we can sit down on the
rocks. want to smoke and we will
be entirely out OF sight there"
He helped her down the rather
sharp declivity until both were thor
oughly concealed below the prairie
level. Feeling about with his hands
he found the surface OF a smooth rock.
and seated her upon 1t. Then match
Jared, casting an instant's CLEAN
across his face as he lighted his cigar.
Blacker than ever the night shut down
about them, and he CROPPED for a seat
beside her. She could perceive lust
one star peering through a rift of
cloud, and in her nostrils was the
pungent odor of tobacco With little
shlver OF disgust she drew slightly
away from him. dreading what was to
come. One thing alone she felt was
in her favor-However familiar Haw
Icy attempted to be, he was evidently
not yet sufficiently sure of Miss Mac
laire to become entirely offensive. She
might not have frowned at his love.
making. but apparently he had not
yet progressed sufficiently far in her
good graces to venture to extremes.
Hope pressed her lips together. de-
termined to resist any further ap-
earliest words We're a relief.
Il reckon. Christie" he said slowly
between puffs on his cigar, the lighted
end of which family illumined his
face. you've got the idea l have
brought you out here to make love-
Lord knows I'd like 10 we'll enough,
but just now there's more important
matters on hand. Fact is, my girl,
we're up against a little back-set, and
have got to make shift in our plans
"a mighty quick shift, too" he added.
almost savagely.
II don't think | understand"
NO, Of course, you don't. You i'm.
agine all we've got to do in a matter
Of this kind is to step into the near
est court. and draw the money One
trouble Is. our evidence isn't complete
we've got to find that woman who
brought you up
oh" said Hope, not knowing
what else to say.
Yes" he went on. apparently sat
isfied with her exclamation. "Of
course, l know she's dead, or at least.
you say SO. but we haven't got enough
proof without her-not the way old
Waite promises to fight your claim
and SO we've got to hunt for substi-
tute. Do you happen to know any old
woman about the right age who would
make affidavit for you? She probably
wouldn't have to go on tho stand at
all. Waite will cave in as soon as he
knows we've got the evidence"
He waited for an answer. but she
hardly knew what to say. Then she 70
membered that Keith insisted that
Miss Maclaire had no conception that
there was any fraud in her claim.
No, l know no one But what do
you mean? l thought everything was
straight? That there was 40 question
about my right to inherit?"
We'll, there isn't, Christie" pulling
fiercely on his cigar But the courts
are particular; they have got to have
the whole thing in black and white.
thought all along l could settle the en-.
tire matter with Waite outside, but
the old fool won't listen to reason. 1
saw him twice to-day"
Twice." surprise wrung the word
from her.
Yes; thought ! had got him off on
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