Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-03-16

.-Now here stands the woman you have
insulted. Look at her. you lying
hound. There's only one thing you can
do! Acknowledge yourself a liar and
apologizer'
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 tiptoed around the
side of the room Harlan paid no at
tention to him. His eyes were for
Linton.
Are you going to apologize?''
I'll wait untif'- began the lawyer,
but he got no further.
The Thornton temper had been
strained beyond the breaking point.
Harlan was upon him.
Bring a dozenr' yelled the duke
after the chairman. who had been tug
ging 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
LIS DiOWS- de pore MIN down. he
drove resistless knees into his shout
ders- He thrust Unions face against
the floor and ground it against the
boards Then he dragged the limp
figure past the duke toward the girl.
She had fed to a corner, covering her
eyes and sobbing in terror.
You'll apologize to the girl who's
going to be my wifer' 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 APP
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 infuriate him more.
The duke hurried the gi ! out and
away while the peacemakers were
struggling with the young combatants
stop that bIubbering," 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 as much of
the true reason for the ARRAY as he
could He wanted to get the girl out
of sight.
81 didn't know-I did nothing-if it
was about me l didn't He stopped
her brutally.
about you, you little fool? OF
course it wasn't about you'll My grand
son is going to marry Luke Presson-s
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. 'They' have been going
together for months. She'll be the
right kind of a 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.. Thorntony
Its the truth. He'll marry her If
you haven't spoiled it 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 a wife that could
help him! You get away from here
as quickly as you can. You hear me?
y
Don't stay around nere and disgrace
him any more. It's bad enough, as it
is, for him and Miss PressonY'
She stared at him, stricken and puz-
zled- Then she left him.
81 don't need any further escort"
she informed him, turning after she
had gone few steps. 1t was Dennis
Kavanagh's girl speaking now. 'sI
have been escorted by the 4horntons
quite enough during the past ten min
utes. 1 tell you again 1 believe you
lie But propose to understand some
thing more about this, and I'll not
disgrace you nor your grandson
GO ask some Questionsw 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 I'M
der watch md ward for a time.
The duke found his grandson in an
anteroom where the half dozen excit-
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 disgracing a
GIRL he muttered in his grandson's
ear. IF you haven't disgraced her and