Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-08-31


9 . his scanned. rugged face up
turned, lay dead at our feet, a
knife wound in his throat Just be-
yond. with head slightly uplifted on
protuberance of rock. lay a woman.
her slender figure t1raped in faded
red wrapper. her gray. struggling locks
half concealing her face Between
them was the knife, a thin bladed.
deadly poniard-
Both dead. No doubt Daniels died
first from the knife wound, but he
must have reached her in the strug
gle, hurting her down with him. As
she fell her head struck the rock and
the knife dropped from her hand
said Donald after our investigation
Tenderly he pressed back the gray
hair. revealing the woman's face.
Death had softened its expression. Civ
ing n younger hook. yet even now 1t
retained the appearance of suffering.
\ throb of pity came to me as looked.
II remember her now" Donald said
gravely. But how the years have
changed herl Calvert, she was your
mother
For answer Dunn dropped upon his
knees and bowed his head over the mo-
tionless body.
We bore the bodies out by the way
Of the cabin entrance. taking them
both into the main house. Dunn re-
manned with his mother. thoroughly
broken down by this revelation, and
Lucille joined him. Donald himself.
forgetful of the feud, went to Maria
with the news of her husbands death
and brought her and the eldest boy
back with him to sit beside the body.
There remained nothing for me to do.
and. depressed and lonely. returned
to the deserted library and waited
/ was still a prisoner. and / Won
dered what Donald intended to do with
me. Without doubt he understood by
now my connection with Jean, and he
might not feel so lenient toward me.
Where was Jean? Could she be avoid
ing me, ashamed of her avowaI and
hasty words seriously? Donald might
have convinced the girl it was better
we should never meet again.
The whole thing came to me In a
flash. Donald had reason to fear
Dunn and not me. My marriage to
Jean Denslow was a service which he
was willing to repay. Previous to my
appearance the love between these
two was hopeless, the girls father IA
voring Dunn's suit and forcing her to
immediate marriage l had blocked
that by pure accident. Delay was in
evitable, for the form of a divorce
would have to be gone through with
before Dunn could again claim her.
An this was to the advantage of DON
aid. His only immediate desire would
be to get rid of me, leaving him in
possession of the field. 1t was not
pleasant to think about-to realize
that the girl was being played with in
this manner and that 1 was utterly
helpless. If she cared for me the sit
uation would be different, but my love
was of no service while her heart be-
longed to another. Played with? Be
yond question she was part of the
play. acting her role at Donald's die
tation, as anxious as he was that L
should disappear from the stage.
1 had reached this gloomy conclu-
sion when the man himself came in,
closing the door behind him and cross
ing the room to stand with his back
toward me looking out of the window.
Finally he turned and looked at me.
his own face in the shadow.
king" he said gravely, las a Con-
federate officer it is no doubt my duty
to hold you as a prisoner of war. /
suppose that when Dunn RECEIVERS
from his present shock and his old ma
ture returns he will make some sort
of report of this matter and endeavor
to get me into trouble. The fellow
dislikes you cordially, and, from all l
hear. with good reason. However,
what he thinks doesn't affect me, and
l am going to gre you a horse and
safe passage into your own Hnes-you
and your wild Irishman."
Il thank you very much, Colonel
Donald rising to my feet and speak
ing rather stisny.
Not at all, lieutenant. I believe
owe you my life. but that counts even
less with me than jeans desire
have promised your release to hnr."
1 could say nothing. and he went on
gravely:
Il have just been given the details
of what occurred at Denslow'S plan
tation and your connection with the
affair. 1t makes a very peculiar
story. I had heard it limited at be-
fore. but had no reason to suppose
you the man May I ask. do you
alton in any way?"
II am aware of that, Colonel Don
aid. and will answer frankly i mean
to make every amend in my power
respect and admire Miss Denslow
sincerely and will never stand in the
way of her happiness. | pledge you
my word to this and ask your conf