The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-11-08

charges against the dead woman, be-
meath contempt"
What did he say about her?" asked
old Kirkby.
''You know my story7" asked New
bold.
eyes"
HE said that my wife had been I'M
faithful to me-with him-and that he
had refused to take her back. Great
God!"
'"And 1t was true" snarled Arm
strong.
1t was all Maitland could do to
check Newbold's rush, but in the end
1t was old Kirkby who most effectively
interposed.
That's damned lie." he said quiet
~ with his usual drawing voice.
you can say So" laughed Arm
strong. "but that doesn't alter the
facts"
"And I can prove It," answered the
old man triumphantly.
1t was coming, the secret that she
had tried to conceal was about to be
revealed, thought Enid. She made q
movement toward the old man. She
opened her mouth to bid him be silent
and then stopped. It 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affairs had been withdrawn from her.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 unlov.
ing wife should be proved faithful,
even il her husbands cherished mem
ory of .ler 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
"How?"
by your own hand, out of your own
mouth. you dog" Numbered old Kirk
by. Miss Enid, where are them let
tiers I give you?"
T-1-" 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
Kirkby again interposed.
mo. you DON'T" he said dryly.
Them amt for your eyes yet. Mr..
Newbold, l found them letters on the
little shelf where your wife first struck
when she fell over onto the butte
where she died.. I 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.
I went first an picked 'em up. new
er told nobody about it, an never
showed 'em to a single human bein'
until 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' up
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 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
tham?"
Hell deny 1t. suppose" answered
Kirkby.
"But I 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. s.3s.
There is no doubt about it." he
said. 'It's Armstrong; hand. I'd
swear to It."
''oh. I'll acknowledge Them said
Armstrong. seeing the absolute fulfil
fly 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' indeed that
was true.