Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-08-21

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could but be conscious Of those bar
risrs formerly existing between them
which this discovery had instantly
swept away. Now they could meet
upon level. as man and woman. No
longer could rank intervene; not even
the stain OF his own court-martiAl
Possibly she dreamed OF what was
passing In his mind. for she suddenly
lifted her eyes to his.
SHALL tell your"
mo; not now; both your explana-
ton and mine can wait" he replied
quickly. Il can stand alone now
see." and he regained his feet. sway
ing slightly with dizziness. yet smiling
down at her as he held forth a hand.
Nov you try It: take hold OF me I'M
tn you test your limbs-that was an
ugly fall you got when l shot your
pony"
She Strengthened slowly. her cheeks
| flushing in the keen air, her eyes
striving to smile back in response to
his challenge.
That was nothing" she protested.
tramping about. II only went down
into the snow, but my arms were
bound, and the pony fell on my foot
1t feels quite natural now"
Good. We shall have to tramp a
little way. In which direction did Du-
pont go?"
Across the ridge there; see, that
is his trail"
Then he never saw our horses out
yonder. That is one piece Of good
luck. at least. The sooner we get to
them the better. have been guilty Of
enough foolishness today to be careful
hereafter" He looked across at
Hughes body. II wonder II that fell
low meant to hit me? never trust
ed him much, but didn't expect that.
Did you see him flre?"
Eyes, but it was SO sudden could
not even cry out. He was upon one
knee, and his revolver waved like this
as he tried to aim. Dupont saw 1t,
and jumped just as he pulled the trig-
ger"
81 thought SO. The poor devil got
the wrong man."
"Why? Were these two enemies?"
"They had been partners, stealing
and running cattle. Dupont had cheat
ed Hughes out of his share. and there
was bad blood between them. ran
across the fellow up on the Cimarron,
waiting for Dupont to come back to
his old range. Did you ever hear Du-
pont called by any other manner"
She shook her head questioningly.
mo; wasn't that his real name?
The woman back there-wasn't she
his wife?"
"She was his wife, yes; but their
name was not Dupont. That was as
sumed; the correct one was LIE
Fevre."
lie Fevre! Why-why, wasn't
that the name of the man you told me
about once?-the officer who brought
you those orders?"
"He Is the same. did not know
him at Dodge; not until Hughes told
me. He had changed greatly in ap-
pearance and only saw him at night.
But it was because l knew that
failed to kill him here; 1 wanted him
alive, SO | could compel him to tell
the truth"
She gave a little sob, her hands
clasped together. The mans voice
} softened, and he took step nearer,
J bending above her.
! And yet now l do not care quite as
much as l did"
She looked up quickly into his face,
! and as swiftly lowered her lashes.
/ You mean you have found other
evidence?"
: mo, but l have found you, dear
, You need not try, for am not going
to let you get away. 1t is not the Off
. GERS daughter and the enlisted mar
any more. Those barriers are al
gone. / do not mean that am indif
o ferent to the stain on my name, or any
y less DESTROYS Of wringing the trutf
I from Gene LIE Fevre's lips, but ever
the memory of that past can keep mt
" silent no longer You are alone in thu
: world now, alone and in the shadow o
disgrace-you need me-"
/. He stopped. amazed at the boldnes
of his own words. and, in the silenc,
e of that hesitation. Molly lifted he
eyes to his face.
IL think have always needed you,
she said simply.
He did not touch her, except to elias
the extended hands. The LONELINESS
ot of the girl, here, helpless, alone wit
a. him in that wilderness of snow, Dor
ID in upon his consciousness with sue
H. denness that robbed him Of all sens
lg of triumph. He had spoken passion