The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-10-23

~ sOsoA' AOO0Ay - no - WpeS0
with her In this trouble. still the naA
could but b conscious OF those bar.
riers formerly existing between them
which this discovery had instantly
swept away. Now they could meet
upon . level. ~ man and woman. No
longer could rank intervene: not svsa
the stain Of bis own eourt-naFtial.
Possibly she dreamed Of what vas
passing in his mind. for she sudAsnly
lifted her eyes to his.
Shall I tell your"
NO: not now: both your sxplana-
ton and mine can watt" he replied
quickly. Il can stand alone now
see." and he regained his feet. sway
ing slightly with dizziness. yet smiling
down at her a. he held forth q hand.
Nov you try IT.: take hold Of me an
til you test your limbs-that was an
ugly fall you got when I shot your
pony"
She straightened slowly. hs, cheeks
flushing In the kesn air. her eyes
striving to smile back In response to
his challenge.
That was nothing" she protested.
tramping about. Il only went down
into the snow. but my arms wsrs
bound, and the pony fell on my foot
1t feels quite natural now"
Good. We shall have to tramp .
little way. In which direction did Du-
pont go!'
Across the ridge there: see. that
IL his trail"
Then he rever saw our horses out
yonder. That 10 one piece Of good
luck. at least. The sooner We get to
them the better. | have been Ouilty Of
enough foolishness today TO be careful
hereafter" He looked across At
Hughes body. II wonder II that fel-
low meant to hit me! l never trust
ed him much. but didn't expect that.
Did you see him frer
Yes. but 1t was 80 sudden could
not even cry out. He was upon one
knee. and his revolver waved like this
as he tried to aim. Dupont saw II.
and jumped Just a. he pulled the tFig-
ger"
Il thought 90. The poor devil sot
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. l 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 name?"
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
rumed; the correct one was LIE
Fevre."
lie Fevre! Why-why, wasn't
that the name Of the man you told me
about once?-the oficer 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 1t was because l knew that
failed to kill him here; wanted him
alive. 80 could compel him to tell
the truth"
She gave little sob, her hands
clasped together. The mans voice
softened. and he took a step nearer,
bending above her.
And yet now do not care quite as
much as did"
She looked up quickly into his face,
and as swiftly lowered her lashes.
You mean you have found other
evidence?"
mo. but ! have found you. dear
You need not try, for am not going
to let you get away. 1t is not the ON.
GERS daughter and the enlisted man
any more. Those barriers are all
gone. ! do not mean that am indif
ferent to the stain on my name. or any
less desirous Of wringing the truth
from Gene lie Fevre's lips. but even
the memory OF that past can keep me
silent no l6nger You are alone in the
world now, alone and in the shadow oi
disgrace-you need me-"
He stopped. amazed at the boldness
Of his own words. and, in the silence
OF that hesitation. Molly lifted he,
eyes to his face
Il think l have always needed you,'
she said simply.
He did not touch her. except to clasr
the extended hands. The loneliness
Of the girl. here. helpless. alone with
him in that wilderness Of snow. bore
In upon his consciousness with a sud
denness that robbed him Of all sense
OF triumph. He had spoken pAssion