The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-04-03

knew he loved this girl who came
from his own eastern borders. Per.
haps they would marry before she
went back home. He was masterful.
Had he not kicked Lame Bear and
sent him about his business even
when he knew she wished the Indian
to stay?
Mona turned suddenly and saw the
girl watching her from the rock above.
She was lying down full length on 1t.
her chin on one palm. her eyes un.
wavering. like a panther. for an the
world. Mona thought with . shiver.
Where have you been. Kit!" she
said, trying to be natural and pleas.
ant. Come down here, won't your"
Kit shook her head slowly. Her
wide hazel eyes looked sad and
shadowy. She looked down at the
corral where Sloane stood mending .
broken strap on his saddle
Il watch to see Lame Bear get
his revenge" she said dreamily.
Pretty soon he will come. He IL just
behind the carriage sheds now, creep.
ing. creeping up like a thunder cloud.
sect"
Kit" gasped the girl. too Mortified
to scream. She looked for Dave. but
he had disappeared the other way
down by the house. Kit. you're not
In earnest He isn't there
Kit turned to her as she scrambled
up to her side. and smiled gravely.
He is there. | sent for him to
come back want to hear news of
my people. You know who my people
are?"
Mona reached for the girls shoul.
ders, and shook her as If to make her
human and sane. AS she rolled over.
the long barrel of her rife lay on the
rock like an unc0iled snake, straight
and cleaning.
Kit. don't be an idiot" she said,
fiercely. You've set him on to kill
AL"
Xii smiled up at her, close Tipped.
eyes vide Il see him kiss you last
night often and long You can kiss
him again pretty soon. let you"
You Indian cat" It came between
MOna's teeth She struck blindly, try.
ing to throw the girl to one side, and
suddenly Kit knew she wanted the
rife Mona's knee was on her breast,
her hands trying to grip her wrists.
Her thick chestnut hair slipped down
about her face She gave a cry of
anger as she felt Kits teeth sink in.
to her am. She dared not call for
help. dared not shout warning for
fear Lame Bear would be the first to
kill But she loosened her grip on
the girl. and rose to her feet, the rifle
in her hand.
III you try to get up. I'll shoot you.
Kit, sure as anything" she said
breatllessly Il will" Then she
leveled the rifle with steady fingers at
the cronching creeping figure that
stoe along at HE back of the sheds,
husging the shelving hillside Dave
had taught her 10 shoot well her first
year at the ranch, but her fingers felt
numb, and her eyes were blurred or
dazzled by The sunlight Still she
aimed, and shot, shot again and again
till the barrels were empty, desperate.
ly. recklessly at the stealing figure
Then she dropped the rifle, and GOV.
cred her face with her hands, sobbing.
When she raised her head, Kit was
gone
And it's just what expected"
Aunt Nanette said when she came in
with bowl of broth to AL 1T
ain't enough goings on for one day
at the Wolverine to have pa dis. |
and Dave plump daffy, and
Kit run away to her own Indian folks. |
1t amt enough, ! say, for that lazy,
dirty Lame Bear to be ectting off |
with three bullets scatter, 1 promis. |
cuOus like in his nnards and you
with knife slit in your shoulder from
him, II amt enough. Is 1t, but what
we've got to have something else"
Sloane beamed at her over the rim
Of the soup bowl He remembered
little except the rapid shots, and then
the swift plunge Of the knife as Lame
Bear leaped at him. but he knew who
had fred the shots
Can I see her. Aunt Nanettey"
Mrs. Rogers stepped outside the
loor and coughed. Mona stepped past
her like slim shadow into the cool
iarkened room. She had meant to be
luiet and dignified. but the bandased
arm and shoulder and AIS face start.
ed her.
Hush. dear. hush." Aunt Nanette |.
ieard him say. "Bravest sweetheart
hat ever was Wen be married in
| week. |!
Didn't say something else was 70.
ng to happen?" Aunt Nanette tin.
Ged softly out to the kitchen. and left
hem together.
Copyright. 1914 hv the Mcclure Nevs.
paper Syndicate)