Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-06-06

ii
or .wicp her glance went furtivey to
tie man beside her. Fear and distrust
were IN her eyes. Her hands were
tiyltlv Clasred together as they lay in
her Tap.
rteep woods stretched on either side
Of ne road Their stiffness was pro-
found The enveloping gloom seemed
a. Of the grave itself. The woman
Shrdlerod and drew her shawl closer
Lord ha' mercy" she spoke. 81
can't do it. ,TeSse--I can't. It's worse'n
murder-w orsen what's been done
already"
The man laid cruel lash across his
horses TANKS. You fool" he NUT
tered IT'S high time | brung you
away. You lovesick FOOL"
The girls eyes flashed sulenly.
THAT words lie." she retorted.
"Aln't goin' with you? And would
he a-doin that if | was lovesick for
somebody else? It's lie, and you
know it,
The man laughed. III you had stay
ed where you was you'd h blabbed
the whole thing out and you'd be in
iail now stead o. him."
Suddenly the woman threw her arms
upward It'll ha'nt me to my dyin'
day" she cried IL ought to ha' told
the truth. wish | had. l wish l
had! 1t couldn't be no worse'n it is
now"
II say that it could" savagely re-
turned the man. You keep your
mouth shut. | got all can do to save
MS as it is, 'thoutn you Vaughn your
tongue You keep your mouth shut"
The woman passed her hands over
her face miserably.
The man again slouched down In his
seat Now and then his moody glance
turned apprehensively to his compan-
ion.
"Tve done whole lot for your sake.
Lottie- May" he spoke Mt last II
could ha' got away long ago. I'm TAX
in big chances on your account. And
you don't seem to care"
Lottie- May noggett's face grew
shamed. Ives. do. jesse she ex
claimed. II know Just what you're
dom for ME The only show | got Is
to so with you. And you mustn't
thisk don't appreciate IT," Her
hands fluttered piteously at her throat
MY Cod" she cried her voice break.
ing in anguish. TON Stricklands
goin' to he hung! He's goin' to be
hung! They amt nothin' on earth can
save him."
Far in the east the gray dawn vas
breaking.
"D-n Tom Strickandw cursed the
man. III be glad when he is hung!
You've always been in love with himv
Hes goin' to be hung" repeated
the girl. And they amt no way to
save him now!'
An evil .mockery leaped into the
mans face. 'Oh, yes. there's way"
he retorted. "You 60 back there to
that trial and confess the truth
You're the only one on Gods earth
that can save him. Amt that so?"
The girls face whitened. AS the
man spoke they had turned from the
pike road and were going deeper into
the woods. A scant light of day had
come. The faces Of the two were
haggard and worn.
Eyes, I'm the only onev' cried Lot
tie-May Doggett suddenly. And that's
what I'd do now II | had the chance
tell the whole truth. amt thinkin'
more about you. I'm thinkin' about
Tom Strickland"
A forlorn and dilapidated cabin was
revealed in a barren little opening
ahead. The man laughed aloud as he
saw it.
you'll have to take 1t out In think.
in. Lottie-Mayw he exclaimed trium-
phantly. 1--WE got you now where you
are safe. When you and ME leave that
shack tonight there'll be no more talk
o. you savin' Tom Strickland. Well
be headed straight for Oklahoma then,
and nothin' can stop u.s."
The girls eyes rested on the miser-
able little cabin. An ominous light
was in them. The man drew up at the
hut and assisted his companion from
the wagon. He pushed open creak-
ing door. The cabins interior showed
black and forbidding.
'"That's where we stay till night
Time" he said. It'll take the horse and
| wagon round where they won't be seen
II anybody happens to come along.
And don't want no more o your
foolishness. Lottie-May"
The girl started as If struck. Don't
talk to me like that" she cried. II
amt your niger yet amt got to do
| anything don't feel like dom. You're
takin' too much for granted. Jesse"
The man seemed to lose all patience
at this Grasping the girl by the shout
ders he forced her into the hut. Then
he disappeared. moment later he
returned.
The girl was standing against the
wall Her face was buried In her
| arms. Sobs shook her body. The man
closed the door behind him.
ITO BE CONTINUED