The evening world., 1914-01-31

DAKOTA had not moved.
re stood also. watchlng I-anRford.
MS race paic and grim, and he did
not speak until Sheiia had addrese.d
him twice.
What are you going to do novr.
she said duly. 1T 10 for you 10 NV.
you know. You hold his life In your
hands,"
dor" He smiled bittedy at hee.
What would you dof I have vsitsd
ten years for this day. Il must 70 %
to the end"
THE endf"
Yes. the end" he said grsvs,y.
"Hs"-Dakota pointed to the pees.
trats hsurs-'must sign . wrttta
confsssien." ~
"And thsnf"
He viii return to answer Tor ~
orims." .. t-,
shsila shuddsrsd and turned nea3
him with bowed head.
Obi" she said 1t last ~ win ~
too horrihlei Ny friends In tAs -
"Your friends" he said with seuo,
bitterness. Gould your friends o0y
more than my friends said 49,:
they thought that had murdeg01I
my own fatner In cold blood and -
but 1 am innoosat." sAs p,saAe1>
II was innocsnt." hs rstusnsA 49,
yes. but I could not help ysu, -:
know. for I wasn't there whoG yo0s
were accused. But you are h6sePy
.hH s.iA cCrrIuS c1c.> ~ ~ uS~CS~f
you SEQ that the disgrace will not fA1lA
on him, but ON met
Il will mako him sign. the eo01so<'
sion." she offered: you can hon q 4
over him. He win make rsstituHisG,
Of your property. But do not three;
him TO 70 back East. Let hin -.
somswhsrs--anywhers-but let hla4
the only one ever knew"
But my vengeance" ho aA1d. ~
bitterness OF his smile ooftenlAG - ~
looked down At her.
"Your vengeanco?" She came clnoe0
to him. looking up into his faoe. "ATo.
We to judge-t0 condemnr WIN noe
the power which led W three togstheP
call Fate the power that biased ~
trail which you have followed from
the yesterday Of your life-Will not
this power judge him-puntsh hint
"Please." she pleaded. "please. ~
my sake. for-for"-her voice broke
and she came forward and pleced
her hands ON his shouldsrs-"fer
your wifs's sake" =
He looked down at her for an In.
slant. the hard lines Of his face
breaking into gentle. sympathetic
curves. Then his arms went around
, her. and she leaned against him, her
head against his shoulder. while she
wept softly.
An hour later. standing side by
side In the open doorway OF the cab
In. Sheila and Dakota watched In ST.
lence while Langford. having signed
confession dictated by Dakota,
mounted his pony and rode slowly
up the river trail toward Laxette.
He slowly passed the timber clump
noar the cabin, and with bowed head
travelled up the long slope which led
to the rise upon which. In another
time, Sheila had caught her last
glimpse OF the parson.
II was in the cold bleak moment
OF the morning when darkness has
not yet gone and the dawn not come.
and l.angford looked strangely deco
late out there on the trail alone
alone with thoughts moro desolate
than his surroundings. !.
Sheila shivered and snuggled closer
to Dakota, lie looked down at her
with a sympathetic smile.
1T Is so lonesome" she said.
"Where?" he asked.
out there-where ne II going"
Dakota did not answer. For q loue
time they watched tho huddled f0gm
; OF the rider They saw him approach
the crest OF the rise--reach II.
Then from the mountains In the
/, Eastern distance came q SHAFT Of
light. striking the summit Of the rise
, where the rider bestrode his pQny--
throwing both into bold relief. \
1 For u moment the rider halted the
! pony. turned. glanced back an inota14
+, and was gone. .st-tf bsss