The evening world., 1914-01-26


came with . truculent snap. whats
'Lookin' for lry place. came ths
voice from without. "Msbbs 200
don't know it's wet out hsrsi"
Shcila's gaze was rivotod on Dako.
"a. He arose and noiseiessly moved
his chair rom the table and she
saw q 0aturnine smile on his face, yot
In his eyes there shons . CLINT Of
intolerance that mingled oddly with
"You sioons," he questioned. h,s
yes" -
"who are your"
"Campbellits preacher"
For the Hrst time since she had
been awake Dakota turned and
looked at Shsila. The expression Of
hts face pushed her. "A parsonl" he
sneered In . low VOICE II reckon
we'll have some praying now" lie
took . stop forward. hesitated, and
looked back at Sheila. do you want
him In here7"
sheiia's nod brought Q whimsical.
shallow smile TO his face. "Of courso
you do-you're lonesome In hera."
There was mockery In his voice. lie
deliberately drew out his guns, ex-
amincd thom infinitely, returned one
TO his holster. retaining the other IN
his right hand. With q cold grin at
SheilA he snuffed out the candle be-
to the door-Shetla could hear him
fumbling at the fastsnings. He
spoke TO the man outside sharply.
Come INT"
There was . movements: Q square
OF light appeared In the wall Of dark.
ness; there came step ON the
threshold. Watching, 6heila saw.
framed In the open doorway, the dim
outlines Of . ngure--a man.
Stand right there" came Dakota's
voice from somewhere In the i'm.
pe4etrable darkness OF the interior.
and eheila wondered at the hospi-
total darkness and . revolver. Light
. match"
After . short interval Of silence
there came the sound o. . match
scratching on the wall. ana . light
hared up. showing Shetla the facl
OF . man OF sixty. bronxed, bearded,
with gentle Quiaaical eyes.
The light died down. the man
waited. gheiia had forgotten--in her
desire to zee the face Of the visitor
TO look for Dakota, but presently
Du0 uS8IQ nI0 VOICE.
T reckon you're . par'on. an right
Tho parson obeyed the command
Light the candle on the tablet" came
. the order from Dakota. I'm NOT
! taking any chances until I get {
, better look at you"
Another match Jared up ana TN
parson advanced to the table and
} lighted tho candle. He smiled whil<
} applying the match 70 the WICK
Don't pny to take no chanoes-oS
anything" no agreed. He stood erect
. tall man, rugged and ACTIVE for biI
sixty years. and threw OF . rain.
soaked tarpaulin; Jome traces o
: Ing. but In the circumstances hs hat
. not Jared 10 badly. y
, TITS now tran 10 mel don.
kno y the country" he went on. II
, ! hadn't seen your light I reckon II
have been goin' yet. was thintir
that II was mighty queer that you
r have q light 9oin' SOL He stop
J. ped short seeing sheila sitting q
= the bunk. "shucks. ma'am." h
there" His hat came Oh ana dan
;. gled IN his left hand: With the 'othe
: he brushed back the hair from hi
: forehead. smiling meanwhile .
|, why, ma'am.. no said apoiegets
cally, "ie your husband had told m
{ you was here ia have gone right q
{ an not bothered you"
o Sheila'a Ease went from the par
2 crimson flood spreading over her fac
8 and temples. A slow. amused eiean
. flled Dakota's eyes. But plainly b
did not intend to set the parson riGh
--he was enjoying GheilA's oonfusioE
!. The color fed from her feco - oud
4 denly a. Il had come and wAs sue
:. ceeded By the palior Of . cold indis
!. nation.
h TIN not married. cns saia n
4 stantly to the par.on; this gentle
!" "rhsn now he hssitatsd 90
. looked quickly q Dakota 6yt Cd
!. latter WAS watching GheilA with q
: odd smile and the parsen locke
, "Tnis 10 my f,rst day IN this eeun
try" explained 6hsila.
. Tho parson did not reply. - thu
though he continued TO watch her %
tentiy. She met hie gase seeedil,
!. and no smiled. Il reckon you've Dee
!" caught on the trail toe.:: he said. ID
}. the storm"
l. Sheila nodded.
: "Well. its bean right VET to-night
% an Il amt no night 70 b galivanttn
around the country. WhAro 10
7 goin' tor
. ITO the Double n ranch"
A half hour dragged b.. The pa1
y son did not appear 10 b eleepy. Shell
70 glanced at her watch and NV that
- was midnight.
After Q time. though the argumeu
!" grew rnonotonous: the 6roning Of thei
voices seemed gradually 70 grow dia
:. tant; sheila lost interest In the cor
y y yersation and sank deeper into ha
;" doze. How long she had been uncon
:. scious OF them she did not know. bu
!" presently she was awake again IN
listening. Dakota's laugh had avail
u, ened her. Out Of the corners OF hi
:, eyes she saw that he was still seate
y IN the chair beside the wall and tha
"A his eyes were alight with interest a b
. watched the parson.
n 80 you're going to Lazstte. takin
- II on TO him?"
"a The parson nodded. smiling. WINE
:" q man wants to get married he'll M
49, care much about tho arrangements
'e how n gets done What he wants