The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-29
By Robert W. Chambers

TO get the doctor mighty sudden.
whether you think ought to or mott"
You WON'T" she declared, stamp.
Ing a foot firiously. You shot him
and now you want To disarm aus
picton by going after the doctor for
him: But you won't! won't let
you!"
You'll have to-" no said rapidly.
THE doctor isn't at Laxette; he 10
over on Carlo Creek. taking care of
Dave Moreland's wife. who 10 down
bad. saw Dave yesterday, and he
was telling me about her; that the
Of danger. You don't know where
Morelsnd's' place u. he sensible.
now" he said gruhiy. "I'ii talk 70
You later about you suspecting mo-"
You -shan't co." she protestsd; "I
am going myself. I viii ind More
lands place. 7 can't let you so-it
would be horrible!' "a
For answer he swung quickly down
from the saddle. seized her by the
waist. disengaged her hands from the
bride rein. and picking her up bodily
carried her. struggling and fighting
and striking blindly at his face, to
the side Of the trail. When no set her
down he pinned her arms to her sides.
He did not speak. AMI shs was on.
tirely helpless In his grasp, but when
he released his grasp OF her arms
and tried 20 leave her she seized tho
collar Of his vest. with n grim laugh
he slipped out Of tho garment. leav-
Ing II dangling from her hand.
Keep u for me. ma'am." no said
with cold chuckie. but get bnck
can do for him. You'll be able to do
p lot Ill be back with the doctor
before shutdown"
In an instant he was at his ponys
side. mounting with the animal Mt q
run. and In u brief space had van.
tshed around turn In tho trail,
leaving a cloud Of dust to mark the
spot where Sheila had seen him dis
appear.
For q long timo sheila stood BE-
side the trail, looking ut the spot
where he had disappeared, holding
his vest with an unconscious grasp.
Looking down she saw II and with
an exclamation Of rage threw II from
her, watching II fall into tho sand.
But after an instant she went over
and took II up. recovering. at the
Same time. black leather pocket
memoranda which had slipped out
Of II. She put the memoranda back
into ono OF the pockets. handling both
she felt an aversion 10 touching
them. She conquered this feeling
long enough TO tuck tho vest into the
slicker behind tho saddle. and then
she mounted and sent her pony up
the trail toward Doubisr's cabin.
She found Doubler where cha had
left him, and he was stiil uncon.
scious. Tho water pail was empty
and she went down to tho river and
reilled II. returning to the cabin and
again bathing and bandaginG Doub-
ler's wound. and placing n fresh
cloth on his forehead.
For u time She sat watching the
injured man. revolving the incident
of her discovery OF him In her mind,
going over and over again the gruo.
some details. She did not dwell Ions
on the latter. for she could not pre-
vent her mind reviewing Dakota's
words and actions-hls satanic .clev-
ernoss In pretending to DO on the
dence. his prediction that she would
understand when this "business"
was over. She did not need to wait.
she understood now!
Finding tho silence In tho cabin
irksome. sha rose. placed Doubler's
head In moro comfortable poSition.
and went outside into the bright sun.
shine OF the afternoon. She took q
turn around the corral, abstractedly
watched the awkward antics OF sew.
eral yearlings which were penned In a
corner. and then returned tn the cabin
door. whore she sat on the edge Of
the step.
Near tho side OF the cabin door,
leaning against the wall. she saw Q
rife. She started. not remembering
On IA ~. k..sA
emily she found courage TO take II up
gingerIy. turning It over and over In
her hands.
Some initials had been carved on the
stock. and she examined them. making
them out finally as "B. D."-Doublsr's.
Examining the weapon. she found IN
empty shell In the chamber. ana she
nearly dropped the rife when the
thought struck her that perhaps
Doubler had been shot with II. She
set II down quickly. shuddering. and
for diversion walked to her pony. sx-
aiming the injured leg and rubbing
It. the bony nickering gratefully. Re-
turning to the cabin. she sat for long
time on the step, but she did not again
take UP the rife. Several times while
she sat on the step she heard Doubler
moan. and once she got up and went
TO him. again bathing his wound. hut
returning Instantly to the door step.
for she could not bear the silence OF
the interior.
Suddenly remembering Dakota's vest
and the black leather memoranda
which had dropped from ono OF tho
pockets. she got up again and went to
the bench where she had laid the gar
ment, taking out the book and regard
Ing II with some curiosity.
There was nothing on the cover to
suggest what might be the nature OF
Its contents-time had worn away
any printing that might have been on
IT, She hesitatcd. debating the pro-
priety OF al examination. hut her
curiosity got the better Of her and
with q sharp glance AT Doubler she
turned hcr back and opened the book.
Almost the first object that caught
her gaze Was piece OF paper. de-
tached from the leaves, with some
writing on II. The writing seemed
unimportant, but as she turned II.
intending TO replace It between the
leaves Of the book. she saw her
fathers name. and she read. holding
her breath with dread. for fresh In
her mind was Duncan's charge that
her father had entered into an agree
ment with Dakota for the murder Of
DOubler. She read the words several