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

yours. And II you DO not ALREADY
know II, I want to tell you that
David Langford Is not my father;
my real father died q long time ago,
and Lansford !: only my stepfather."
a sudden moisture was IN her eyes
and she did not see Dakota start. nd
not observe the queer pallor that
spread over his face, failed to detect
the odd light In his eyes. However. she
heard his voice-sharp In tone and
filled with genuine astonishment.
your stepfathery' He had spurred
his pony beside hers and looking UP she
saw that his face had suddenly grown
stern and grim. do you mean that r
lie demanded half angrily. why didn't
you tell me that before? Why didn's
you tell mo when-the night ] mar
ifed your"
"Would It have made any difference
to you?" she said bitterly. Does II
make any difference now? You have
treated me like o savage; you are
treating me like one now. II
haven't any friends at ALL" she con-
tinued. her voice breaking slightly. az
she suddenly realized her entire help
lessncss before the combined evtlnesa
Of Duncan. her father. and the man
who sat on his pony beside her. A son
shook her. and her hands went to her
She eat there for q time shudder-
Ing. and watching her closely, Dako:
ta's face grew slowly pale. and grtm'
hard lines came into his lipA
81 know what Duncan's friendship
amounts to-" he said harshly. But
isn't your stepfather your frtend"
my friend?" She echoed his words
with hopeless intonation that closed
Dakota's teeth like . wise. II don't
know what has come over him.. she
continued. looking up at Dakota, her
eyes filled with wonder for the sym.
pathy which she saw In his face and
voice: me has changed since he came
out here: he IL so selfish and heart
loss"
whats he been doing? Hurting
YOUR She did not detect the anger
in his voice, for he had kept 1t 90
low that she scarcely heard the words
"Hurting me? No: he has not done
anything to me. Don't you know
she said scornfully. certain that he
was mocking her again-for how
could hts interest be genuine when
no was q party to the plot to murder
DoubIerY Yet perhaps not-maybe
Duncan had been lying. Determined
to get to the bottom OF the e6air a.
quickly az possible, eheila continued
rapidly, her scofn giving way TO
eagerness. Don't you known" AND
this time her voice was almost plea.
what did father visit you for.
Wasn't II about Doubler? Didn't he
hire you toto kill him?"
She saw his lips tighten strangely.
his face grow pale, his eyes fash with
some mysterious emotion. and she
know In an inotant that he was
guilty--guilty a. her father!
'Oh!" she said. and the scorn came
into her voice again. Then II u
true. You and my father have con:
spired to murder an inoffensivo old
mani, You-you cowards!"
He WINGED, a. though he had ~
ceived an unexpected blow In tho
face, but almost Immediately he
smiled-a hard, cold. sneering smile
which chilled her.
"Who has been telling you this7''
The question came slowly. without
Duncan told me-"
tempt In bis voios. mot your father
She shook her head negatively,
wondering at his cold composure. No
wonder her father had selected han!
He laughed mirthlsssly. 80 that's
the reason Doubler was 90 friendly
to his rife this morningf" he said. a
though her words had explained q
mystery which had been pussllus
him. ''DoublsP and me have been
friends for Q long time. But this
morning while I was talking TO HIN,
he kept his rihe beside him al the
time. He must have heard from
some one that ] was cunning for
him"
XIII him?"
He smiled ct her sassrnsss but
spoke graysly ana With On earnest
sss "slSn e 81. sSe'G !. ss Ga, s'R sS!
Isn't money sneuSi IL Ia ceu:tiss
Me this y maho NJ Nm Douhlor.a
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