Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-11-03

win Beiden's outrt, ana they all got
to drinking, ending in row. and Tony
beat one OF Belden's men almost. TO
death. The, sheriff has gone over to
get Tony. and the Beldens declare
they're going to railroad him. That
means well all be brought into It,
Belden has seized the moment to pre-
fer charges against me for keeping
Settle in the service and for putting
a nonresident on the roll as guard.
The whelp will dig up everything ne
can to queer me with the Office. All
that kept him from doing It before
was Cliffs interest in you.
s..He can't make any of his charges
stick" declared Berrie- i
..Of course be can't He knows that.
! But he can bring us all into court. You
and Mr.. Norcross will both be called
as witnesses. for 1t seems that Tony
was defending your name. The pa
pers call it n fight for a girl Oh it's
sweet mess. You and Berrie and Mrs.
McFarlanej must get out OF here before
you are subpoenaed- IL s%
XII .n.And leave you}to fight it out aloneY'
exclaimed his wife. ~ shall do moth
ing OF the kind. Berrie and Mr.. Nor
cross can co. ::
THAT won't do" retorted McFarlane
quickly. THAT won't do at all. You
must go with them. can take care
Of myself. will not have you drag
ged into this muckhole." >
Berrie now argued against running
away. Her blood was W. She Joined
her mother I'VE won't leave you to
Inherit all this trouble. Who will look
after the ranch? Who will keep house
for you" s%
McFarlane remained firm. '.Pll man.
age. Don't worry about me. Just get
out OF reach. q The more consider this
thing the more worrisome it gets. Sup
pose Cliff should come back to testify p
"He won't. If he does I'll have him
arrested for trying to kill Wayland.'
retorted Berrie. @57i
43i"And, make the whole thing worse
No; you. are all going to cross the
range. You can start out as IL for q
little turn round the valley and just
naturally keep going. 1t can't do any
harm, and It may save a nasty time in
court" MI. Il !
a;"One would think we We're a lot OF
criminals, ! remarked Wayland.
THAT 81 the way you'll be treated, :
retorted McFarlane. "Belden has re.
tanned old Whitby, the foulest old brute
in the business. and he'll bring you
all into it If he cam ., " 35.
"But running away from 1t win no,
prevent talk, argued his wife. .i,5
mot entirely, but talk and testimony
are two different things Suppose they
call daughter to the stand? Do you
want her cross examined as to what
basis there was for this gossip? They
know something Of Cliffs being let out
and that will infame them. He may
be at the mill this minute
II guess you're right" said Norcross
sadly. i"Our delightful excursion into
the forest has led us into a predica
ment from which there is only One
way Of escape, and that Is flight"
McFarlane was again called to the
|. telephone. Landon, with characteristic
brevity, conveyed to him the fact thai
Mrs. Belden was at home and busilJ
phoning scandalous stories about the
country. III you don't stop her she's
going to poison every ear in the val
ley" ended the ranger. Z. 4
you'd think they'd all know my
daughter well enough not to believe
anything Mrs. Belden says" respond
ed McFarlane bitterly.
IAN the boys are ready to do what
Tony did. But nobody can stop this
old FOOLS mouth but you. Clir has
disappeared. and that adds to the ex-
element"
THANK the boys for me-" said Nc
Farlane, .'and tell them not to fight.
Tell 'em to keep cool. It will all be
cleared up SOON" q e
As McFarlane went out to order the
horses hooked up Wayland followed
him as far as the bars I'm conscience
smitten over this thing. supervisor, for
am aware that am the cause Of all
your trouble" e.
Don't let that worry you" respond
ed the older man. But he spoke with
effort. 1T can't be helped 1t was all
unavoidable. n t3,5,. \. ::
1.-The most appalling thing to me is
the fact that not even your daughters
popularity can neutralize the gossip of
a woman like Mrs. Belden. My being
an outsider counts against Berrie. and
I'm ready to do anything-anything.'
he repeated earnestly. II love your
daughter. Mr.. McFarlane. and I'm
ready to marry her at once If you think
best. She's noble girl. and cannot
bear to be the cause Of her calumnia-
ton"
There was mist in the supervisors
eyes as he turned them on the young
man. I'm right glad to hear you say
that, my boy" He reached out his
hand. and Wayland took 1t. II knew
you'd say the word when the time
came. I didn't know how strongly
she felt toward you till today. I knew
she liked you. Of course, for she said
so, but I didn't. know that she had
plum set her heart on you. I didn't
expect her to marry a city man. but I
like you. andAwell. she's the doctor.
What suits her suits me. Don't you
be afraid Of her not meeting all COM