The Holly chieftain., 1915-07-23

ever uFeu IN any Otner world. But
| can't do it. There's a child there
now, on the ocean, nearer to New
York every day, my sisters own child
and no one to meet her. And-there
are the other things. ] have sinned
and | must pay. My Cod"
The room suddenly rang with Mar,
ta's shrek. Through the open win
dow by which they were sitting. an
arm wrapped in serape had suddenly
hovered over them. Craig, in starting
back, had just escaped the downward
blow of the knife, which had buried
itself in Marta's arm. She fell back,
screaming.
ITS Josef" she cried. "The brute.
The beast.'
Craig swung to his feet, furious.
Long jim. cursing fiercely drew his
gun. At that moment the door of the
saloon was thrown open Jose came
reeling in, his serape over his shoul-
der. a drunken grin on his face. He
staggered towards them.
Jose. you BEAST" the girl called
out. and fell back, fainting.
There was the sound of revolver
shot and Jose reeled backwards and
fell with cry across the sanded floor,
Jim thrust his smoking gun into this
belt and caught Craig by the arm.
Say, we'd better get out of this,
cookie." he muttered.
They hustled out Apparently Jose
was unpopular, for everyone seemed
only anxious to have them clear away
I'll get you into the camp quietly"
Long Jim muttered. You'll be safer
there for the night. Then you can
make that $50 in the morning"
Lenora, with her bed dragged to
the opening of the tent, greeted the
little party, on their return, eagerly
Quest at once came and sat by her
side
Where's Laura" he asked. "and the
Inspector"
She smiled and pointed to the ris-
ing ground behind them In the faint
moonlight two forms were just visi-
BILE.
Quest smiled.
French has got it bad" he de-
clared, almost as badly as l have.
Lenora"
She laughed at him. Her face was
little drawn with pain, but her eyes
were very soft.
Il wonder if you have it very bad
ly." she murmured
10 hn1l hnr fNr
Il think you know" he said.
''As they talked they heard the
coyotes barking in the distance Pres
emily Laura and the inspector re-
turned.
Nice sort of a nurse I am" the
former grumbled: ITS all the fault
of this man. He would keep me out
there talking rubbish
They sat round the opening before
Lenora's tent till the moon was high in
the heavens. Quest, who had been on
the outside of the circle for some little
time, suddenly rose to his feet and
crossed over to the cook wagon. Long
Jim, who was sitting on the steps.
glanced up little surlily.
Who's inside there?" Quest asked
Long Jim removed his pipe from his
teeth.
THAT don't sound none too civil a
question for a guest" he remarked,
but II you want to know. our new
Chinese cookie is there"
Quest nodded.
Sorry If | seemed abrupt he
apologized. you've been very good
to us and aI'm sure we are uncommon
ly obliged to you, Jim. The only rea-
son l asked the question was that
saw a face in the door there and it
gave me start. For a moment
thought it was Craig back again"
Hes gone to New York, or going
tomorrow morning" Jim replied Il
don't think he's so powerful fond of
your company that he'd come round
here looking for it."
Quest strolled off again and glanced
at his watch as he rejoined the little
group.
WELL" he said, 81 think wen turn
in. Seven o'clock tomorrow morning,
inspector. Jim's sending one of the
boys with us and we shall catch the
Eastern Limited at the junction"
CHAPTER Xxx.