The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-12-24
discovery of the truth would affect

you. OF course, if my identity should
become known all you have done for
me would become public at the same
time. For myself l have no fears. but
l have no right to take any chances
with your welfare"
II don't care anything about that"
she replied. II have no anxiety o.
my own account. No one would kill
me for all l have DONE"
"No, but they might make it IN
pleasant for you. Your husband would
be angry"
SHOULD / stop to think of such trifcs
as that when a life is in danger:'
"Then 1t is for me you fear. and
beg you not to do it. AS ] have said,
l am in less danger here than I would
be if / attempted to go away. am
really in no danger whatever"
She sighed and shook her head
slowly.
81 wish could think that true" she
said. II wish l could feel as confident
of it as you seem to be."
Cant you:'
"No.'
"And yet l have shown you that
there can possibly be very little dan
ger. Look at the situation calmly and
see for yourself"
II have. But who can tell what may
%happen?'
"No one" Then after a pause he
laughed and added: "Unless it is Crazy
Mag. She claims the power Of read
ing the future. You know Mag. l pre-
sume!'
He was anxious to win Minerva
away from the train of thought that
filled her mind. She answered his
question by a nod Of her head.
II met Mag this evening as I came
up" he went on, and she tried to in
duce me to turn back. For a little
while l was in half a mind to do it."
1T would have been better if you
had" Minerva said thoughtfully.
"What did she say to your
ooh. quite a lot Of stuff. She pre-
dicted that several things would hap
pen If l came on. but she assured me
that I should not lose my life. DO
you believe in herr"
"No.'
"Have her predictions ever come
true?"
"Some Of them have. but there is
nothing remarkable in that
"Why?"
because she is always warning PEG.
pie and making predictions, and ii
would be strange if she didn't guess
> the truth now and then"
Ross laughed.
, That's about the way l sized he
up" he said. Then in a moment hi
: became grave again. "There Is ont
thing. though, that puzzles me-" III
added.
What is that"
"Why. she told me l was not what
= pretended and that my name was no
Stone"
did she tell you how she knew"
2 SHE said the stars told her.
q did she hint that any II Nigh
!, have told herr
"No. Do you think any one did,"
81 am sure no one did,
"Then how did she know?'
at was merely one Of her luck
o. guesses."
do you really think so?"
II am sure of it."
ut is a relief to me to hear you sa
# that. l was foolish enough to attac
v some Importance to her words, and
have worried ove Them"
There was a long silence. durin
which both appeared to be busily CT
+. gagged in thinking. 1t was Ross VIII
spoke. In earnest. sober tones he sale
s. II am truly sorry, Mrs. Stevens, ths
# I have come here since I see how muc
g. my presence distresses you. After a
o. you have done for me-after havin
,e saved my life as you did would 1
ID an ungrateful brute If l did anythin
to cause you trouble or disturb YOU
O. peace Of mind. So now for your sake
IL will change my plans, and tomorro
at morning l will give up the school 9
some pretext and will leave here an
err attempt to get back to my home"
H. She did not speak, and he looked {
her, expecting to see a relieved EXPIRE
sion on her face. but was surprised
see a look of sadness and disappoin
a ment instead. He waited a momen
lie then added:
For my own sake I'd prefer to sta,
he but for your sake I'll go"
l Still she said nothing. She W:
too busy thinking. For some reast
". which she could not understand tt
ell thought of his going saddened and di
tressed her far more than his pre-
ence. She felt that she would mi!
him. though why she should she cou
not comprehend. Perhaps it vas b
ed cause of her isolated. lonely situate
al- and the congeniality of his compan
.al Perhaps all. yes - perhaps it WI
something else.
'es Il can fix up some kind OF an excu
lr- for Giving I'm HE school and rOil