The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-27
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
A Novel
A Week!
Es!!!Iss:sisssis;:i;ai:

crawled home with a bullet in HIS
ribs. And I thought"
You think shot him" a.
Good Indian said ~. the sentence
vas merely a statement rather than
an accusation or a reproaeh.
Il don't blame you. suspected
he was the man up here with the
rife. That day--that first day.
when you told mo about someone
shooting at you--he came over to
the station. And ! saw two or
three scraps OF sage sticking under
his shlrtcollar, as II he had been
out In the brush. And there Isn't
any sage where a man would have
to go thru IL unless he got right
out 10 II. away from the trails. ]
thought then that be was the
man"
you didn't tell me" And this
time he spoke reproachfully.
1T was after you had left that
saw H. My Heavens. mani DO
you think you're plucking
Foose?"
Il wouldn't be surprised" he re-
torted. frinning n little. by the
way" no remarked casually. after
q short silence. save for an occa-
slonal squeal from Miss George,
speaking OF Saunders--I didn't
shoot him"
Miss George looked up Al him.
TO tho further ENHANCEMENT OF her
hair. you didn't Then who did?"
Search me-" he offered fignra.
lively and briefly.
"Well. I WILL" Miss George took
biz gun from the holster at his hip.
She examined the gun and slipped
II back into its scabbard.
Don't think ] doubted your
word" she aald But I wanted 10
be able TO swear positively. II i
should happen TO be dragged into
the witness.box-I hope II won't be
by the hair OF the head i-that your
gun has not been fired this morn.
ing. Are you ever going TO get
my hair looscg" She looked at her
watch. and srosned. "Twenty-four
that fast freIght--is due in
eighteen minutes exactly. I've got
to be there. Take your tackknife
and cut what won't come loose.
Really, mean IL. Mr.. Insen."
'Oh. all right--but it's shame
TO leave nice bunch OF hair like
this hanging on a bush"
Tell me. what were you doing
up here. Grant,
We'll. got up early, and some
one took a shot at me again. !
ducked. and made up my mind I'd
get him this time. or know the rea-
son why. So I came up here hunt
ing him. ! was Just scouting around
when heard you rustling the
bushes over here. And the rest you
know"
She stood MP straight. with
long. deep sigh OF relief.
Nov. pikeway." he smiled. And
don't run bare-headed thru the
bushes again. You've stiil got time
TO beat that train. And-aboBt
Saunders-don't worry. can get
TO the ranch without being seen.
and no ono win know | was up
here. unless you tell them"
"oh. I shall. Of course," Miss
George chose to be very sarcastic.
Il think I shall wire the informa-
ton to the sheriff"
whereupon Miss George once
more gathered her skirts together
and ran TO he trail. and down that
to the station.
She met group OF squaws. who
eyed her curioasly. but she was
looking once more at her watch,
and paid no attention, aitho they
stood hnddled In the trail staring
after her. She remembered that
she had left the office unlocked and
she rushed in. and sank painting
into the chair before her telegraph
table Just as the smoke az the fast
freight swirled around the nose OF
the low. sage-covercd hill to the
west
Continues In Our Next Issue)