Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-12-14
CHAPTER xVII.-contlnued.

Don't ask me, Captain Conrod," re-
Gurned the other cheerfully. Your
door was open when l got here and he
Jumped on me when I came in; and
ned have got me if it had not been for
shis man"
And he laid his hand gently on the
shoulder of the hysterical figure
Scrouched on the floor.
"Holy rattleSnakesr burst from the
%~stonished Conrod. "It's Doc Elliott! !"
David Laurence lifted his rescuer to
Eis feet. "Here, let's see your face,
any friend"
The man looked up slowly.
~Ned Scull!" said Laurence in a
ghastly whisper, and staggered back
sRard.
The man bowed his head again.
laurence spoke like a man in a
Fream:
"ScuIlw 1 have found you at last"
az am innocent, l swear it," cried
ScuIl. Il neyer betrayed you"
The others looked from one to the
sct8er of the two men in amazement.
Where had they known each other be-
fore? BY what name did Laurence call
R4iiiott? What was their secret? The
moment was tense with waiting.
David turned to the little group.
Gentlemen" he said, may l talk to
.ztis ! alone for a momentT
~5ure as shootin'," said Conrod after
za panse, "but let's get this Injun out of
Eaere first"
lie bent above the filthy body and
7EarHed the limp shoulders over.
'Why, it's that wuthless Piankeshaw
'gsoaae in last week to sell his skins
been drunk ever since. He'll be sober
IA while, now"
With scant ceremony they dragged
the heavy body with the dark red stain
Between the shoulder blades into the
Enin. One Indian less on the wilder
mess border was better luck than bad.
Ehe haIf-shut eyes stared blankly up
ward in the beating rain.
"Bury him in the mornin'," directed
E0nrod; and Scull-whom the village
had known only as "Elliott"-and Da-
Efd Laurence were left alone together.
SNOW" said Laurence with deadly
gain, "teIl me how you got here"
The man Scull clasped his hands in
,entreaty.
Il left nottingham because l heard
yau had sworn to kill me. l swear to
you before God l was not responsible
1Ear your fathers"
H. -ror1 -, Cn,,IIH.
Rins.
GLOW came you here?" he repeated.
"I heard you had gone to America
sSlnd ] came across the Atlantic to find
sou; l thought l might show you
vsas innocent. l swear l am innocent"
you lie" returned David calmly,
EEyeu lie in every word. You Informed
falsely on my father, and he died on
&fse gallows because of you. You be-
came a British spy. You fled from
England to escape me; you never
thought to find me here. Nor did
sthink to find you here, under an as
Ssumed name, pretending to be a ply
.asician."
E ScUIl looked at him in terror.
@GOdv" he whispered, his lips dry
&Eith fear.
. A door that led to an inner room sud
glenIy swung open and a woman
stepped quickly out.
A cry of fear escaped her as she say
David towering menacingly above
%Scgll's bowed head. She wa face to
Mace with David and he looked at her
an establishment.
= Lydia Cranmer! !"
The girl flung herself between the
atwo men and clasping Scull in heI
EARNS she turned defiantly toward
Mlavid.
~No, not Lydia Cranmer," she cried
@flut Mistress Scull!"
Flush, LYDIA" commanded Soul
TgdAiIy. go back, let us end our bust
is1ess.r He swallowed convulsively an(
esfroked her hair as though soothing
-~.fiId. go back, dear"
mot /, NedI' she answered. "Wha
docs this man want? Oh, Ned, Their
IS nc danger, is there? Tell me, wha
lis wr0ngW
ne DuNto lODhCu W lLO LWO hC 2
sEhe wild anger dying down in hi
Anreist, and instead there arose a fee
4Dg of self-pity. All, if only a womai
Had thrown her arms about his nee
Sand faced the world for him, believin
lin him! An u%nbearable pang she
through him. His eyes were hot wit
ifhe bitter envy Of one who looks int
AIie windows Of a. house where Low
and light and warmth stand fri
against the desoIate world without, an
who knows himself a homeless wal
Sdercr on the earth. When he spoke,
twas ia q changed voice:
"Are you this woman's husband2"
~We were married a month ago
Asaid Scull. He seemed almost to hay
forgotten Davld's presence and h
@Eaald caressed the girls cheek with
&strange ~gentleness.
David looked at them for a momeI
lin silence, then drew a deep breat
Afc had made up his mind. He W,
@gjad that he could be merciful, to q
{{affer, though life might be never me
cifuI TO him. He thrust the pistol bat
Ento The bosom Of his hunting shi
and his hand fell upon the knot
ribhOn Toinette had given him.
~Do you see thisi' he asked, as
drew it out.
Soul turned paler. He had FREE
4hiniseIf from the girls clasp, and su
&cnly his knees Ioosened beneath hi
and he sank at David's feet. Lyd
541irew her arms around his shoulder
The mark cried Soul, raisil
k%rcmbling hands.