The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-05-25
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHECKMATE.

For a brief moment Jess stood look
ing at Buck, her startled eyes unwav'
ering. without noticing Worthing, SHE
came farther into the room.
$50 you wouldn't do what l asked
you!" she cried. You wouldn't keel
quiet when asked you to!"
Worthing caught the half-smotherec
words. He gave Buck no chance to re-
ply to them.
"Sit down, Jess"
Command rang in the tones, kindly
but firm. Almost unconsciously, Jess
obeyed It. Worthing drew up his OWL
chair. s... .. ..
Jess" he said, and he looked clear
ly into the girls eyes as he spoke
"Buck has told me nothing of what
cerned himself. l know no details.
do not want to know them"
He leaned closer to- her, lowering his
voice to a whisper. II want silence tC
rest on il alias silence has rested or
what has gone before"
Buck had risen, and moved over &c
the open window, the first touch OF
bitterness at his fate assailing MIN. Ht
meant that no word OF his should evei
involve Jess Kilrain's name. Yet hel
seeming mistrust of him wounded Bucl
In his tenderest spot.
In the silence Of the room he heard
her question to Worthing: what mas
he told your =.
"That he blew up the dam-that II
was he, not Blass Cardross."
Buck could not d -ubt the reliet II
the girls next words: AN that Ii
all?' she cried. HE said no more thar
that?"
Before worthing could answer, Bucl
stood beside him.
you shall not lie for me, Worthing,'
he said and turned, facing Jess. i telc
him shot Blass Cardross an ther
blew up the dam, Jess. Thered beer
a long grudge atween us two. l went
over there meanin' mischief. l went
a-purpose, mad at seem the sufferin
OF the cattle on the Loop. An haVin
done what done, / mean to maze
clean breast of just what l done to-
morrow fore the law"
Silent, wide-eyed in palsying ter
ror. the girl looked into his face. "YoI
won't do that" she cried at length
sYou won't let him do that, Earle
worthing 1t would mean they'd hant
3 you, Buck!"
"P'r'aps!" he assented. They've huns
men Tor less an let 'em off for more
TIL take what's comm to me-"
Then Worthing expostulated, plead
nd, exhausted Ills powers of PERSIA
ton. Buck remained firm.
There amt nothin' else / wouldn't
do for you, Worthing," he protested
swaying by an emotion that trembleC
An his voice. Il can't do this. I'd de-
spise myself forever for a coward
'Twont touch no one else. Miss Car
dross knows we was enemies. We al
most come to blows before her wunst
But I've always faced the music, an
amt goin to live lie now"
He stood for a moment head bent
showing the effort ii cost k!m to hole
his own against Workings pleas. He
Strengthened suddenly. ..
Il reckon l might as well be goin
now" he murmured. This is worse
n hangin' already-h hang I've go
lie moved toward the door, but, OF
the instant, Jess Kilrain, who had sal
watching him, a strange warning Of
emotions in her white face, sprans
from her chair, calling to him to stop
'T've somethin' to say" she cried
Listen to me, both Of you: You know
I loved Glass Cardross. For many
months l loved him, thinkin' all the
time he loved me, too, an was goin' tt
make me his wife. You know, Earle
Worthing, how far that dream was
from the truth Day after day, weel
after week, month after month, he KEEP
pttin' me off-an' still, like the fool
was, I didn't see. didn't guess-nevel
reckoned he was the man he was til
that day you know of when you
Knocked him down in the Skunk Hol-
low for what he said. H. t...
"Then l knew-knew what a fool IL
been, an how he'd lied to me, Turin
me on, foolin' me. waitin' always fol
HIS hour. / hated him then--like 6
oman hates whose been treated so
lily lips burned with the mem'ry Of his
kisses. ] hated myself. l hated every
one who looked at me. I hated you
Buck Brannon, for DARN to say to mt
the things you said" ........'E ... .
She moved quietly forward until she
stood before them. IS
81 hadn't seen him until today
over there on the dam. / hadn't known
till then how dead my love was or how
live my hate was. 1t leaped in me
like fire. He saw then he'd lost me
forever-lost what he wanted Of me-
an the devil in him came out" ...
She faced Worthing only now.
Buck Brannon tells you that ht
shot Blass Cardross dead" she cried
"He lies He lies to save me! Ash
him il l did not strike that man cross
the face with my quirt. Ask him II
we didn't struggle on the dam. But
don't b'lieve him when he says he shot
Blass Cardross.
"'Twas me that done it, an sent him
dead over the wall after he'd threat
ened to kill me an insulted me worse
than death--an' If Buck Brannon goes
TO the law an says he done 1t, I'll go
too, an it'll be his word 'gsinst mine
an it'll be me they will believe
swear II to Cod"
She ceased, heaving breath catching
In her throat, looking from one to the
other as they watched her in dumb
amazem. ut. Before they could speak
20 stop her she had gone.
CHAPTER XIX.
RUSHING WATERS.