The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-04-06
ana again.
Legitimate Ny God, It's done 10

tWlllght MA Daily, bearing some
! strengthening brew, loomed hugely in
the office door
IN take watch now" she said.
you ben on guard a long while. Bet.
ter go get some rest"
But Poppy Ordway. who was bend
ing closely over the cot. sprang sud
| denly erect. Her cheeks were flushed,
and in her face was a strange excite
ment. No" she said firmly, ~ shall
| stay the night out He is delirious
still and | cannot leave him"
Ma Daily. that shrewd old general
OF men and meals. took keen note OF
every small thing in the hushed room,
set down the broth and turned away
her whole kindly heart filled with sus
picion.
Outside In the darkness Siletz stood
a little later aud looked through the
open window at the figure on the
white cot, ard the watcher beside IL.
Her hands were clasped tightly to-
gether and her dark eyes were heavy
with unshed tears.
III he-dies" she gasped dryly be-
tween her parted lips. "Ill kill her and
go with him to hell. for he has no
Godl"
But Sandry did not die For a week
he Travelled on strange paths OF mem.
ory. calling on Ruth to come out OF
the cleaning Of far land. standing
aside to watch Naomi send back the
ones she loved, and sometimes crying
out sharply. "Oh. AbsalOm! My son.
my sOn!" Again he laughed bitterly
and spoke of lost faith in men.
Throughout the week Poppy Ordway
stood such a vigil as only q woman
who loves, be she good or bad. can
stand. With a clever jealousy she kept
everything under her own capable
hands. only giving grudging place to
Ma Daily when she could no longer
command her overtaxed strength
One night she refused to leave San.
dry at all. firmly dismissing Ma. who
ragged inwardly but was no match tor
her in the open ways OF blum. AT mid.
night the owner OF the Dillingworth
suddenly opened his eyes. weak aud
tired. but sane. He saw, on the dim
background of faint light from shad
ed candle. the transhgured face OF
the watcher. and with feeble smile
of utter content dropped back to OBJ.
livion-thls time the Oblivion OF heal.
ing sleep.
With that look. that weak smile. the
woman knew that he had turned his
face toward life and would Journey
back to Il. and the surge and sway
of passionate Joy rocked her soul In
a storm OF emotion.
She stepped lightly and resllessly
about. Strengthening a cloth on table
tipping the candle shade at a better
angle, for she felt imperatively the
need OF action. She picked up an
empty pitcher and in the starlit dark
ness went up the path to the cook
shack. still with that bounding. light
step of victory. and entered the porch
where the pump stood
There, alone in the night. leaning
, against a post OF the porch. a slim
! little figure kept also a midnight vigil
, The woman looked at her and all the
danger that lay that way arose sud
denly before her. rousing her hatred
swiftly. and something ugly and cat
like prompted her to strike.
She laughed. a little, low. musica
laugh. and spoke in a caressing tone
Congratulate me-" she said softly
'the fever has left him. III have him
up before the first flowers bloom in the
valleys. Dear boy-dear WALTZ"
| ,nAuont hofnro
whirled upon her like a fury Ever
in the dusk Miss Ordway saw the hid
den fire leap up uncovered in her eye.
and heard primal danger whimper II
her voice.
Walt" she cried, springing towarC
. her and lifting hand whose slim fin
gers threatened her throat. SAY San
dry!"
Miss Ordway in her broadcloti
sprang back against the rough plank'
of the cook-shack wall. her face gon'
! white In the shadows and sudden, grip
ping. choking fear In her throat. Sht
put up useless hand-a trembling
hand, palm outward-and stroye Il
speak once, twice.
lueu, ouuuIy, Sne ldlAtlSu inc
craven. She was whipped. scared. he
power gone
But the wild thing died in Siletz al
ii had lived on the turn OF a moment
and she let out a great breath ant
covered her face with her hands afte
a fashion she had.
NO" she whispered in her palms
he kissed me and am his woman
Oh, am unworthy! What would
, have done?" And she shuddered, as
in fear.
d So the camp went forward, Johl
.. and his silent crew cut steadily int
,, the timber at the north and sent tn
logs down to the backwater. Here h
II kept a guard for although there wa
:. nothing of Importance that Hampde
r. could do since he had played for tn
~ | DillingWOrth contract and failad stil