The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-05-25
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHEcKMATE.

H. STluS. Without nOtlClIlR WOTtIilL6, SHe
came farther into the room.
so o wouldn't do what asked
you." she cried. You wouldn't keep
quiet when / asked you to!"
Worthing caught the half smothered
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 own
chair.
Jess he said, and he looked clear
ly into the girls eyes as he spoke,
buck has told me nothing of what
happened today except what has con-
cerned himself. | know no details. l
do not want to know them"
He leaned closer to her, lowering his
voice to a whisper. Il want silence to
rest on it alias silence has rested on
what has gone before"
Buck had risen, and moved over to
the open window, the first touch of
bitterness at his fate assailing him. He
meant that no word of his hould ever
involve Jess Kilrain's name. Yet her
seeming miStrust of him wounded Buck
in his tenderest spot.
In the silence Of the room he heard
her question to Worthing: What has
he told you?"
THAT he blew up the dam-that 1t
was he, not Blass Cardross."
Buck could not d-ubt the relief in
the girls next words; An that is
all 2. she cried. He said no more than
THAR"
Before Wcrtl,ing could answer, Buck
stood beaide him.
You shall no lie for me, Worthing,''
he said and turned, facing Jess. Il told
him l shot BIass Cardross an then
blew up the dam. Jess. There'd been
a long grudge atween us two. / went
ny,ay fharas ,r,ca min Ys,tcefIaf & pyanf
a~-purpose, mad at seem the sufferin'
OF the cattle on the Loop. An havin'
done what 1 done, / mean to make Il
clean breast of just what l done to-
morrow fore the law"
silent. wide-eyed in a palsying ter
TOR, the girl looked into his face. you
wont do that" she cried at length.
You won't let him do that, Earle
Worthing! 1t would mean they'd hang
you. Buck.''
sP~'r'aps!n he assented. They've hung
men for less an let 'em off for more.
III take what's comm to me-
Then Worthing expostulated. plead
exhausted his powers OF persua-
.ion. Buck remained firm.
amt nothin' else / wouldn't
do for you, Worthing." he protested,
ss.waying by an emotion that trembled
IN his voice. Il can't do this. I'd de-
spise myself forever for a coward.
'Twon.t touch no one else. Miss Car
drQSs knows we was enemies. We al
most come to blows before her wunst
But I've always faced the music, an i
Amt goin' to live a lie now"
the effort it cost him to hold
this own against Worthing's pleas. He
strengthened suddenly.
q reckon / might as well be goin'
now" he murmured. This is worse
IN hangin' ~already-if hang I've got
He moved toward the door, but, on
the instant. Jess Kilrain. who had sat
watching him. a strange warning of
emotions In her white face, sprang
from her chair, calling to him to stop.
'I've somethins to say, she cried.
= loved Blass Cardross. For many
months I loved him, thinkin' all the
time he loved me-. too, an was goin' to
make me his wife. You know, Earle |
Worthfng, how far that dream was
from the truth. Day after day, week
after week, month after month. he kept |
pttin' me off-an' still, like the fool n
was, l didn't see. didn't -guess-neverI
reckoned he was the man he was TIL
that dny you know Of when you
knocked him down In the Skunk Hol- |
low for what he said.
Then ! knew-knew what a fool Idl
6eens an how he'd lied to me, lurin,l
me on. foolin' me, waitin' always for
his hour. I hated him then-iike al
roman hates whose been treated So.
10y lips burned with the mern'ry of his
kIsErs- 4 hated myself ] hated every
who looked at me. / hated YOU.
Esask Brarlsor. for DARN to say to me
HaAA Things y0u said"
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