Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-01-20

AS Rec Feather skinned the water
With long sweeps of his oars. never
looking back. the voices of his paSSen-
gers came to his ears without meaning.
He was thinking of the last few days
and how this mornings ride was their
lifting sequel. Tho carly sunbeams
We're full on him as he tilted back his
head, but they showed no emotion on
his face, hard set and DULY red in the
clear radiance.
Crouching near the summer house ut
GledWare'S place, he had overheard
Rcd kimhall boast to bring Gledwarc
the pearl and onyx pin. Then had shot
through his darkcncd mine the suspi-
cion that Gledwarc meant to escape the
one condition on which his life was to
be spared. With simple cunning he
had left the pin where the outlaw must
find it. His own death would be taken
for granted. What then?
What then: This ride i'll the boat.
Gledware had made his choice; he had
chung to his possessions. and now
Death held the oars. He was scarcely
ptSl illlItlc slSt. llt llllSuC ~ Nv wv
so long, he who so loved to live. But.
no, he had chosen to be rich-and to
die.
When Red Feather brought his mind
back to the present GlcdWarc was de
scribiIg to -Annabel Il ranch in Califor-
mia for which he had traded The house
near independence. He would take her
=, far away; he would build a house thus
and tnnS-rOUlnS so. terraces hero. MIR
bic pillars.
Annabel listened gravcly, silently,
her face all the palcr for the sunlight
flashing over it, for the mimic sun on
the waves CHANGING up into her pcnsive
eyes. Somehow the sunshine, the rip
pie OF the water seemed to form no
! part of her life, belonged. rather, to
Edgerton Compton, rowing i'll solitude
against the Sky. Those naked trees.
bare, brown hills and lodges of huge
stones seemed her world boundaries.
kin to her, claiming her But there
was California and the splendid house
to be built.
The Indian wac listening now. but as
he heard Projected details slowingly
presented 40 change came in his grim.
deep lined face. lie Simply knew it
was not to be. Let the fool plan.
7 "Pcautiful one" he heard Gledware
snS. speaking in an altered tone, ''all
that Is in the tuturc-but see what l
have brought you. This is for today.
It's yours. dear. Let me sec it around
your neck With the sun full upon it."
Red Feather turned his head, Curl
ously.
Gledware held outstretched Il mag
forth dazzling rays as it swung from
his eager fingers.
.Annabel uttered II smothered cry of
delight as the iridescence filled her
eyes. She looked across the water to-
ward the pagoda shaped clubhouse,
where her mother stood, family de
fined as Il speck Of white against the
green wall shingles of the piazza. II
seemed that it needed this glance to
steady her nerves. Edgerton was for
gotten. She reached out her hand,
And then, perplexed at the necklace be.
ing suddenly withdrawn, she looked
up. She caught a glimpse of Gled
wares face and her blood turned cold
That face was frozen in horror. Al
the turning of the boatman's head he
had instantly recognized under the
huge brimmed hat, the face of his en-
envy as if brought back from the grave
Gledware ceased breathing, then his
form Quiyered with Il sudden thrush o.
breath as of Il man emerging from div
ing. His eyes rolled In his head as h
=, turned about scanning the shore, glar
!, inG ut Edgerton's distant boat. Why
mad he come unarmed? How could III
have put faith in Red Kimbalrs as
,%surances? He tortured his brain TO
some CLEAN OF hope.
This is all | have" lie shrieked, ~
if the Indians foot was already upol
his neck. This is all l have" Ii
!, flung the necklace into the water. II
] was q lie about the California ranch
, it's q lie about all my property. w
: got nothing, Annabcl. l sold the las
| bit to get you the necklace, but
, shouldn't have done that. Now il
+. gone. l have nutbin%,"
The Indian rose slowly. The oar
i: slipped down and tloated away in th'
flashing stream of the suns rays.
Annabel, realizing that the Indian
! despite his impassive countenance
threatened some horrible catastrophe
, started up With a scream. Edgertoi
t had already turned toward them
, alarmed at sound of GledWare's terror
He bent To the oars, comprehension!
only that .Annabel was in danger.
, "Edgerton.." she shrieked blindly
"Edgerton. Edgcrton. Ed@erton."
Gledwure cruucted ut her feet, cry
ing beseechingly: Il swear | hay
nothing-nothing.. | sold everything
gave it away-left it-nothing in all tn
world. I'm willing to beg. to starve
| don't want to own anything. | onl.
want to live-lu live-my God. t