The Ozark spectator., 1917-02-28
CHAPTER xViI.-Continued.

nuudled form or the dying savage.
 Don't ask me, Captain Conrod," re- turned the other cheerfully. Your door was open when 1 got here and he jumped on me when I came in; and he'd have got me if it had not been for this man."
 And he laid his hand gently on the shoulder of the hysterical figure crouched on the floor.
 Holy rattlesnakes v burst from the astonished Conrod. Its Doc Elliott '" David Larrence lifted his rescuer to his feer. Here, let's see your face, my friend"
 The man looked up slowly.
 Ned Scull! !" said Larrence in a ghastly whisper and staggered back ward.
 The man bowed his head again.
 Larrence spoke like man in a dream:
 ''Scull. l have found you at last P 'I am innocent, I swear it." cried Scull. T never betrayed you."
 The others looked from one to the other of the two men in amazement. Where had they known each other be- fore? By what name did Larrence call Elliott? What was their secret? The moment was tense with waiting.
 David turned to the little group.
 'Gentlemen." he said, may l talk to this man alone for moment?"
 'Sure as shootin'," said Conrod after pause, but let's get this Injun out of here first"
 He bent above the filthy body and turned the limp shoulders over.
 'Why. it's that wuthless Piankeshaw come in last week to sell his skins ; been drunk ever since. He'll be sober a while, now"
 With scant ceremony they dragged the heavy body with the dark red stain between the shoulder blades into the rain. One Indian less on the wilder ness border was better luck than bad The half-shut eyes stared blankly up- ward In the beating rain.
 ''Bury him in the mornin'." directed Conrod; and Scull-whom the village had known only as "Elliott"-and Da- vid Laurence were left alone together. "Now." said Larrence with deadly calm, tell me how you got here."
 The man Scull clasped his hands in entreaty.
 ''I left Nottingham because I heard you had sworn to kill me. l swear to you before God was not responsible for your father's-"
 shnrlnI tho yx-nrd SPnll' . lips.
 How came you here?" he repeated. 'I heard you had gone to America and I came across the Atlantic to find you; I thought l might show you was innocent. swear I am innocent" "Iou lie," returned David calmly, you lie in every word. You informed falsely on my father, and he died on the gallows because of you. You be- came British spy. You fled from England to escape me; you never thought to find me here. Nor did l think to find you here, under an as sumed name, pretending to be phy- sician."
 Scull looked at him in terror.
 "God!" he whispered, his lips dry with fear.
 A door that led to an inner room sud denly swung open and woman stepped quickly out.
 A cry of fear escaped her as she saw David towering menacingly above Sculfs bowed head. She was face to face with David and he looked at her in astonishment.
 Lydia Cranmer
 The girl flung herself between the two men and ciasping Scull in her arms she turned deiiantly toward David.
 ''No, not Lydia Cranmer," she cried, ''but Mistress Scull!"
 Flush. Lydia" commanded Scull duly. Go back, let us end our busi- ness" He swallowed convulsively and stroked her hair as though soothing n child. Go back, dear"
 Not l, Ned!" she answered. What does this man want? Oh, Ned, there is no danger is there? Tell me, what Is wrong?"
 As David looked at the two he felt the wild anger dying down Tn ms breast, and instead there arose feel ing of self-pity. An, if only woman had thrown her arms about his neck and faced the world for him, believing in him! An unbearable pang shot through him. His eyes were hot with the bitter envy of one who looks into the windows of house where love and light and warmth stand firm against the desolate world without, and who knows himself homeless wan derer on the earth. When he spoke, 1t was in changed voice:
 Are you this woman's husband"
 "We were married month ago." said Scuil. He seemed almost to have forgotten David's presence and his hand caressed the girls cheek with a strange gentleness.
 David looked at them for moment In silence, then drew n deep breath.