Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-03-16
Farley.

NIlNH me lcUpe WIS ftnVlltu from Dp-
low, and rs II she had just stepped up
into sight. Her rifle was 50 held In
both hands that II could be fired from
her hip, and at such close quarters
with deadly accuracy. As she stood
with startled eyes fixed ON his bag
gard fuce, her slender neck and poised
head were very familiar to De Spain.
And her expression, while II reflect
cd her Mortified alarm did not conceal
her anger aud aversion at the sight of
him. Unaware Of the forhidding spec
taclc he presented be Spain, swept by
brallstorm at the appearance of this
Morgan the only one Of all the Nor
gans he hud not fanCied covering him
and waiting to deliver his death war
rant-felt fury sweep over him ut
the Wild thought that She meant to kill
him.
Whatever she meant to do, he could
no more fire ut this girl, even had he
Il chunce-and he realized he was at
her mercy-thun he could nj his sister
and he lay with his eyes bent on hers,
trying to read her purpose. He read
In her face only nbhOwcnce ana con.
domnatlon, and felt in no way moved
to argue her verdict. 81 suppose" he
sud, mt length, not trying to disguise
his bitter resentment Of her presence,
you've come 10 finish me"
His shirt stained and tattercd for
bnndnges, his hair matted In blood on
his forehead, his eyes inlIaned ana
suhken, his lips cruSted and swollen,
the birthnark fastened wildly on his
cheek, made himu desperate sight. Re.
gardlng him steadily, Nan. ms Devil.
dered MS IL she had suddenly come on
II great wounded beast of prey still
dangerous, mudc no response to his
words. The two stared at each Other
detiantly and for another moment in
silence. IF you are going to kill me. y
he continued, looking into her eyes
without any thought Of appeal, "do II
quick
Something In his long, unyiedlng
gaze impelled her to break the spell
Of 1t. What are you doing here p
she demanded with anger, curblng her
voice to control her excitement as best
she could.
De Spain, stIll looking at her, an
swered only after pause. Gliding"
he said hurshly.
Hiding to Kill other men" Mans
accusation as she clutched her rifle
was almost explosive
He regarded her coolly, and with the
interval he had had for thinking. his
wits wers clearing. "Do look like
a man hunting for fight? or" he
added, since she made no answer, 'llka
u nun hunting for quiet spot to die
ln?'
u know you nre murderer"
In spite of his weakness he flushed.
NO. he exclaimed sharply I'm not
II murderer If you think the point
cd contemptuously to her side-"you
have your rlile--use 1t !"
You came here to hide to Kill some.
bodyH she exclaimed.
what do you mean by here? |
might better nsk why you came here"
he retorted. ~ don't know where |
am. Do | look as If came here by
choiceT He paused. Listen" he
said, quite master of himself, TN tell
you why / came. shall never get
AWAY alive, anyway--you cun have the
truth If you want It. got off my
horse In the night to get drink. He
bolted- | couldn't walk. climbed up
here to hide TIL my wounds heal. Now,
I've told you the truth. Where am ~
The grip of her hands on the rifle
might have relaxed somewhat, but she
saw his deadly revolver In It's accus-
toned place and did not mean To sur
render her command Of him. Nor
would she tell him where he was. She
PARTED his questions. He could get no
information of any sort out of her.
Yet he saw that something more than
his mere presence detained aud per
picked her. Her prompt condcmnn-
ton Of him ranked in his mind. and
the strain of facing her suspicion wore
on him. II won't ask you anything
more" he Sald ut length "You think
I've no right to live that's what you
think, Isn't 1t? Why don't you shoot -
She only stared at him. "Why don't
you answer he demanded rccklossly.
Nan summoned her resolution. 81
know you tried 10 kill my cousin she
said hotly, after he had tuunted her
once more. "And am going to think
what to do before ! tell you anything
or do anything"
"You know tried to kill your cou-
sin You know nothing Of the kind.
Your cousin tried TO kill me. He's a
bully and a coward q man that doesn't
know what fair fighting means"
"You are safe in abusing him when
he's not here
"Send him to mew His voice shook
with anger. TEL him I'm wounded !;
tell him I've had nothing to eat since
| fought him before. And If he's s.ill
nfraid"-De Spain drew and broke his
revolver almost like flash. In that
incredibly quick instant She realized
he might have threatened her life be-
fore she could move muScle-"tcll
your fine cousin Eve got one cartridge
left-just one" So saying. he held in
one hand the loaded cartridge and in
the other the empty revolver,
you've asked me to go--lm going,
How much Of what you tell me is true,
| don't know. But ! can believe my
own eyes, and believe you are not in
condition to do much injury, even if
you came here with that intention. You
will onrtnit,lv lnSn yhttr II ia If N-bn inpN ~