The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-10-05

Il
resolved sim
Read ths0s eeufinued 1Odney.
.T1l admit % 20 tlAat ths whole thins
would mot b Wsrth he paper it'a
writtsa on IN . court a law. o. even
In q nswspapef report but it's COO
vincing 10 q. ana you can make II
coovine.ss TO everybody. You've got
70 speak"
do you think, sir. that thers any
power In your stretched-out arm. or
In your rude voice o. In yqsr threat
ening gesture to maze me speakr
by the Lord" exclaimed Winters,
suddenly whipping out q Colts As
from the holster at his belt-he was
dressed Just ~ he had been when he
rode sway from the ranch--sout West
we've got ways for persuadlng men to
speak. and this n one Of them"
Winters was a bigger man than Rod
ney dle life had been Wild and rough,
ana his manner when he wanted was
according. He would fain add physical
compulsion under threat Of death to
Rodney's mental insistence.
.And do you think, SIR, that I'm
afraid Of any lethal weapon you can
produce or even use, any more than
am Of Mr.. Rodney's words1" The old
mans eyes flashed, and his knees
shook. but he had all the spirit of
soldier as he looked into Winters
stern face. full Of threat and menace.
His thin voice took on q certain quail
ity Of courage. II even rang a little.
His courage was mainly moral. but
there was some accompanying physical
hardihood. that was undoubted. "You
can beat me, you can even kill me, II
you wish. but you can't make me say
word don't want to say Of my
own free WILL" he cried out at last, his
voice strangely rising.
Gentlemen; gentlemen" said Helen
fllingworth. rising and swiftly inter
posing between the secretary and the
two angry. men. She realized that the
affair had gone far enough and that
she must intervene. They had certain
ly failed lamentably. almost ludicrous-
~. "You are wrong to threaten Mr..
Shurtlj6. He 10 old enough to be the
father Of either Of you. Drop your
arm. Mr.. Rodney. Put mp that pistol.
Mr.. Winters. Mr.. Shurtliff." said the
girl quickly, ''as am In certain sense
your hostess. and as you are in GER
tain sense my guest here, I apologize
to you for the improper and impulsive
conduct Of these young men. They
love Bertram Meade dearly, as do.
Let that be their excuse. Meanwhile.
they will apologize to you here and
now, I am sure"
There was moment Of silepce. Rod
ney and Winters stirred at each other.
and both looked at the girl. confront
ing them 30 confidently in her superb
and beautiful way. Winters smiled a
little shamefacedly as he showed his
gun back into its holster. His had In
deed been the greater offense.
'Mr. Winters, Mr.. Rodney" said the
girl insistently.
.'Oh. I apologize. I suppose it was
wrong to threaten him." said Rodney
disgustedly.
Slang It." said Winters. now utterly
forgetful Of conventions, ut wasn't the
thing to do to draw a gun on little
old man, and I'm sorry did It"
"And now that we've apologized
you'll tell us the truth, won't your"
asked Rodney swiftly. with no appre-
ciable change Of manner.
"Yes, we beg 1t now, humbly."
chimed in Winters, with anything but
IN humble air or voice.
q. won't have Mr.. Shurtliff even APP
pealed to now," said Miss nlingworth.
"You have threatened him and you
have apologized. Whether he forgives
you or not is for him to decide, but he
shall not be worried, or questioned, or
insulted any more"
THANK you, Miss nlingworth. I
came for that book on the desk: your
father wants it." said Shurtlifr grimly,
bowling slightly to her.
He stepped little tremblingiy-the
scene had been unnerving- past the
young men, picked up the book, bowed
again formally and Enthusiastically to
Miss nllngworth alone. and went out
Of the car. The honors Of the encoun.
ter were certainly his.
swell, Miss nlingworth," said Win
tiers, II don't know whether you made
q mistake or not. think could have
scared it out Of him with this little
persuader Of mine" He tapped the
butt Of the pistol.
sYou couldn't have done 1t Il you
had killed him." said the woman, who
had read the old secretary correctly.
"He isn't what I call daring man,
but he has courage that would take
him to the stake rather than make
him give way, the courage Of endur-
ance rather than Of action. When he
speaks, II he ever does, 1t will be of
his own free Will"
-Or because you may persuade him"
said Rodney. by jove. when think
1t over, It was the finest thing you ever
did,
Ebert Meade's a lucky fellow" said
Winters. you're the kind Of a girl
that ought to marry out West. where