Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-08-15

"5ut You Believe Me Guilty, Don't
YOUR
ward out for me. It's two thousand
dollars, isn't it?'
She let the exact figure of the re-
ward go unconfrmed.
and still yea are going about in
public as If all the hue and cry meant
nothing to you? The beard is an i'm
provement-it makes you look older
and more determined-but ii doesn't
disguise YOU. should have known you
anywhere, and other people will
Again his shoulders went up.
whats the user" he said. 81
couldn't dig deep enough nor fly high
enough to dodge everybody. You have
found me, and if you hadn't, somebody
else would have. 1t would have been
the same any time and anywhere"
81 was intending to go on up to the
mines with father" she said evenly.
"But last evening. while / was waiting
for him TO finish his talk with some
mining men, was standing in the mez-
canine, looking down into the lobby. l
saw you go to the desk and leave your
key: ] was sure l couldn't be mista
ken; so told father that had changed
my mind about going out to the mines
and he seemed greatly relieved. He
had been trying to persuade me that ]
would be much more comfortable if
should wait for him here"
1t was no stirring of belated senti-
ment that made Smith say: You
you cared enough to wish 10 see mel"
AM turally," she replied. Some peo-
pie forget easily: others don't. / sup
pose am one of the others"
Smith remembered the proverb about
woman scorned and saw a menace
more to be feared than all the terrors
of the law lurking in the even-toned
rejoinder. 1t was with some foolish
idea of thrusting the menace aside at
any cost that he said: You have only
to send a ten-word telegram to Sheriff
Macauley, you know. I'm not sure that
it isn't your duty to do So"
"Why should you telegraph Barton
MacauleyT" she asked placidly. "Fm
not one of his deputies"
"But you believe me guilty. don't
your"
The handsome shoulders twitciHd in
the barast hint of Indifference. "As l
have said, am not in Bart Macauley's
employ-nor in Mr. Watrous Dun
hams Neither am the judge and
jury to put you in the prisoners box
and try you. | suppose you knew what
you were doing, and why you did II.
But l do think you might have written
me line, Montague. That would have
been the least you could have done"
For some time afterward the talk
was not resumed. Miss HIGHLANDER was
apparently enjoying her dinner. Smith
was not enjoying his but he ate as
troubled man often will; mechanically
and as a matter of routine. II was not
until the dessert had been served that
the young woman took up the thread
of the conversation precisely as if it
had never been dropped.
81 think you know that you have no
reason to be afraid Of me, Montague;
but can't say as much for father He
will be back in a few days, and when
he comes II will be prudent for you to
vanish That is future, however"
Smiths laugh was brittle.
Wen leave II future, If you like
Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof"
oh so you class me as an evil, do
your"
mo- you know didn't mean that;
merely mean that it's no use crossing
the bridges before we come to them
I've been living from day to day so
long now. that / am becoming hard
ened TO it,"
Again there was pause, and again
ii was Miss RichIauder who broke IT,
The slow smile was dimpling again at
the corners Of the perfect mouth.
"You are going TO need little help
Montague-my help-aren't you? II
occurs to me that you can well afford
to show me some little friendly atten-
ton while am Robinson-Crusoedh here
waiting for father TO come back"
LET me understand" he broke In,
frowning across the table at her. you
are willing TO ignore what has hap
pened-to that extent7 You are not
forgetting hat In the eyes Of the law
am erlminali"
She made faint little gesture Of i'm
patience.
"why do you persist in dragging
that int l am not supposed to know