Tombstone epitaph., 1917-05-20
CHAPTER xvIi.-continued.

Conrod. as the candles showed him the huddled form of the dying savage.
 Don't ask me. Captain Conrod." re turned the other cheerfully. "Your door was open when got here and he Jumped on me when l came in; and he'd have got me If 1t 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 burst from the astonished Conrod. Its Doc Elliott r
 David Larrence lifted his rescuer to hts feet. Here. let's see your face, my friend"
 The man looked up slowly.
 Ned Sculll" said Larrence in . ghsStiy whisper. and staggered back. ward.
 The man bowed his head again.
 Larrence spoke like a man in a ireem:
 "Scull! have found you at last !" "I am innocent l swear iti" cried SculL '1 nsver betrayed your"
 The others looked from one to the other of the two men in amazement Where had they known each other be- foref By what name did Larrence call Eiliottf What was their secret? The moment was tense with waiting.
 David turned to the little group.
 ~Gentlemen." he said. "rnay talk to this man alone for a 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 h last week to sell his skins {; been drunk ever since. He'll be sober 6 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 Cnly as "Elliott"-and Da- vid Larrencs were left alone together. Now" said Larrence with deadly calm. tell me how you got herer"
 The man Sculi clasped his hands in ,ntreaty.
 ''I left Nottingham because I heard you had sworn to kill me. 1 swear to For your iarher's-"
 Laurence checked the word on Scull's lips
 "How came you heref" he repeated. "I heard you had gone to America md came across the Atlantic to find you: I thought I might show you was innocent swear I am innocent" You Iie." returned David calmly. you He in every word. You informed falsely on my father. and he died on the gailows because of you You be- came a British spy. You fled from England to escape me; you never thought to find me here. Nor cid I think to ind you here, under an as- sumed name. pretending to be phy- sician."
 Scull looked at him In terror.
 "GodT' he whispered. his lips dry with fear.
 A door that led 10 an inner room sud ienly swung open and 6 woman stepped quickly out.
 A cry of fear escaped her as she saw David towering menacingly above Sculrs bowed head. She was face to face with David and he looked at her tn astonishment
 Lydia Cranmerl
 The girl flung herself between the two men and ciaspins Sculi In her arms she turned defiantly toward David.
 No. not Lydia Cranmer." she cried. but Mistress Sculli"
 Flush, Lydia" commanded Scull dully. GO back. let us end our busi- ness" He swallowed convulsively and stroked her hair as though soothing a chiId. ''Go back. dear"
 ''Not I. Ned 2" she answered. "What does this man want? Oh, Ned. there is no danger, Is there? Tell me. what Is wrong7"
 AS David looked at the two he felt the wild anger dying down in his breast snd instead there arose a feel ing If seif-pity. Sh. If only woman hsi 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 a house where love and light and warmth stand firm against the desolate world without, and who knows himself a homeless wan derer on the earth When he spoke. 1t sas in A changed voice:
 Are you this woman's husbandr
 We were mar7ed month ago." said Sculi He seemed almost to have forgotten David's presence and his hand caressed the girls cheek with a strange gentieness-
 David looked at them for c moment fn silence. then drew a deep breath. He had made up his mind. He was glad that he could be mercifui. to an- other. though life might be never mer- caf1I .o him. He thrust the pistol back ;n,o he bosom of his hunting shirt and his hand fell upon the knot of ribbon Toinette had given him.
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