The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-03-24
Author Of Whispering Smith,

A>>' ~. W. ~
voice to control her excitement as hest
she could.
de Spain, still looking at her an.
swered only after pause. Gliding. -
ne said harshly.
Hiding to kill other menw Mans
accusation as she clutched her rife
was almost explosive.
he regarded her coolly, and with the
interval he had had for thinking. his
wits were clearing. do look like
man hunting for fight? Or" he
added, since she made no answer. "like
q man hunting for a quiet SPOT to die
in?" ~ N->
Il know you are murderer"
In spite of his weakness he flushed
mo-" he exclaimed sharply, "Tm moi
q murderer. If you think it''-he point.
ed contemptuously to her side-"you
nave your rifle-use it!".
You came here to hide to kill some.
body!" she exclaimed,
"What do you mean by here? ]
might better ask why you came here. u
ne retorted. II don't know where j
am. Do I look as if 1 came here by
choice" He paused. "Listen." he
SAID, quite master Of himself, "I'u tell
you why 1 came. shall never get
away alive, anyway-you.can have the
truth If you want it. I got off nv
horse in the night to get drink. He
bolted. couldn't walk. 1 climbed up
here to hide till my wounds heal. Now,
I've told you the truth. Where am I?n
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. No,
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
MS mere presence detained and Der
picked her. Her prompt condemna.
ton of him ranked in hts mind. and
the strain of facing her suspicion wore
on him. II won't ask you anything
more" he said at length. "You think
I've no right to Hve-that's what Won
think, isn't it? Why don't you shoot? ~
She only stared at him. "Why dom,
you answer?" he demanded ,reckless,v
Nan summoned her resolution. 81
know you tried to kill my cousin" she
said holly, after he had tainted her
once more. "And am going to think
what to do before I tell you ANYTHING
or do anything"
"You know 1 tried to kill your cou.
sin! You know nothing of the kind.
Your cousin tried to kill me. He's a
bully and coward, man that doesn't
know what fair fighting meaps.'
''YoL are sare in abusing him wher
he's not here"
"Send him to mel" His voice shook
with anger. "Tell him I'm wounded =;
tell him I've had nothing to eat since
I fought him before. And if he's still
afraid"-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 q muscle-"tell
your fine cousin I've 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-Tm going.
How much Of what you tell me is true,
I 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 certainly lose your life If you move
from your hiding place."
She started away. He leaned toward
her. "Stop," he said peremptorily,
raising himself with wrenching ef-
fort. Something in the stern eye held
her. His extended hand pointed toward
her as arbitrarily as If, instead of lying
helpless at her feet, he could command
her to his bidding. II want to ask you
question. I've told you the truth. I
have just one cartridge. If you are