Meade County news., 1918-04-18
CHAPTER xvlI-continued.

Billy Louise, who was watching from
the doorway, met him at the little gate
as he was coming up to the house.
"Well, how bad is 1t, Mr.. SeabeckT'
she asked sharply, just because she
felt the imperative need Of facts-she
who had struggled so long In the quick
sands of suspicion and doubts and
fears and suspense.
Hmmm-mm-hOw bad is it-in the
Ihouse?" he countered. "The real crime
has been committed there, it seems to
me. A few head of cattle, more or less,
don't count for much against the bro
ken heart Of an old woman"
"Ohp Billy Louise, her hands
clenched upon the gate, stared up
wide-eyed into his face. And this was
the real Seabeck, whom she had known
impersonally all her lifel This was
the real man of him, whom she had
never known; flawless diam Ond OF a
soul behind those bright blue eyes and
that pointed, graying beard; poet, phi
Iosopher, gentleman to the bone. "Oh
You saw that, tool And they're your
cattle that were stOlenl You say it
oh, you're-you're-"
"Hmm-mm-a human beirg, hope,
Miss Macdonald, as well as a mere
cattleman."
Marthy did not attempt to rise when
Seabeck followed Billy Louise into the
sitting room. She caught up her apron
and wiped her eyes. After that she
faced Seabeck with harsh composure
and waited for the settlement.
"Hmm-mml / have been looking
over the CATTLE" he began, sitting ON
the edge of chair and turning his
black hat absently round and round by
the 0brim. "You-mm-mm-you tell
me there were seven head of grown
stock"
"That they shot and throwed in the
river, with the brands cut out" inter-
polated Marthy stolidly. II heard 'em
say that's how they would git rid Of
'em, an I heard 'em shootin' down
there"
Hmm-mm-yesl Do you know just
what"
"Five dry cows n two steers-long
twO-year-oles, jedged 'em to be-"
Marthy was certainly prompt enough
and explicit enough. And her lips were
grim, and her faded blue eyes hard
and steady upon the face Of Seabeck.
Hmm-mm-yesl I find also" he
went on in his somewhat precise voice
that had earned him the nickname Of
"'Deacon" among his punchers, shat
there are more young stock vented and
rebranded than I-er- sold your
nephew. Fourteen head, to be exact.
With the cattle you tell me which
were-mm-m-dlspo Of last night,
that would make twenty-one head Of
stock for whlch-mm-mm-I take 1t
you are willing to pay"
II amt got the money now," Marthy
stated, too apathetic to be either de-
diant or placating. 'You en- fix up the
papers t. suit yourself. I'll sign any
thing yuh want"
"Hmm-mm-yes! A note covering
the amount, with legal rate Of interest,
will be-quite satisfactory, Mrs. Nell
Ike. shall make lump sum at the
going price for mixed stock. II you
have blank note, +"
"You kin look in that desk over
there" permitted Marthy. "n yuh don't
find any there, there amt none no
where"
Seabeck did not find any blank notes.
He found an eloquent confusion of
jumbled letters and accounts and pa
pers, and guessed that the owner had
done some hasty sorting and straight
ening Of his AFFAIRS. He sighed, and
his blue eyes hardened for a minute.
Then Billy Louise moved from the door
and went over to kneel comfortingly
beside Marthy, and Seabeck looked at
the two and sighed again, though his
eyes were no longer stern. He
pulled sheet Of paper toward him
and wrote steadily in prim, upright
chirography that had never q flourish
anywhere, but carefully crossed is and
carefully dotted is and punctuation
marks Of beautiful exactness.
You will pleace sign here, Mrs. |
Meilke," he said calmly, coming over |
to them with the sheet Of paper laid |
smoothly upon a last-year's best-seller
and with Charles fountain pen in his |
other hand. "And If Miss Macdonald |
will also sign, as an indorser, think
can safely do away with any mort
gage or other legal security"
Billy Louise stood up and gave him
one loOk-which Seabeck did not ap-
preciate, because he did not see 1t.
I'D ruther give a mortgage" Marthy
said uneasily, sitting up suddenly and
looking from one to the other. II don't |
want Billy Louise to git tangled up in
my troubles. She's got plenty Of her
own. Her maw's just died, Mr.. Sea-
beck. And I'll bet there was a hos
pital n Doctors bill bigger'n this cat
tie note, to be paid. don't want to
pile on" -
"Now, Marthy, you be still. I'm per-
fectly willing to sign this note with
you. If it will satisfy Mr.. Seabeck,
I'm sure it's the very best we can do
or-expect." Billy Louise, bless her
heart, was trying very hard to be CRATE
fx1I 70 IL, 30 % Il, |