Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER xvII-con.Iuued.

--12-
Seabeck returned after while, and
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 IL, Mr.. SeabeckT
she asked sharply, just because she
felt the Imperative need of fncts-she
who had struggled so long In the quick
sands OF suspicion and doubts and
fears and suspense.
"Hmmm-mm-how bad is it--ln the
house7" he countered. "The real crime
has been committed there, II 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"
"Oh" Billy Louise, her hands
clenched upon the gate, stared mp
wide-eyed into his face. And this was
the real Seabeck. whom she had known
impersonaily all her llfel This was
the real man of him. whom she mad
never known; a flawless diam ond OF n
soul behind those bright blue eyes and
TINT pointed, graying beard; poet, phi
losopher. gentleman to the bone. "Oh
You saw that. tool And they're your
cattle that were stoleni You say it
oh. you're-you're--"
'iImm-mm-a human beirg, l hope.
Miss Macdonald, as well .as a mere
cattleman."
Marthy did not attempt TO rise when
Senbeck 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-mmi have been looking
over the CATTLE" he began. sitting on
the edge Of a chair and turning his
black hat absently round and round by
the brim. 'You-mm-mm-you tell
me there we're seven head Of grown
stock"
THAT they shot and throwed In the
river, with the brands cut out" inter
polated Marthy stolIdly. II heard 'eu
say that's how they would git rid Of
'em. an I heard 'em shootin' dowr
there
"Hmm-mm--yesi do you know just
what"
'Five dry cows n two steers-lonl
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 hare
and steady upon the face Of Seabeck
"Hmm-mm-yes find also," HI
went on in his somewhat precise voic'
that had earned him the nickname O
Deacon" among his punchers. "tha
there are more young stock vented ant
rebrnnded than lie - sold you
ephew. Fourteen head, to be exact
With the cattle you tell me whicl
e-mm-m-disposed of last night
TINT would make twenty-one head o
stock for which--mm-mm-I take |
you are willing to pay"
II amt got the money now" Marth,
stated. too apathetic to be either dc
fiant or placating. "You en- fix up tn
papers Z suit yourself. I'll sign any
thing yuh want"
"Hmm-mm-yes A note coverin
the amount. with legal rate Of interes
will be-quite satisfactory, Mrs. Mel
Ike. I shall make a lump sum at tn
going price for mixed stock. II 70
have a blank note, +"
"You kin look in that desk owe
there" permitted Marthy "If yuh don
find any there, there ain't none nj
where"
Seabeck did not find any blank note
He found an eloquent confusion {
jumbled letters and accounts and pi
pers. and guessed that the owner ha
done some hasty, sorting and straigh
enlng OF his affairs. He sighed, an
his blue eyes hardened for a minut
Then Billy Louise moved from the doc
and went over to kneel comforting
beside Marthy. and Seabeck looked |
the two and sighed again, though b
eyes were no longer stern. T
pulled a sheet of paper toward hi
and wrote steadily in prim, uprigI
chirography that had never a fiourls
anywhere. but carefully crossed t's M
carefully dotted rs and punctuatit
marks Of beautiful exactness.
You VIII pleace Sign here, MI
Meiike," he said calmly. coming ov
70 them with the sheet Of paper la
smoothly upon a last-year's best-sell
and with Charles fountain pen in
other hand. "And II Miss MacDona
win also sign. as an indorser, thi
can safely do away with any mo
gage or other legal security"
Billy Louise stood up and gave h
one look-which Seabeck did not {
preciate. because he did not see It.,
"rd ruther give a mortgage" Mart
said uneasily, sitting up suddenly O
looking from one to the other. 81 do
want Billy Louise to git tangled up
my troubles. She's got plenty of
own. Her maw's just died, Mr.. s.
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