The Monticellonian., 1918-05-03


Seabeck, thanks to Billy LOuise's
dropped lashes upon a certain occa-
sion, which caused him to believe he
saw further light
"And if you're going to be horrid-"
"Will the-lady he wants to marry
give him another chance?"
Don't you think she ought to--if
she l-loves him?" Billy Louise studied
the skyline upon the side farthest
from Seabeek.
'You say he wants to pay for the
cattle and
He'll do anything he can 70 make
amends" said Billy Louise, with con-
viction. Hell take his medicine and
go to Jail if you insist" she added sor-
rowfully. at will ruin his whole life,
of course, and break couple of wom-
ems hearts, but"
ITS q bad thing, mighty bad
thing, when a man tries to get ahead
too fast"
Its a good thing when he learns
the lesson without having to pay for it
with his whole future" Billy Louise
dlutHutu the Slut6llle1t.
Seabeck smiled little behind his
fingers that kept Juggling at his whis-
kers.
did Charlie Fox send Miss Por
tia
.'He doesn't know I had any inten-
him quickly and with perfect truth.
They'll both be awfully surprised
when they find it out"-which was also
perfectly true-"and when they see
you ride up they'll think you've got
the sheriff at your back. l haven't a
doubt they"
"There are a few points I'd like
to clear up, If you can help me-" Sea-
beck interrupted. AL this rustling
that has been going on for the past
year and q half: are Fox and the
Meilke woman mixed up in that? l
want" he said ito help the young
man-and her. But If they have been
operating on large scale, I'm
afraid
II believe Charlie must have been
influenced in some ways by bad ae-
quaintanees, Billy Louise answered
more steadily than she felt. But his
-rustling-has been of petty kind.
won't apologize for him, Mr.. Seabeck.
think it's perfectly awful, what he
has done But | think it would be
more awful still not to give him
chance. The other rustlIng is some
outside gang, I'm sure. If Charlie
was mixed up with them, it's very
slightly-just enough to damn him ut
terly If he were arrested and tried.
He isn't natural criminal. He's just
weak. And he's learned his lesson.
It's up to you, Mr.. Seabeck, to say
whether he shall have a chance to
profit by the lesson. And there's poor
old Marthy in it, too. She just wor-
ships Charlie and would do anything
even steal for him."
Seabeck meditated for a while, and
Billy Louise watched him uneasily
from the tail of her eye. To tell the
plain truth. she was in panic of fear
at what she had done.
Last night, when she lay curled up
by the stove under Wards wolf-skin
coat, this seemed the only possible
way out: To tell Seabeck and trust to
his kindness and generosity to refrain
from pushing the case. To have Char
lie Fox give back what he had stolen
or pay for it-anything that would sat
isfy Seabeck's sense of justice-and
let him start honestly. She had
thought that Seabeck would be merci-
full, if she told him in the right way;
but now, when she stole glance at
his bent, brooding face, she was fright
ened He did not look merciful, but
stern and angry. She remembered
then that stealing cattle Is the one
crime cattleman finds II hard to for
give.
Billy Louise might have spared her
self some mental anguish If she could
have known that Seabeck was brood
ing over the wonder of woman's love
that pardons and eondones d mans
sins.
I'm glad you came and told me
this" ne said at last. Every glad, in
deed Miss Macdonald. Certain steps
have been taken lately TO push this
wipe out this rustlng and general law
lessness and if you had not told me,
I'm afraid the mills of justice would
have ground yeur-friendS. OF course
the law would be merciful to Mrs.
Meilke. No Jury would send an old
woman like that BY the way, that
breed they have had working for
them-he is in on the deal, too, | take
It."
Eyes. of course They had to have
someone to help. Marthy can't do any
riding"
"Hm-mm-do you know, Miss Mac
Donald, whether there was any init
macy between-your friends-and the
man we had for stock inspector, Mr..
0lney?"
"I-can't say as to that" Billy Lou
Use. you see. did not know much about
details, but the little she did know
made her hedge.
There's a queer story about Olney.
You know he has left the country.
don't you? 1t seems he rode very hur-
rledly up to the depot at Wilmer to
take the train. Just as he stepped on,
fellow who knew him by sight no.
tced piece of paper pinned on the
back of his coat. He jerked ii loose.
It was a-m-m-very peculiar docu-
ment for man to be wearing on his
back" Seabeck pulled at his Wits
kers. but it was not pulling which
qulrked the corners of his lips. THE
man said Olney seemed greatly upset
over something and had evidently for