The Monticellonian., 1918-05-10
CHAPTER xVii-Continued.


Seabeek returned after a while, and
Billy Louise who was watching from
the doorway, met him ut the little gate
as he was coming up to the house
well, how bad is it. Mr.. Seabeck?'
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- bad is tin the
house?" 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"
"Oh :" Billy Louise, her hands
clenched upon the gate, stared VI
wide-eyed into his face, And this was
the real Seabeek, whom she had known
impersonally all her life This was
the real man of him. whom she had
never known; flawless diam ond of q
soul behind those bright blue eyes and
that pointed grazing beard poet phi.
losopher. gentleman to the bone. "oh
You saw that, tool And they're your
cattle that were stolen! You say it
oh, you're-you're-"
'iImm-mm-a human berg. | hope
Miss Macdonald, as well as mere
cattleman."
Marthy did not attempt to rise when
Seabeek 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 l 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 hrim. "You-mm-inm---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 EN-
say that's how they would git rid OF
'em. an | heard 'em shootin' down
there
"Hmm-mm-yes Do you know just
what"
Five dry cows n two steers-long
two-year-oles, l iedged 'em to be-
Marthy was certainly prompt enough
and explicit enough. And her lips wert
grim, and her faded blue eyes hare
and steady upon the face of Seabeck
"Hmm-mm-yes | find also" he
went on in his somewhat precise voice
that had earned him the nickname OF
deacon" among his pHnehers. that
there are more young stock vented anC
3rebranded than = er = sold youl
nephew. Fourteen head, to be exact
With the cattle you tell me which
-mm-m-dispesed of last night
that would make twenty-one head Of
stock for whieh-mm-mm take II
you are willing to pay"
81 amt got the money now" Marthy
stated, too apathetic to be either de
faint or placating. you en- fix up Tho
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. Neil
ke | shall make lump sum at the
going price for mixed stock. If you
have blank note, +"
'You kin look in that desk over
there" permitted Marthy "If yuh don't
find any there. there amt none no.
where"
Seabeck did not find any blank notes
10 fa,n6 ~
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 eomfortingly
beside Marthy, and Seabeck looked al
the two and sighed again, though his
eyes were no longer stern. He
pulled n sheet of paper toward him
and wrote steadily In prim. upright
chirography that had never flourish
anywhere. but carefully crossed is and
carefully dotted is and punctuation
marks of beautiful exactness.
You will pleace sign here, Mrs
lMeilke." he said calmly, coming over
TO them with the sheet of paper laid
smoothly upon last-years best-seller
and with Charities fountain pen in his
other hand. "And if Miss Macdonald
will also sign, as an indorser. think
1 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 APP
preciate, because he did not see 1t.
I'D ruther give mortgage" Marthy
said uneasily, sitting up suddenly and
looking from one to the other. Il don't
want Billy Louise to git tangled up in
my troubles. Shes 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 eat.
tie note, 10 be paid. l don't want &c
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,
full to Seabeck in spite of the SLUMP
he had suffered in her estimation.
We'll, I'll want your written WORD
that yuh won't prosecute Charlie MOI
help nobody else prosecute him. stipu
lated Marthy. with sudden shrewdness
If men Billy Louise signs this note
Wen pay II; and we want some per
lection from you, fer Charlie
Inn L