The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-04-04
CHAPTER XIV.
aeod Save You KindIx.n

1OO SGHS IOO
A nurse from the hospital had re-
lieved Diane and Sneba at daybreak.
They slept until the middle OF the aft
ernoon, then under orders from the
doctor walked out TO take the air. The
fever of the patient was subsiding. He
slept a good deal, and in the intervals
between had been once or twice quite
rational.
The thoughts of the cousins drew
their steps toward the Jail. Sheba
looked at Diane.
'wiII they let US pass, do you
think?"
Perhaps. We can try"
Gopher Jones was not proof against
the brisk confidence with which Mrs.
Paget demanded admfttance.
The prisoner was sitting on the bed.
His heart jumped with gladness when
he looked up.
Diane shook hands cheerfully. "How
is the criminal?"
Better for hearing your kind voice."
he answered.
His eyes strayed to the ebon-haired
girl in the background They met a
troubled smile, grave and sweet.
lawfully good of you to come to
see me-" he told Sheba gratefully
How is Macdonald?"
Better, we hope. He knew Diane
this afternoon"
"We haven't talked to Mr. Macdon-
aid yet about the attack on him." Di-
ape explained. But he must have
recognized the men. There are many
| footprints at the ford showing how
they moved over the ground as they
| fought. So he could not have been
unconscious from the first blow"
unless they were masked he must
have known them. 1t was light
enough" agreed Elliot
peter is still trying to get the Off
! GERS TO accept bail, but I don't think
he will succeed. There is a good deal
| of feeling in town against you"
Because 1 am supposed to be. an
enemy to an open Alaska, 1 Judge"
Mainly that. Wally Selfridge has
| been talking Il good deal. He takes it
for granted that you are guilty. Wen
have to wait in patience till Mr.. Mac
donald speaks and clears you
Gopher stuck his head in at the door.
you'll have to go, ladies. Times up"
When Sheba babe the prisoner good
! by it was with a phrase of the old
Irish vernacular "God save you
kindly"
He knew the peasants answer to the
wish and gave it. and you, too"
The girl left the prison with a mist
in her eyes. Her cousin looked at her
with a queer. ironic little smile of af-
lection. To be in trouble was sure
passport to the sympathy of Sheba.
Now both her lovers were in a sad
way. Diane wondered which of them
would gain most from this new twist
of fate.
Selfridge had been shocked at the
sight of Macdonald. The terrible beat
ing and the loss of blood had Slapped
ali the splendid, vital strength of the
Scotsman. His battered head was
swathed in bandages, but the white
face was bruised and disfgured. The
wounded man was weak as 4 kitten /;
only the steady eyes told that he was
still strong and uncOnquered-
81 want to talk business for a min
ute, Miss Sedgwick. VIII you please
step out?' said Macdonald to his
nurse.
She hesftated. 1.-The doctor says"
do as 1 say, please"
The nurse left them alone. Wally
told the story of the evidence against
Elliot in four sentences. His chief
caught the point at once.
After Selfridge had gone, the wound
ed man lay silent thinking out his pro-
gram. Not for moment did he doubt
that he was going to live, and his brain
was already busy planning for the fu-
ture He knew now that in the VIC
lence of his anger against ElliOt he
had made a mistake To have killed