Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-12

lou Two Have uiel maven you,
Walter" the girl asked, looking
from one to the other.
Kennedy surveyed the doctor cOldly.
Eyes, | have had the--pleasure,' he
said with a pause and emphasis to the
word that could be nothing but irony.
The doctor felt slow flush stealing
up into his neck.
He tried to catch the others eye,
but it would not meet his, kept itself
close on the girls face.
you shouldn't be here, Ruth
Kennedy said complainingly. yet with
a certain kindness in his tone, Il
don't believe you slept wink all
night You must 60 home now and
lie down."
His air of proprietorship nettled
Hardy strangely and he was glad
when the girl said:
Don't be foolish. Walter!
couldn't get sleep today either, untip'
her voice caught and with ylsi.
BILE effort she went On-"until hear
from dad again.
Besides, was telling DR.. Hardy
the news"-her face losing some Of
its pathetic apprehension as she turn
ed back to the doctor.
"All along we've thought Kiheka
was solidly arrayed against outlaws"
she went on, but. after the attempt
on the bank yesterday, they told that
they were carrying $4,000 extra in
their safe--Indian money left over
from the quarterly payment in De-
cember No one outside the bank
and its stockholders was supposed to
know, but some one did - and some
one passed the word to Bart Sesrs."
"0h, come along. Ruth. You need
the rest" Kennedy urged, and in his
manner was something strange, some
thing not genuine, Hardy thought.
Don't be impatient, Walter she
protested.
But are you sure " the doctor
asked when Kennedy settled back,
eyes averted. isn't it possible that
ne Just happened along?"
big outlaws don't just happen
along. He would never have risked
that work for the amount the bank
ordinarily carries. Some one knew;
some one told And that some one Is
right here in town.
Hardy. looking down and rubbing
his chin in perplexity, saw kennedy's
one knee give violent CULVER; he
looked up and found the mans black,
beady eyes on him, glaring from the
pale mask of his thin, white face.
Just that brief contact of glances, but
in It the doctor read hate, deep rotted
and bitter.
THE doctor has heard all this
probably he said, in gritty voice,
and Hardy was urged to blurt out a
protest at his attitude. 1T does you
no good to be continually talking
about this thing. You'd better go
home Ruth"
He shifted his feet and cleared his
throat, evidently reused to high
pitch of nervousness.
Perhaps it would be wise," she
murmured, and again her voice was
dcy, without resonance. and once
more the dire trouble showed in her
eyes.
Hardy backed away a pace and re-
moved his hat again. He was about to
speak when Kennedy, who had turned
his shoulder. looked up at the smiling
sky and said:
IT'S fairer weather now, doctor
Your night work won't be quite SO
difficult from now on, will it,"
He looked back with that and in
those beady eyes was triumphant
leer. Hardy saw the girl turn away,
heard her words, knew that he mum.
bled something in return; then found
himself stauding alone, victim of
fleeing iorebodings.
Throughout the day he moved
about with mind elsewhere than on
his work. Had that thrust been
shot in the dark! Had Il been mean.
ingless? Or did kennedy xnow that
the new doctor worked to keep Bart
Sears alive? II he knew, why did he
keep quiet?
Those and host of other questions
crowded one another through his con.
sciousness
Not that discovery would matter to
him. His hands were clean, for he
had followed the path of duty as he
saw It.
The insinuation, the bearing of the
other when he made that reference to
night work - those were the things
which rubbed.
And back of It all was his growing
dislike Of the man at first instnc-
tive and now stirred by kennedy's
| bearing.
perhaps he's so jealous OF her"
he began, his reasoning breaking into
words then stood stock-still, thinking
OF the girl, her helplessness and her
pitiable concern.
That evening he again rode out OF
town and through the Indian camp.
The clouds had been completely
routed by the brisk wind and moon
gave him light.
In the shadow OF building no saw
a deeper blotch and heard the muifled