The circle banner., 1918-03-08
CHAPTER xvII-Continued.


-12-
Seabeck returned after while, an
Billy Louise, who was watching frol
the doorway, met him at the little gat
as he was coming up to the hous,
"Well, how bad is 1t, Mr.. Seabeck
she asked sharply, just because sh
felt the imperative need of facts-sh
who had struggled so long in the quick
sands of suspicion and doubts an
fears and suspense.
"Hmmm-mm-how bad is it-in tn
house?' he countered. ''The real Grim
has been committed there, it seems t
me. A few head of cattle, more or less
don't count for much against the bro
Ken heart of an old woman"
"Ohr Billy Louise, her hand
clenched upon the gate, stared NJ
wide-eyed into his face. And this wa.
the real Seabeck, whom she had known
impersonally all her life! This wa.
the real man of him, whom she hat
never known; a flawless diam oad of 9
soul behind those bright blue eyes and
that pointed, graying beard; poet, phi
iosopher, 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 beirg, I hope,
Miss Macdonald, as well as a mere
cnttleman."
Narthy did not attempt to rise when
shabeck followed Billy Louise into the
sitting room. She caught up her apron
ami wiped her eyes. After that she
fsred Seabeck with harsh composure
aI.1 waited for the settlement.
'Hmm-mm! l have been looking
over the CATTLE" he began, sitting on
the edge of a chair and turning his
hl1ck hat absently round ahd round by
the brim. "You-mm-mm-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. 81 heard 'em
say that's how they would git rid of
'ezn. an / heard 'em shootin' down
there"
Hmm-mm-yes! Do you know just
what"
"Five dry cows m two steers-long
tuo-year-oles, jedged 'em to be-"
Marthy was certainly prompt enough
and explicit enough. And her lips were
grim, and her faded blue eyes hard
ard 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
hfc sfthof
there are more young stock vented and
rvbranded than Ter sold your
nephew. Fourteen head, to be exact. |
With the cattle you tell me which |
W recommendations of last night, !
tFat would make twenty-one head of |
stock for which-mm-mm-I take 1t |
you are willing to pay"
81 amt got the money now" Marthy
stated, too apathetic to be either de-
fivnt or placating. "You en- fix up the
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 a blank note, +"
"You kin look In that desk over
here" permitted Marthy. ''f yuh don't
ind any there, there amt none no
where" :
Seabeck did not find any blank notes. !,
lie found an eloquent confusion of I
umbled letters and accoaDts and pa :
Sers, and guessed that the owner had {
lone some hasty sorting and straight '
ming Of his affairs, He sighed, and I
IFS blue eyes hardened for minute. 6
nd went over to kneel comfortingly 4
eside Marthy, and Seabeck looked at i
he two and sighed again, though his $
yes were no longer stern. He d
uIled a sheet of paper toward him 8
nd wrote steadily In prim, upright b
that had never flourish
nywhere, but carefully crossed t's and h
arefully dotted rs and punctuation Il
,arks Of beautiful exactness. a
''You will pleace sign here, Mrs. t
teilke," he said calmly, coming over t
, them with the sheet Of paper laid c
upon a last-year's best-seller Il
nd with Charles fountain pen In his a
ther hand. "And II Miss Macdonald o
i'll also sign, as an indorser, think 8
can safely do away with any mort
age or other legal security" Is
Billy Louise stood up and gave him II
ne look--which Seabeck did not ap-
reciate, because he did not see 1t.
"I'd ruther give q mortgage" Marthy
lid uneasily, sitting up suddenly and
oking from one to the other. Il don't ?
ant Billy Louise to git tangled up In
y troubles. She's got plenty Of her
yn. Her maw's just died, Mr.. Sea- al
,ck. And TIL bet there was hos. tc
tai n Doctors bill bigger'n this cat st
e note, to be paid. / don't want to to
le on"
Nov, Marthy. you be still. I'm per- W
city willing to sign this note with h,
III. If it will satisfy Mr.. Seabeck, b.
n sure It's the very best we can do al
expect" Billy Louise, bless her pi
art, was trying very hard to be CRATE 10
] to Seabeck in spite Of the slump ed
. had suffered In her estimation.
"WelI. I'll want your written word br
ut yuh won't prosecute Charlie nor to
Up nobody else prosecute him." stfpu- at
fed Mapthv with cud6ov, ct1rovvduoao ! NJ