The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-05-16


-12-
The night was bright with stars.
Bright as day, isn't it," Because her
foice was curt, and she had not used
his name. the rising infection helped
little, Hateful, to stumble over
ut in the road OF course. he'd make
her take his arm, OF courseI
Richard grasped her elbow. She
walked along. her head high, her
,heeks flaming, anger surging through
Ter at his touch.
Stupid to press this companionship.
his awkward silence on her. If he
hought she was going TO entertain
lin, as Gerty did, with her swift chat
.er, he'd be surprised Any other two
people would fall into easy give-and-
take, but what could she. Innes Har-
lin. find 10 chatter about with this
man stalking along. grimly grasping
1er arm? Close as they We're. his touch
reminding her every minute, between
them walked her brother and her
brothers. W-ife-and there was the
Nexican-hateful memoryl OF course
she could not be casual. And she
his about Let him talk. them
Oppressive that silence. Then it
came to her that she would ask him
he question that his coming had abort
I'd. n glance at his face found him
smiling. He found it amusing? Not
,or worlds, then, would she speak. And
hey stalked along. Unconsciously she
lad pulled herself away from him. He
-ook her hand and put it in the crotch
IF his arm. That's better" he said.
She wondered if he were still smiling.
Their path led by his tent. Neither
If them noticed a subdued light
through the canvas walls. AS they
reached the place a figure darted from
he door.
ooh. senior. L thought you would
never come" 1t was the wife of Nal
iOnado. Her expression was lost on
lnnes. The face was quivering with
error.
MIR. Richard" lines words like
cicles, Il will leave you here. 1t is
quite unnecessary to come farther"
Quite unveiled her meaning
1t came so quickly that he was not
-eady; nor indeed had Gertys innuen-
Toes yet reached him. But the situation
vas uncomfortable. He turned sharp
y to the Mexican.
Come in" he took her roughly by
he arm. She would wake up the camp
With her crying He put her in a chair.
Now tell your story" The woman
lad got to be a nuisance. He couldn't
nave her coming around like this. He
lad seen that look in the girls eyes
Murdered? Who did you say was
nurdered?"
She lifted a face, frightened into
laggardness. "Maldonado and the
girl"
The night was stripped to the trag-
,dy. You found them?"
Her face was lifted imploringly to
him. "Oh, senior, il was not l. By the
Mother of Christ. it was not l."
Richard was not sure. Her fear
made him suspect her. ''Who was it,
You Think"
Felipe" she gasped. HE got away
rom the ruraIeS--he came back. He
vent home-there was no one there.
Some one told him where she had
gone. He came TO Maldonado's. Luz
:rezia, the eldest, opened the gate. He
was terrible, she said. He rushed past
her. And when he came out his hands
we're red. The children heard cries.
They were afraid 10 go in. l got there
asst night. / went in. They were not
quite cold-I was afraid TO stay. 1t
would look like me, senior. Will they
take me, senor?" She was a wreck
Of terror.
Not If what you tell me Is true.
Now, get to bed. I'll give you some
thing that will make you Sleep" He
hustled her out and prepared the
iraught.
He wondered rs he got into bed as
10 the truth of her story. Disgusting.
such animal terror Awkward hole,
that. Fate seemed possessed to queer
him with those Hardinsi