The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-05-02
CHAPTER xxvII--censInued.


The night was bright with stars
bright as day. isBf It7, Because her
voice was curt. and she had not used
his name, the rising Infection helped
a littlei Hateful. to stumble over
rut In the road OF course, he'd make
her take his arml OF conrsei
Richard graspad her elbow. she
walked along. her head high, her
cheeks flaming, anger suFglng through
her M hts touch.
Stupid TO press this companionship,
this awkward silence on her. III he
thought she was going to entertain
him, as Gerty did, with her swift chat
ter he'd be surprised Any other two
people would fall into easy glye-and-
take, but what could she, lines Har-
din, tud 10 chatter about with this
MAN stalking along, grImIy grasplng
her nrmf Close as they were, his touch
reminding her every minute, between
them walked her brother and her
brothers wife-nnd there was the
Mexican--hateful memoryf OF course
she could not be casual. And she
would not force It. He had brought
this about Let him talk. then
Oppressive that silence. Then ii
came 20 her Tint she would ask him
the question that his coming had abort
ca. A glance at hts face found him
smiling. He found It amusing? Not
for worlds, then, would she speak. And
they stalked along. Internationally she
had pulled herself away from him. He
took her hand and put II 10 the crotch
Of hts arm. "rhut's better" he said.
She wondered II he were sim smiling.
Their path led BY his tent. Neither
Of them noticed a subdued light
through the canvas walls. AS thoy
reached the place figure darted from
the door.
"Oh, senior. thought you would
never come.p II was the wife Of NAL
donado. Her expression was lost on
Innes. The face wins Qulyerlng with
terror.
+Mr, Richard, Innes' words like
icicles, II win leave you here. It Is
quite unnecessary TO come farther
Quite unveiled her meaningi
II came SO quickly TINT he was not
ready; nor indeed had Gertys innuen-
does yet reached him. But the situation
was uncomfortable. He turned sharp
" 70 the Mexican.
'Come In" he took her roughly by
the arm. She would wake up the camp
with her crying. He put her In chair.
Nov tell your story" The woman
had got to be nuisance, He couldn't
have her coming around like this. lie
had seen that look In the girls eyes
"Murdered7 Who did you say was
murderedY
She lifted face, frightened into
haggardness. "Maidonado aud the
girl"
The night was stripped TO the trag-
edy. "You found themfa
Her face was lifted imploringly 10
him. "oh. senior, II was not I. BY the
Mother OF Christ, Il was not IL
Richard was not sure. Her fear
made him suspect her. ''Who was 1t.
you thinkT
"Felipe," she gasped. Tie got away
from the rurales--he came back. He
went home-there was no one there.
Some one told him where she had
gone. He came 20 Maldonados. Luz
erezla. the eldest. opened the gate. He
was terrible, she said. He rushed past
her, And when he came out his hands
were red. The children heard cries.
They were afraid to 60 Ia. got there
last night went In. They were not
quite C0id-4I was afraid to stay. 1t
would look like me, senior. VIII they
take rae. senorg' She was wreck
Of terror,
"Not II what you tell me Is true.
Now, set 10 bed. I'll give you some
thing that win make you Sleep" He
bustled her out and prepared the
iraught.
He wondered as he got into bed as
TO the truth OF her story. Disgusting,
such animal terrorl Awkward hole,
that. Fate seemed possessed TO queer
him with those Hardlnsl