The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-06-26
CHAPTER xxvIl-continued.


-12-
The night was bright with stars.
Bright as Jay, isn't itf" Because her
voice was curt. and she had not used
his name. the rising infection helped
Q llttlei Hateful, to stumble over a
tut in the roadl OF course, he'd make
hsr take his arm! OF coursel
Rickard grnsped her elbow. She
walked along. her head high. her
cheeks flaming. anger surging through
her at his touch.
Stupid to press this companionshIp,
this awkward silence on her. II 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 give-and-
take. but what could she. Innes Har-
din. find to chatter about with this
man stalking along, grimly grnsping
Der armf Close as they were. his touch
reminding her every minute. between
them walked her brother and her
brothers wife-and there was the
Aexican-hateful memoryi OF course
she could not be casual. And she
would not force II. He had brought
this about. Let him talk. thehi
Oppressive that silence. Then It
, eame to; her that she would ask him
the question that his coming had abort
"a. A glance at his face found him
smiling. He found It amusingf Not
for worlds, then. would she speak. And
they stalked along. Unconsciously she
had pulled herself away from him. He
took her hand and put II in the crotch
of his arm. '.That's better" he said.
She wondered II he were still smiling.
Their path led BY his tent. Neither
Of them noticed . subdued light
through the canvas walls. As they
reached the place . figure darted from
The door.
'Oh. Ssnof, thought you would
never couse." II was the wife Of NAL
donado. Her expression was lost ON
Jnnes. The face was Quivering with
terror.
~lf. Richard" Innes' words like
ieicles. II will leave you here. II 10
quite unnecessary 70 come farther"
Quite unveiled her meaningi
II came 20 quickly that he was mot
ready ;lnor indeed, had 0erty's innuen-
does ~ reached him. But the situation
vas Uncomfortable. He turned sharp
y to the Mexican.
'Come in," he took her roughly BY
the arm. She would wake up the camp
with hcP crying. He put her In chair.
~Now tell your story" The woman
had got to be nuisance. He couldn't
have her coming around like this. He
had seen that look In the girls eyes
"Murderedf Who did you say was
murderedY
She lifted q face. frightened into
haggardness. "Maldonado and the
GIRL" st
The night was stripped to the gag
edy. "You found themr
Her face was lifted imploringly to
him. 'Oh, senor, II was not I. BY the
Mother Of Christ. It was not L"
Rickard was not sure. Her fear
made him suspect her. "Who was II.
you thinkf"
.Felipe." she gasped. "He got away
from the rurales---he came back. He
went home-there was no one there.
Some one told him where she had
gsme. He cai1e to Maldonado's. Lu.
cfe-ia, 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 In. got there
last night. I went In. They were not
quite cold--I was afraid to stny. II
would look like me, senior. VIII they
tnke me. senorf" She was a wreck
Of terror.
"Not II 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
draught.
He wondered as he got into bed as
to the truth of her story. Disgusting,
such animal terrori Awkward hole,
that. Fate seemed possessed to queer
him with those Hardinsl