Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-04-12
Discovery.

camp next morning. Three rurales, In
brilliant trappings. rode up to Rick
ards ramada. The leader, entering
the Office, announced that they were
on the track OF a criminal, the muir
derer OF q rurale. Maldonado. He was
an Indian named Felipe. He repeated
the story Richard had heard before.
Would the senior give his respected
permission for notices to be posted
about the camp? A description Of the
Indian a reward for his capture; the
favor would be inestlmable.
llickard saw the notice later that
day. II was nailed 10 the back plat
form Of the Palmyra. He was on Mar
shalIs trail. his chief having failed to
keep an appointment with him. They
were TO test the gate that afternoon;
Marshall was returning soon TO Tue
son.
Richard turned back toward camp,
deep In thought; so intent that a sharp
cry had lost its echo before the import
came to him. He stopped. hearing nj
ming steps behind him. Innes Hardin
was Looping up the bank like a young
deer. with terror in her eyes.
"Mr. RlekardP she cried. "Mr.
ltlekardr'
She was trembling. Her fright had
flushed her; cheek to brow was glow
ing with startled blood. He saw an
odd fash Of startling beauty. the veii
OF tan torn of by her emotion. The
wave OF her terror caught him. He
put out his hand to steady her. She
stood recovering herself, regalnlng her
spent breath. Richard remembered
that this was the first time he had e e
her since the murder OF Maldonado,
since the meeting with the Mexican
woman at his tent. "What was 1t
frightened your"
'fhe Indian, the murderer. Just as
they describe him on those notices. l
must have fallen asleep. ia been
reading. | heard a noise In the brush
aud there was his face staring at me"
Her breath was still uneven. ~
screamed and ran. silly to be so
scared"
He started toward the willows, but
she grabbed his sleeve. "oh, don't"
She flushed, thinking to meet the quiz
zical smile, but his eyes were grave.
He, too, had had his fright. They stood
staring at each other. "Tm afraid"
she completed. How he would desplse
her cowardleel But she could not let
HIN know That her fear had been for
hint
He was looking al her. Suppose any
thing had happened TO herl He had a
mlnHte OF nausea. II that brute had
hurt her-and then he knew how il
was with hlml
He looked at her grayely. or course.
He had known It a long time. II was
true. She was going to belong to him.
II that brute had hurt herl
She shrank under his gravity; this
vas something she did not understand.
They were silent, walking toward the
encampment. Richard did not care to
talk. Il was not the time; and he had
been badly shaken. lines was tremu-
lousy conscious OF the palpltating ST..
lence. Sne iuttered toward giddy
speech. Her walk that day, Mr.. Rick
ardl She had heard that water had
started TO flow down the old river bed
she had wanted TO see Il. and there
was no one to go with her. Her SEN
tence broke on. The look he had
turned on her was so dominant. so ten
der. Amused at her glddlness, and
yet loving herl Loving herl They
were silent again.
"You won't go on alone, again" He
had not asked It. at parting. His In
Election demanding II Of her, was OF
ownership. She dld not meet his eyes.
Later, when she was lying on her
bed. face downward. routed. she tried
20 analyze that possesslye challenge OF
his gaze, but Il eiuded words. She
summoned her pride. but the meaning
called her. sense and mind and soul
OF her. II cried to her: II. Casey
Rlcksrd. whom your brother hates,
once the lover Of Gerry Holmes, | am
the mate for you. And I'm going to
come and take you some day. Some
day. when l have timer
Oh. yes. she was angry with him
she had some pride. "Why didn't he
tell me then7s she cried In a warm tu-
mutt to her pillow. "For | would have
given him his answer. I had time.
ample time. to tell him that It was
not true" For she wanted a different
sort Of lover. not a second hand dis
card but one who belonged all to her
self; one who would WOO. not take her
with that strange sure look Of his.
"Youn be waiting when I come.~ An.
she would not. indeed She would
show hint
And then she lay quite stlll with her
hand oyer her heart. She would be
waiting when he came for heri Be
cause. though life had brought them
together so roughly. 50 tacilessly had
muddled things. yet she knew. She
would Be waiting for HIM -