The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-10-10
CHAPTER xxvll-continued.

~
The night was bright with stars.
"6right as day, isn't it?" Because her
voice was curt. and she had not used
his name. the rising infection helped
a little! Hateful. to stumble over a
rut Ia the road! Of course, he'd make
her take his arm! OF course!
Richard grasped 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. If he
Thought she was going to entertain
him, as Gerry 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-
satn, find to chatter about with this
man stalking along grilnly grasping
her arm? Close as they were. his touch
reminding her every minute, between
chem walked her brother and her
brothers wife-and there was the
Mexican-hateful memory! 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 it
came to her that she would ask him
the question that his coming had abort
cd. A glance at his face found him
smiling. He found it amusing? Not
Tor worlds, then, would she speak. And
they stalked along. Unconsciously she
had pulled herself away from him. He
took her hand and put it in the crotch
Of his arm. "Thats better" he said.
She wondered If he were still smiling.
Their path led by his tent. Neither
of them noticed a subdued light
through the canvas walls. As they
reached the place figure darted from
the door.
''Oh. senior. I thought you would
never come" 1t was the wife of Mall
donado. Her expression was lost on
innes. The face was quivering with
terror.
"Mr. Richard" lines words like
sicles, Il will leave you here. 1t is
quite unnecessary to come farther"
Quite unveiled her meaning.
1t came so quickly that he was not
ready; nor indeed had Gerty's innuen.
toes yet reached him. But the situation
WIS uncomfortable. He turned sharp
" to the Mexican.
''CenS in;'' he tcok SER rougEe, by
the arm. She would wake up the camp
with her crying. He put her in chair.
'Now tell your story" The woman
had got to be a nuisance. He couldn't
fave her coming around like this. He
had seen that look in the girls eyes
Murdered? Who did you say was
niurdered?"
She lifted face, frightened into
haggar-lness. ''Maldonado and the
giri."
The night was stripped to the trag-
edy. you found them?"
Her face was lifted imploringly to
hin. "Oh. senior. it 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,
yoG ehink?"
-Felipe." she gasped. "He got away
yrom the ruraleS-he came back, He
wen. home-there was no one there.
Sonse one told him where she had
gone. He came to Maldonado's. Luz
crezia- the eldest, opened the gate. He
was terrible, she said. He rushed past
tier And when he came out his hands
were red. The children heard cries.
Thes were afraid to so in. | got there
last night. ! went in. They were not
quite eold-I was afraid to stay, It
would look like me. senior. Will they
AXE sla. senor?" She was a wreck
Of terror.
NOT if what you tell me is true.
Nav. get to bed. I'll give you some
thing that will make you Sleep" He
hustled her out and prepared the
fraaght
tas wondered as he got into bed as
"a tat ruth of her story. Disgusting.
-srsfl animal terror! Awkward hole.
fhat- Fate seemed possessed to queer
~iia "sth those Hardins!