Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01

temps. Then he took fresh hold on
his determination, thought upon the
woeful plight OF Evangeline, besct by
her fears Of further violence, and set.
tied himself down on the bench TO
wait.
The paddock showed that vetal was
not within. A little spider furnished
further proof. He had spun in the
corner of the door and was crouched
in the center Of his web.
The night drew on. The stars winked
above the spruces, and the chill from
Hagas swamp came creeping across
the clearing.
Aldrich realized that he was hun.
CRY. He strode to the barn and raped
upon the tie.up door.
II do not sell drink" snarled the
dwarf from within. 81 have no key"
"All I want is milk" declared the
young man. II will give you half.
dollar for tinful with bit Of your
bread"
After a time the man showed the
bread and milk through the half-open.
ed door, snatched his coin, and
slammed the portal savagely.
When the officer had eaten the fru.
gal meal he smoked his pipe and
trudged up and down in front OF the
door. his thoughts busy with the pro-
tests, the arguments, and appeals he
would NN-if -
father. The reflection that Roi might
accompany Netal did not intimidate
Aldrich in his new spirit. His rife
was on his back, his soul was in arms,
and he had demonstrated that he pro.
posed to fight them according to their
own code.
Furthermore, that they would go
as far as actual violence when he
faced them in a situation where the
presence Of the girl did not compli.
cate matters, he did not credit. That
other attack on him at Beaulieu's
Place had been fomented by despera.
ton, and the agent was a drink.crazed
man. 1t had been an attack from am.
bush, and such deeds were rare on
the border. If Roi came, so much the
better! He would charge the scoundrel
with his betrayal of Bessie Macpher.
son, and would challenge him to a
denial in the presence of Vetal Beau.
lieu. So he tramped to and fro and
pulled savagely at his pipe and waited.
Now and then there was the sound of
wheels on the road. But they who
appeared did not stop. Even the strag.
Cling customers of the place seemed
to know that the doors were shut and
that Beaulieu was away.
At the corner of the house he stud.
led his watch by the light Of the stars.
Nearly 10 o'clock.
While he pondered with watch in
hand he heard the husky lowing OF
cattle down the road to the east. His
man must be approaching. He waited
in the shadows of the low building.
Cows came first. They dragged them.
selves wearily and complained with
deep.throated mutterings. There was
only one man on the loaded buck.
board. Horses jostled behind it at
the length of halter ropes. Aldrich
mounted and rode forth to meet the
wagon
1t was not Vetal Beaulieu, this
driver. He was a young fellow. and
| he suffered. and mis- tone quavered
/ p.,n hn ranIial IN hn ntHnar's l,o
! questioning.
He admitted that he was Beaulieu's
man after he had incoherently denied
that he was. He owned up that he was
and that the cows were Beaulieu's ant
the horses were Beaulieu's: but this
information was wrung from hin
piecemeal.
suspecting that he understood wha
this reticence signified, "I am not try
ing to prove a smuggling case against
you"
But you are an officer. ! know
you. You do not wear your cap, but
know you"
Il am attending TO my personal busi
ness now. / am not on duty. / wan
to find your master"
"I don't know where he is"
But where did you leave him? VIII!
did you come on alone?"
HE was tired. He stayed to rest
He will come tomorrow; yes, I thinl
} he will come tomorrow"