The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-07-17

you forget that have your w word
for II that yen he n dead woman he
fore the day is over. Wouldn't it be
better for NE to begin shooting at nee
ana spare your soul the everlasting
torture that would begin Immediately
after your self-produced dccc0se?"
A little cry Of relief greeted this
quaint sally. You have my word that
will return with you quietly if"
"Thunderation !" exclaimed Barnes
wrathfully. "What do you think l am?
a Worm that"
easy, easy, me dear man." eau
toned O'Dowd. keep your seat.
Don't be deceived by my Internal Irish
humor. 1t is my way to- be always po-
lite. agreeable and-prompt. I'll shoot
in a second if We move one step out
side that cabin"
"O'Dowd, you haven't the heart to
drag her back to that beast of a"
Hold hard! Well come to the point
without further %palavering. Where
are We dragging her yourself, We ras-
cal?"
ITO a place where she will be safe
from insult, injury, degradation"
"Well, I have no fault to find with
We for that" said O'Dowd. "Bedad, I
didn't believe you had the nerve to
tackle the job. You may be interested
to know that up to the moment l left
the house your absence had not been
noticed. my dear Miss Cameron. And
as for YOU, my dear Barnes, your
visit is not ven suspected. How the
divil did We do it, Barnes?"
care you disposed to be friendly,
O'Dowd" demanded Barnes. "If you
are not, we may just as we'll fight it
out now as later on.
"You are not to fght!" she cried in
great agitation. "What are you doing?
Put it away! Don't shoot!"
"1s it Il gun he is pulling?" inquired
O'Dowd calmly. "And what the deuce
are YOU going to atm at, me hearty? l
have a bull's-eye lantern with me.
From the luxurious seat behind this
rock l could spot We in a second. Hav-
ing said a. much l now propose arbi-
tration. Would We mind handing owe
that tin box in exchange for my po-
lite thanks and Il courteous goodby to
both Of ye?"
"We have no box Of any description.
Mr.. OIDowd," cried she triumphantly.
"Thank heaven, he got safely away,!!"
"DO you mean to tell me you came
away without the-your belongings,
Miss Cameron" exclaimed D'Dowd.
"They are not With me-" che replied.
Her grasp on Barnes arm frightened.
ooh, isn't it splendid? Ii:cy did not
catch him. He"
"Will you both swear cn your sacred
honor that We haven't tina jewels in
your possession:'
'Unhesitattngly." said Barnes.
II swear, Mr. O'DOwt."
"Then," said he, II have no lime to
waste here. I am looking for Il tin
box. I beg your pa,low for disturb
ing YOU"
ooh, Mr.. O'Eow9, I shall never for
get all that you hare"
"Whist. now! There is one thing l
must insist IN y:hlr forgetting COM
pletely: all that has happened in the
last five minutes. What ! am doing,
Mr.. Barnes, would lie my death SEN
tence if it ever became known"
1T shall never be known through
me. O'Dowd. I'd like to shake your
hand, old man."
God bless you, Mr.. o'Dowd," said
the girl in a low, small voice, singular
ly suggestive of tears. "Some day I
may be in n position to"
Don't say It! You'll spoil every
thing if you let me think YOU are in
my debt. Bedad, don't he SO sure l
sla'n't see you again, and soon."
"Tell me how to find Harris Tavern,
old man. III"
mo. I'm dashed if I do. You ought
to be grateful to me for not stopping
YOU entirely, without asking me to
give YOU a helping hand. Good-by.
and God bless you. I'm praying that
We get away safely. Miss Cameron. So
long. Barnes. If you were Il crowoand
wanted to roost on that big tree in
front of Harris Tavern. | dare say
you'd take the shortest way there by
flying as straight as a bullet from the
mouth of this pit, following your en-
trelnely go0d-looking nose"
They did not wait for the break of
day. Taking O'Dowd's hint, Barnes
directed his steps straight IL from
The mouth Of the quarry and pressed
confidently onward. In answer to n
question she informed him that there
We're no fewer than twenty-five men in
Green Fancy, all of them shrewd, reso-
lutte and formidable.
II cannot. for the life OF me, see
why they took chances on inviting me
TO the house, Miss Cameron
She was silent for a moment. and
when she spoke it IA with great in
tensity. "Mr. Barnes. l had your life
in my hands all the time YOU were a,
Green Fancy. | shudder now when !
think of what might have hammond