Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-04-25
CHAPTER xxvII-contlnued.

IL
The night was bright with stars.
bright as day, isn't itT' Because her
voice was curt. and she had not used
bis name. the rising infection helped
a little Hateful, to stumble over
rut in the road OF course. he'd make
her take his arml OF coursei
Rickard 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 ne
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 grusping
her arm? Close as they were, his touch
reminding her every minute, between
them. walked her brother and her
brothers wife-and there was the
Mexican-hateful memoryl OF course
she could not be casual. And she
would not force 1t. He had brought
this about. Let him talk. then!
Oppressive that silence. Then 1t
came to her that she would ask him
the question that his coming had abort
ed. A glance at his face found him
smiling. He found 1t amusing? Not
for worlds, then, would she speak. And
they stalked along. UncOnsciously she
had pulled herself nway from him. He
took her hand and put it in the crotch
of his arm. THAT'S better" he said.
She wondered II he we're still smiling.
Their path led by his tent. Neither
OF them noticed a subdaed light
through the canvas walls. As they
reached the place a figure darted from
the door.
"Oh, senior, / thought you would
never come" 1t was the wife of NAL
donado. Her expression was lost on
Innes. The face was quivering with
terror.
"Mr. Richard" Innes' words like
icicles, II win leave you here. 1t is
quite unnecessary to come farther"
Quite unveiled her meaningl
II came so quickly that he was not
ready; nor indeed had Gerty's innuen-
ioes yet reached him. But the situation
was uncomfortable. He turned sharp
ly to the Mexican.
"Come In" he took her roughly by
the arm. She would wake up the camp
with her crying. He put her in chair.
snow tell your story" The woman
had got TO be a nuisance. He couldn't
have her coming around like this. He
had seen that look In the girls eyes
"Murderedp Who did you say was
murdered2"
She lifted a face, frightened into
haggardness. 'Maldonado and tn,
girl"
The night was stripped to the trag
edy "You found them2"
Her face was lifted imploringly Il
him. "Oh. senior. 1t was not 1. BY the
Mother Of Christ. 1t was not l."
Rickard was not sure. Her feal
made him suspect her. "who was II
you thinkT
"Fellpe," she gasped. "He got AVA!
from the rurales--he came back. II,
went home-there was no one there
Some one told him where she ha,
gone. He came to Maldonado's. Lu
crezia, the eldest, opened the gate. III,
was terrible. she said. He rushed pas
her. And when he came out his hand
were red. The children heard cries
They we're afraid to go In. 1 got ther
last night went In. They were no
quite cold-I was afraid to stay. |
would look like me, senior. viii the
take me. senor?" She was wrec
OF terror.
"Not II what you tell me is tru,
Now. get to bed. I'll give you som,
thing that viii make you Sleep" H
hustled her out and prepared tn
1raught.'
He wondered as he got into bed O
to the truth of her story. Disgusting
such animal terrorl Awkward hol
that Fate seemed possessed to que'
him with those Hardinsl