The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-05-29

Scathlin was a foul mouthed, foul
souled companion for any man to tie
to, and his personal habits We're any
thing but attractive. Time and again
Holt had almost turned from his task
with disgust, resolved to let his rights
and all go rather than be tied to the
creature another hour. Yet he had
stuck to him; and now, after these
many days of cunning and craftiness,
of trickeries too numerous to mention,
of attempted escape on Scathl1ns
part; after taking side trips to funer-
ais Of S~cathlin's relatives who never
had existed, except in imagination;
visits to business men who were sup
posed to be bounding Scathlin to his
death and yet who were never found
after all this they were on their way
back to Hawk valley! Scathlin had
come to the end of his money and his
wits, and had been compelled to accept
the escort and financial aid OF Holt
back to the place from which he a
started, because he did not dare to do
anything else. This be did both on his
own account and for the sake OF his
employers, who would not hesitate to
leave him in the lurch to save them
selves, and who had warned him bow
all things not to let Holt suspect his
mission with those papers to the east
ern syndicate. Besides, there was al
ways the hope that he might yet es-
cape and make his way back in time
to present those papers to the man
whom Harrington had said would pay
him a big reward for bringing them.
Harrington and his men could not
have done 1t without suspicion, but the
plan was that Scathlha should profess
to have found something valuable to
the syndicate and be willing to sell it
at a good price.
1t was no wonder that Scathlin's
eyes had a hunted look. and his bad
old face under its stubbly growth was
almost pitifully desperate as he
looked at the fresh face Of the sweet
young girl, and for the moment for
got his misery, gloating over her
beauty, while Holt seemed to be en-.
gagged with the sunset view. But Holt
caught the CLEAN in his victims eye
and his heart burned hotly within him.
He could have crushed the creature
then ard there for the insolence of his
gaze. He could have crushed him like
yerri:n and felt no sin. All the man in
hin reused to resent the evil look.
"S sathl:n!" His tone was cutting
wit. command and the old man turned
bringing and met the steely glance OF
his capto-, then impatient and trep-
bling with anger began to look again
out OF the window; again the crimson
wrath surgel up his leathery neck and
sufrnsed his coarse features.
The girl, half aware OF what had
bee. goieg 81. turned and took it all
In, d frightened color pickering up
into her cheeks. Her eyes, growing.
large with vague horror. met .Holt's
steeIy gaze, saw 1t change and soften
r~eassuringly, as If he, were holding at
bay a loatsome bloodhound and wished
her to understand she need not fear.
The girl, with one feeting look Of graf
ituae toward the young man. turned
back again to her window as II moth
ing had happened. In fact no onlooker
would have suspected that anything at
all had happened, and yet really q
little drama had been enacted and all
the actors understood it as thorough
" al IL it had been spoken. But one
word only had been audible, n the
girl wasn't sure she had heard that
Alright.
The dusk dropped down and the
train sped on over the plains.
And now the sunset stains grew
deeper and blended into gold and
crimson and lifted the gray into clear
op,.l spaces Of luminous beauty,
spreading the paaoply Of color far
along horizon Of the plain. 1t was a
thing to make n look in awe. to hush
evil thoughts and bring a holiness to
hearts. Something Of its calm and
strength crept into the girls express
sion as she WATCHED it, and once she
half turned to see If Holt wa watch
Ing too. But Holt was sitting facing
ths other way AM could see only the
fading trails of glo.y IN the sky as it
sped away Ho.a his gaze. though he
hadcaught the reflection OF wonder
from her face, AID ayerted his own
Seye5sasM from too holy a sight. Those
who knew Hoit, Or thoaght they knew
him, would have laughed loud and long
al such an idea Of him, but it was
true. The girl felt 1t al she turned
safely backsto, her sunset.
ScatlIin was not enjoying the view
HewaS looking fllrtiYely on. every side