The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-08-07

On the morning that she mailed
Gcathlin happened to be IN the villag,
Holt had gone away very early j
the morning, ON o matter OF business
leaving word that he might not return
until the next day, and Scathlin fel
like a prisoner let OFT of jail. 1t wa
his first opportunity to go about with
gu Hollis ayes upon him. True. h
was under oath to do and not to d.
certain things, with penalty OF a jnde
ment which he knew would not b'
light. Yet his natural cunning fount
many ways to carry on his schemes
without violating the letter OF mis- con
tract with Holt. He knew that Hol
had brought him thcre as a witnes:
Against his enemies in the ease of The
stolen papers-he knew this, though
Holt had said no word OF 1t to him
and he knew that Holt would watcf
him closely-that he probably had hin
under espionage ever during this
brief absence; yet he longed to out
wit his keeper mad get the better OF
MIN. If it only had not been for tho
loss of that water contract hts way
would have been plain. He had al
ready managed an interview with Har
yington and learned tho facts without
revealing all the facts in his own pos
ees ion. He protested to Harrington
tia III the original papers were IN the
wallet when he gave it to the gtH, and
that it had been his only hope III
saving them from Holt. That Holl
had managed to ave the girl and
bring her home only proved that he
was as hard to get away from as the
devil himself. This explanation Scath
lin devised while he listened TO Har
yfngton's story, secretly realizing, with
bitterness, his own biunder In leaving
the water contract In the wallet. His
excuse was that he had no time to take
out another paper and secrcte It safely
before Holt saw him.
Night and day Scathlin worried over
Etat water contract, coming always
back to the conclusion that Holt must
have II or know where It was; and he
had searched 5ery available hiding
place in Hollis house fmt it, but failed
rs yet to discover It. When they met
Jean riding. the old man had noted
carefully the expression on his com
pan:on's face as he touched his hat
to her, and tho lighting up OF the girls
face. His ksen little ayes searched,
aud found an idea.
Therefore, that first morning of his
freedom from Holk. when he sat on
ne curbstone withone OF the men from
0e Divide. talking ovcr the latest
cattle stealing, his eye took in with
ksan interest tho figure Of Jean com
ing down the street accompanied by
her little niece. D bundle Of letters In
her hand to be mailed. He watched
her furtiyely as she passed HIN.
though shs dill not nc him, and as
soon as shs was inside Tho postoffice
door he got MP markedly snA followed
her, protesting that ho haa an erand.
He watched her slfpp.ng her letters
one by one into the peHt box, and kept
his eye upon her q she turned and
went oHt again.
He made . small purchase at the
counter on 41e 0eAcr side OF tho post
office rcceo, and went out, but an hour
later, wnaa ~ returned that way, the
postmaster learned from his window
an1 callaa hs..- sy, 11~a. 5catnIin.
goin' up home? Here's q letter Tor
Holt"
Scathlin, wary as IN rnx, concealed
fl,n cfnr ha almost paya AVID turpod