The Elbert County tribune., 1919-05-09
CHAPTER xxvII-continued.

p
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
littlel Hateful, to stumble over a
rut in the roadl OF course. he'd make
her take his armi OF coursel
Rickard grasped her elbow. She
walked alcng, her head high, her
cheeks flaming. anger surging through
her at his touch.
Stupid to press this companionship.
this awkward silence on her. II he
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-ani-
take, but what could she, Innes Har-
din. find to chatter about with this
man stalking along, grimly grasping
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. thenl
, Oppressive that silence. Then it
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 away from him. He
took her hand and put it in the crotch
, of his arm. That's better" he said.
She wondered If he were still smiling.
Their path led by his tent. Neither
! of them noticed a subdued light
through the canvas walls. AS they
reached the place figure darted from
, the door.
"Oh, senior, I thought you would
Snever come" 1t was the wife of NAL
~ donairo. Her expression was lost on
Innes. The face was quivering with
terror.
"Mr. Richard" Innes words like
icicles, Il will leave you here. 1t is
quite unnecessary to come farther"
Quite unveiled her meaningl
1t came so quickly that he was not
ready; nor indeed had Gerty's innuen-
does yet reached him. But the situation
was uncomfortable. He turned sharp
iy 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.
"Now tell your story" The woman
had got to be nuisance. He couldn't
have her coming around like this. He
had seen that look in the girls eyes
Murdered? Who did you say was
inurdered?"
She lifted a face, frightened into
haggardness. "MaldonadO and the
girl"
The night was stripped to the trag-
edy. You found them2"
Her face was lifted imploringIy to
him. "Oh, senior. it was not 1. BY the
Mother of Christ. 1t was not l."
Rickard was not sure. Her fear
made him suspect her. "Who was 1t,
You think?"
Felipe" she gasped. "He got away
from the rurales-he came back. He
went home-there was no one there.
Some one told him where she had
gone. He came to Maldonado's. Luz
rrezia, the eldest. opened the gate. He
vas terrible, she said. He rushed past
her. And when he came out his hands
were red. The children heard cries.
They were afraid to go in. got there
last night. I went in. They were not
quite cold-I was afraid to stay. 1t
would look like me, senor. Will they
tuke me, senor?" She was a wreck
of terror.
Not if what you tell me is true
Now, get to bed. I'll give you some
thing that will make you Sleep" He
hustled her out and prepared the
draught.
He wondered as he got into bed as
TO the truth of her story. Disgusting,
such animal terrorl Awkward hole,
that. Fate seemed possessed to queer
him with those Hardins!