The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-12-11

swept, the fire in the stove blaZed
cheerfully. and the table was coVered
with the essentials of a truly appetiZ-
ing meal, She set the lamp down IN
the center, fully rewarded by the ex-
preston on the faces of the two.
you boys wash up there in the
sink" she commanded; fuse that piece
of sacking TO: a towel; 1t was all L
could find. Then We'll get busy"
If Shelby was to live a thousand
years he would never lose memory OF
that meal. The grateful warmth OF
the stove, the neatness of the table
the good fellowship with which she
served, all coupled with the wonder
full surprise, left upon him an I'M
preston never afterward to be blOtted
out. She talked about what she was
going 10 do; about what he had pur-
chased in town; about anything whlch
came into her mind that she could
manufacture conversation from. de
told of their adventures outside, and
made her laugh heartily over the
struggle of getting the Kids pony
safely into the corral. The Kid HIM
self said little. eating heartily but IN
silence, only occasionally lifting his
eyes from the plate. This pretense at
mOdesty did not seem like the KID,
and Shelby found himself observing
the fellow with some wOnderment. HIS
looks were not at all prepOssesSing,
now that he saw him more plainly re-
veaIed in the lamplight, and he was
sire years older than he had sup
posed. The fellow had hard, dissi-
pated face, and his lips were thin,
with a distinctly cruel twist TO them.
Shelby had intended putting the man
In that bunk in the front room, but
now decided the stable was good
enough for his use.
AS soon as they were through he
hunted up q second lantern.
take the rest of that stuff off the
blackboard, Macklin," he said shortly,
"and stow 1t away in the cellar-cave
just to the right of the house. I'll be
out presently, an we'll fix things up
for the night"
AS the fellow disappeared Shelby's
eyes encountered those of his wife
across the table.
"And what are you going to dor
she asked directly.
"Why, help you with these things.
and then clean the shack up bit; 1t
is in worse shape than l realized"
She shook her head positively.
ooh, no, mister man. This is my
house and l am going to take care OF
it-all alone. have seen your style
of housekeeping. and prefer my own.
You 60 on, and finish the work out
side; when you come back it will look
better in here"
Shelby went out. Macklin was seem
ingly busy at the task assigned him,
the lantern hung TO the broken branch
Of a convenient tree, lighting his path.
Without even speaking. the ranchman
passed by down the steep path leading
toward the stream below. He was
some time in completing his task, and,
when he finally emerged once more
from the stable, the only CLEAN Of
light he could perceive above came
through the log chinks Of the cabin,
He wondered what had become OF
Macklln, vet gave the matter no spe.
cial thought as he tOlled slowly up the
path, his mind more deeply interested
in the reception awaiting him within.
He passed close enough to the buck.
board to assure himself that his or.
ders had been executed, and, believ-
ing the fellow had probably re-entered
the house for some purpose, passed on
directly TO the front door. No one
was in the main room. nor in the