Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1920-12-23

looking at ifr mother. zap Il -
quick. sweet. and I'll jump to do iti''
The woman began to cry softly.
Go on, Edie." said Uriah. ''WAy
Ia HI are you blubberin' over q
thing you cunt help1"
but can help It." cried Edith.
''And what's more viii. Run away,
baby. and I'll have 1t out with your
pop while you're gone"
Devon reached forward and taid
strong OBTAINING hand on the girls
arm.
Its this" he got out between his
teeth. "You got to get married. You
been Twin on me long enough"
The girl stared at him blankly.
"Get married." she repeated duly.
who'd marry brat like me? I'm
nothin' but kid yet, and I'm goin' to
stay right here with my mother. Sect
don't have t0-do I, mummy darlin'7"
"Ytur mas word amt law On this
boat" answered Uriah in an ugly
tone. mine is, though. Fire ahead,
Edie. and tell the kid my WILL"
Mrs. Devon coughed spasmodIcally
and toyed with the fabric of her skirt.
A slender brown hand went up and
closed over her twitching fingers.
Il wouldn't marry any Of the NUTS
you know, daddy" the girl burst out
In desperation. $50 get that notion
clean out Of your mind"
Her face settled sullenly into little
lines that pursed up the lovely young
mouth. and Uriah Devon moved his
feet nervously. Perhaps his task
wasn't going to be SO easy after all.
"Kid," he said huskily. III you don't
do what you're told, I'll make you.
You amt too old to CAD yet. And
you'll be missin' one of the best lick
ms you ever got IL you mind what /
tell you.'
The girl eyed him curiously, making
sidewise gesture with her head.
who's the duffer you've chose ont
for me?" she asked at length. 'You
might as we'll tell me-"
my friend, Reggie" said Devon,
bending over and staring at her.
Tonnibel's mouth widened until two
rows of teeth cleaned through the red
Of her lips. She made a wry face.
"Nothin' like that for mech. EdieT"
Edith Devon was coming to a resolu-
ton that meant trouble for herself and
for Tonnibel.
II amt fought 1t all out with your
daddy, kid" she shifted weakly. ".You
get to the cabin and mend them old
clothes"
Uriah Devon laid his pipe beside
hir' and uttered an oath.
you'll stay right here, brat" he
gritted, "and pay heed to me-"
"Uriah," screamed the woman, ''if
you go on with this, I'll tell 'er all I
know. I swear will. Tony, honey,
Tony, baby, II amt"
With a roar the man sprang forward
and in his effort to reach his wife
knocked the girl fiat on the deck.
When Tonnibel rolled over and sat up,
her mother was stretched along the
boat rail, and Devon was standing
over her. She lay so dreadfully still
and limp that the girl scrambled to
her feet.
It wasn't the same Tony who had
come fearfully to them but short
period before with the little pig in her
arms; nor the same girl who had
swung in the treetops making play
fellows Of the squirrels and answering
the shrill calls Of the forest BIRDS She
seemed suddenly to have grown taller,
and as she flung herself on Devon, the
very strength Of her little body sent
him sprawling against the side Of the
cabin. 'Now you killed her, d-n
you." she screamed. IF you kick 'er
-Tll-I'll-" She dropped at the side
Of her mother, her threat broken in
two by the awful pallor on the wor,-
ans face. "Oh, God, mummy darlin.,
mummy darlin'," she ended in a bit.
ter cry.
Growing in rage, Devon turned on
her.
"Mebbe have killed. 'er," said he.
IF SO. I'll make good job of 1t and
finish you too"
The girl rose before him. her eyes
blazing into his, her little fists
clenched together. "a
''Folks that murder other people,
Pappy Devon" she shot back, ''get
strapped in chair. and they get
lightning run through 'em. Go on and
finish up! Go on and finish me! I'd
ruther have you kill me than make me
marry that old Reggie"
AS II his name had brought him out
Of the forest, Reginald Brown walked
down the Hoghole path. E
"My baby. Caroline P.ndle-
haven, aged six months"
a ITO RI CONrTNyE1,