The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-02-21

sggMgEaEsezY Observation-Disclosures

hands" His voice dropped to bitter,
half-fippant note of self-mockin2
Smallpox and worse in a single night.
Ha Ha Ha!"
The laugh rang out full-throated.
thunderOus, terrible for the freight of
rage that it carried. 1t rolled and
echoed across the silent night like the
roar of u stricken lion. Scarcely had
it died TO a stiffness when TO Andrea'S
ears came a clear command, calm rs
the voice of an eXecutioner. Lie down
Andrea"
Before she could quite obey a rifle
spoke, there was the ''Phutn' of bul-
let as a patch of MacCloster's shirt
leaped suddenly. weirdly, from his
shoulder into the air. Instantly he
leaned down and with one hand picked
up Andrea lightly and held her sus-
pended between himself and the shore.
"One more, Trevor! you lousy ban
| TAM" he beloved. Zone more TO
save me the trouble of wringing the
neck of your little chicken
AS he finished speaking, Trevor shot
| again. A lock of vacant surprise
| passed over the face of the punter
nearest to Andrea. He crumpled up
sank as though all his bones had sud
denly melted and fell. face down. tc
the bottom of the boat. His pole. re
leased. slid with a swift swish into the
water. Manchester promptly placed
her on the seat beside him and gave 1
calm order to the remaining punters
who had paused in terror. He STOOD
up, took the tiIler between the tremen
dOus calves of his legs and proceeded
TO fill and light his pipe. You seeE
he said quietly. He won't shoe
again. How do know? I'll tell you.
He half seated himself, elbow ol
knee the tiller under the crook of hi
, leg. "a little brain work." he cOntin
: ued conversationally. Trevor mean
. to Kill n Niger. but not that One-no
: the one next to you. He was shootin
, at the bow-boy and he hit the strOk
: oarl How do know? Well, it's wha
: any man would do, let alone one c
1 the best shots that ever drew trigge
e He would pick off the crew beginnin
farthest from the point where he nee'
S ed all his nerve. Now the Bantal
: knows what he knew well enough b.
!, fore. only he knows it d sigl
+ better. and that is that no man livir
;. can shoot in moonlight and tell whel
= the bullet will go.
t "He won't shoot again." he finishe
o turning to her with CHASTITY smil
u $50 you're safe-safe with me. i dor
n ask YOU to love me for my looks-on
for myself! !"
e Andrea looked anywhere but at h
d face. you and know" she said aft
IS pause. "that l am quite safe wi
d the man you once were"
n Here" said Manchester, his ey
r narrowing. Its too late to pull n
C. of that stuff. Why didn't you try
r, back there when | was really softT'
s, "When you were sincere" answer
ID Andrea, II was sincere. You knew
bat YOU wouldn't have known it
o. wouldn't have been true-if had tax
so the chance to save my skin"
sc That's So" conceded MacClosi
er thoughtfully. But if you're not goi
d, to be persuaded to love me. will
Ill please tell me where l get off? WI
pd are you good for, anyway DO !
TT. realize that | gave up case or
en- for you and that case of gin in thu
id troubled times is worth all OF TIL
rs pounds sterling?"
Andrea WINGED. $50 I'm really
1t worth three pounds" she said half
ne herself.
sh Manchester heard and took gu
Pr pity on the usefulness in her vol
nd well" he said. cOmfOrtingly.