The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-11-25
tCortinued from Page q

FANFFHAN AhAIk RAAAAA ~ WV NAAst ~ hhAtA
disgust. hurting an oath after him a
he reeled dizzily into the protection
Of the crowd. He cast his eyes once
in contempt about the circle seeking
some other antagonist and finding
none.
"To HI with all OF YOU" he de.
clared Get out Of the vsy there r.
They fell back to give him safe pas.
sage and he strobe stri CHIT on past
the dance hail and turned down the
dark path leading hack 10 Culkins'
shack. He had bur one Thought now
one purpose he had burned his
bridges behind him. After what he
had said and lone only % single course
remained without a paH~e or a re.
greet he went straight "a the door and
raped II was no timld touch Of the
knuckies This time: he was still toe
angry 10 either hesitate or doubt. And
there was no sign of embarrassment
In word or act when the door opened
and she stood there looking al him
IN wondermcnt.
i've come back 70 say another word
to You he announced simply. I'D
like 10 come in
Something has h]appenedT'
1T has. I've inst had 10 lick two
pups who got To- gny bout you. They
said some things m said some
things Now I'm Amin to make good
You said you'd marry me awhile 2 F.;
does that hold7"
She was leaning against the table.
staring AZ him her face seemed TO
60 white and her hands toyed nervous
ly with a knife she had picked m.
You you had trouble with two
men. over me?" she asked. her voice
trembling slightly. what men?"
Red Kelly and a gazaho named
Cowan they was both here"
"0h they were angry al you for
that2"
Sure; not because YOU didn't take
20 notice Of them then they got drunk
an undertook to ride me said It was
o put up Job between US ter get away
with that money"
What money!
"The twenty-five hundred you was
goin' 10 get The preacher told you
about that. didn't he7'
She shook her head, evidently be.
wildered.
where was | going to get all that
money!"
why. Mccarthy vas putin II up;
be and some other bucks. so as to give
you o start after you was married"
She drew a deep breath. looking
straight into his eyes.
you mean those men came here for
that7" Indignantly. "They we're will
ing to marry me so as to get that
money! Good Cod ! was TO be sold
Is that actually true7 Nobody ever
limited such a shameful thing to me-"
"Well. ! reckon they didn't mean no
harm by that" he tried TO explain.
"You don't just see II right. They fg-
ured that Old Calkins bad died an
left you without q cent. sorter helpless
out here. an that the town owed You
q decent chance ter gtt married an
settle down. That's what the money
was given for
But those fellows all knew IL. That
was what made them agreeY"
Z reckon maybe ~ was mostly At
She twisted her hands together. .
hot red flush coming into each cheek.
Well. I'm glad TO know that. Now
was II those two men said. the
men you had the trouble uith7"
We'll. you see. Cowsn was drunk
m naturally all worked up. Hes a
sort . g~oodlookin' chap IN thinks
cuts quite a swale with women"
but what did be sayf
We'll. he run into me up there on
he street Just now. him and Red
Kelly. an said ! was after you for
hat money. told him be was a liar
In then he sorter lei loose . remark
didn't take kindly
What remark
ht-ht NDTAEt ANNAAAuNtN ANhA IL
lever marry you for any other res
I'm.
Tie did-whyT
Well he blurt-d out desperately.
10 possible way Of escape. he
iorter said you wasn't awful good
ookin an then ] pasted him That's
n
Her lips parted her eye opening
ride ID ast0nishe8 amusement
That ! wasn't good lookingr she
sughed ~And you actually III him
Or thatT
= sare I'D the other pup laughed
~ be got bis dose about the same
Inc I didn't hut Red Kelly none;
shook q little sense into him.
~ ! reckon TIN be a week before
gets out much Then I rome
own here
-To ash ne 70 NARY youT
That's the idea. I told EN- 70 DO
Tsnt likely youn feel nov the
ane wsy you did a. FIRST bat II yOa
then I'm IN the rnme amt got
- -.