The Hope pioneer., 1920-12-23

looking at her mother. "Yap It out
quick, sweet, and I'll jump to do It'll"
The woman began to cry softly.
Go on, Edie," said Uriah. "Why
in HI are you blubberin' over a
thing you can't help?"
"But l can help it," cried Edith.
And what's more will. Run away,
baby, and I'll have it out with your
pop while you're gone"
Devon reached forward and laid q
strong OBTAINING hand ON the girls
arm.
Its this" he got out between his
teeth. You got to get married. You
been livin' on me long enough"
The girl stared at him blanlly.
Get married. she repeated duly.
Who'd marry brat like me? I'm
nothim' but kid yet, and I'm goin' to
stay right here with my mother. See?
don't have to-do l, mummy dlrlin'?"
ur mas word amt law On this
boat" answered Uriah in an ugly
tone Mine is. though. Fire ahead,
Edic. 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.
II wouldn't marry any of the NUTS
you know. daddy" the girl burst out
in desperation. $50 get thar notion
clean cut of your mind"
Her face settled sulenly into little
lines that pursed up the lovely young
mouth and Uriah Devon moved his
feet GervOusly. Perhaps his task
wasn't going to be 50 easy after all.
KID" he said huskily, "if you don't
do what you're told, I'll make you.
You ain't too old to gad yet And
you'll be missin' one of the best lick.
ms you ever got if you mind what
tell you."
The girl eyed him curiously, making
a sidewise gesture with her head.
who's the duffer you've chose out
foi me?" she asked Mt length. "You
might as well tell me-"
MY friend. Reggie" said Devon,
h:ndag over and staring ut her.
TQ:lnibel's mouth widened until two
COWS of teeth cleaned through the red
OF her lips. She maGe a wry face.
"No:hin' like that for mech, Edie:"
Edith Devon was corning to a resolu-
ton that meant trouble for herself and
for Tonnibel.
II ain't fought it all out with your
daddy, kid" she snifled weakly. "You
get to the cabin and mend them old
clothes"
Uriah Devon laid his pipe beside
hr' and uttered an oath. -
you'll stay right here, brat" he
gritted, land pay heed to me-"
'Uriah," screamed the woman, 'if
you go on with this, I'll tell 'er all 1
know. swear I will. Tony, honey,
Tony, baby, II amt"
With 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.
1t wasn't the same Tony who had
come fearfully to them but a 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. "1f you kick 'er
She dropped at the side
of her mother, her threat broken in
two by the awful pallor on the wom-
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 it and
finish you too"
The girl rose before him. her eyes
blazing into his, her little fists
clenched together.
"Folks that murder other people,
Pappy Devon" she shot back, "get
strapped in a chair, and they get
lightning run through 'em. Go on and
finish up! Go on and finish me! ia
ruther have you kill me than make me
marry that old Reggie"
AS if his name had brought him out
OF the forest, Reginald Brown walked
down the Hcghole path.
II "Mv hahv C.rol;u. p>nI1.