Licking Valley courier., 1921-03-10


so there's plenty of room. Never mind
about bringing the rest in now; sup
pers ready"
Shelby put his bundles down with
out word, his eyes quick to perceive
the chairs cleared Of their debris. the
Aoor swept, the ashes back in the
stove. He could hardly comprehend
the miracle.
She led the way gayly, leaving her
broom in corner, and carrying the
lamp. The lean-tO kitchen had been
transiigured, and actually presented
hOmelike appearance. The dirty dishes
were showed out of sight, the floor
swept, the fire in the stove blaZed
cheerfully, and the table was covered
with the essentials of truly appetlZ-
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; "use that piece
Of SacRing for a towel it was all |
could find. Then we'll get busy"
If Shelby was TO live thousand
years he would never lose memory OF
that meal. The grateful warmth OF
The stove, the nentness Of the table,
the good fellowship with which she
served, all coupled with the wondcr-
full surprise, left upon him an i'm
preston never aftcrward TO be hlOtted
out. She talked about what she was
going TO do; about what he had pur.
chased in town; about anything which
came into her mind that she could
manufacture conversation from. He
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 IL
silence, only occasionally lifting hls
eyes from the plate. This pretcnse at
modesty did not seem like the Kid
anu pNclu. lOullN HlhlSSll buNti WIZ
the fellow with some wOnderment. His
looks were not at all prepOssessing
now that he saw him more plainly re-
vealed in the lamplight, and he was
some years older than he had sup.
posed. The fellow had hard, dissi-
pated face, and his lips were thin
with distinctly cruel twist to them.
Shelby had intended putting the man
in that bunk in the front room, hut
now decided the stable was good
enough for his use.
AS soon as they were through he
hunted up second lantern.
"Take the rest of that stuff Off the
blackboard, Macklin," he said shortly.
"and stow II away in the celar-cnve
just to the right Of the house. I'll h.
out presently, an we'll fix things III
for the night"
As the fellow disappeared Shclby's
eyes encountered those of his wife
across the table.
"And what are you going to doT
she asked directly.
"Why, help you with these things
and then clean the shack up bit; Il
is in worse shape than realized"
Che shook her head positively.
"Oh, no, mister man. This Is my
house and am going to take care ot
tall alone. | have seen your styl,
Of housekeeping, and prefer my own
You 90 on, and finish the work out
side; when YOU come back II will lool
better In here"
Shelby went out. Macklln was seem
ingly busy at the, task assigned him
the lantern hung TO the broken hrancl
Of n convenient tree. lighting his path
Without even speaking, the raNchmal
passed by down the steep path lendin'
toward the stream below. lie wa
some time In completing his task. and
when he finally emerged once NOR
from the stable, the only CLEAN o
light he could perceive above cam
through the log chinks Of the cabin
He wondered what had hccOme O
Macklin, yet gave ihc matter no Sn,
clal thought MS he tuled Slowly W. IN
r path, his mind more deeply nteps,c
In the recpwnon awaiting him within.
/ He passed close enough tn the buct
board to assure himself thut his ol
dcrs had been executed. and hcliq,
Ing the fellow had probably qept,re
thp house Cor Some WrRosa passed. o
directly t0 lb1 Nont door M pN
was N the main room, nor IN IN
chamber hrhind. They remained O.
actlv us he h0d lett lhem The silenC
startled him, aud he advanced swift
toward the Kitchen, whore the llgl
stlll burned, visible through the Ipp
door. II also was deseglpd the dirt
dishes yet Sitting ON the table III
teucned. Good God! what was Il
meaning Of this? What had occurred
The outer door stood OiOr, and
sprnng NnXiously forward, pcermg Il
TO the hlNcknpSs rhere was no SCUM
no movement; the blaze Of light Ia
blinded him, and he stepped outslC
so as to see better, He had taken bl
one step beyond the protection of Il
partially open door, when somethir