The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-12-27

"Jeanie !" l gasped; "do you mean
that you're not going to marry Charles
Bullerton THAT you never meant tor
"Of course. I'm not p she retorted.
with a savage little out-thrust of the
adorable chin "But you thought so
small of me that you simply took 1t
for grantedp'
wagged my head in deepest hu-
mility
I'm as the dust under your pretty
feet Jeanie: please don't trample me
too hard Bullerton-that is-er-we
had scrap the next morning after
you went away. you know. and
well, he rather got the worst of 1t.
And when I had him down and was
trying to make him tell us where you
were-even your father thought you'd
gone of with him-he said you'd
planned to go with him to get mar
ried. but that you had failed TO show
up at Atropia in time for the train"
''He told a lie. because that is the
way he is made and he couldn't help
it." she said simply. still as cool as
to Angels to get married, and II
didn't say we weren't; lust let him
talk and didn't say anything, at ALL"
Wont you tell me a bit more?"
begged
'eYou don't deserve IT the least lit
tie bit but will. It began with the
deed; your deed to the mine. One
day, when You were over at the shaft
house. and had left your coat here in
the cabin. saw him take the deed
from your pocket when he didn't know
was looking. He read it and put It
back quickly when he heard me stir
ring in the other room. knew 1t
hadn't been recorded: you and Daddy
had both spoken of that I felt sure
he'd take it again and perhaps de-
stroy it. At first. I thought I'd tell
you or Daddy. or both Of YOU But
knew that would mean trouble"
"We were never very far from the
fighting edge in those days" I admit
ted Fullerton had shown me the
gun he always carried under his arm.
and had told me what to expect in
case I were foolish enough to lose nv
temper"
'T know" she nodded. HE killed,
a man once; it was when was
little girl and we were living in Grip
pie Creek He was acquitted on the
plea of self-defense. So I didn't dare
say anything to you or to Daddy.
What 7 did was TO steal your deed
myself. when I had a chance Daddy
has some blank forms Just lilse It., and
I sat up one night In my room and
made a copy. 1t wasn't very good
copy-your grandfather's handwriting
was awfqlly hard to initiate Besides,
I didn't have any notarial seal. But
I thought 1t might do for-for some
thing to be stolen. Then I hid the
real deed and put the copy back In
the envelope in your pocket"
sand Fullerton finally stole it, just
as you thought he would" I put I'm.
"He did You are dreadfully care
less with your things; you are al
ways leaving your coat around. Just
where you happen to take it off.
knew then that the next thing to be
done was to get your deed recorded
quickly He-he was urging me every
day TO run away with him. and was
afraid to tell him how much desplsed
him; afraid he'd take 1t out on you
and Daddy So l Just let him go on
and talk and believe what he pleased
OF course. he wanted TO ride with me
the morning we went away. hut after
we got down the road a piece. ] made
an excuse to go on ahead by another
trail"
'"That much of what he told your
father and me-when we were having
the scrap-was true. He said You
went on ahead"
81 didn't 90 to Atropia. as he ex-
pected me to-" she continued calmly.
81 took the old Haversack trail across
the mountain to Greaser siding. ]
knew that the Copah train would stop
there on the side-track. When I got
as far as the Haversack thought I
heard somebody following me. I was
scared and didn't know what to do
was afraid my copying of the deed had
been discovered and that the original
would be taken away from me. so !
hurried TO hide the real deed The
old Haversack tunnel seemed to be a
good place, but while I was in there
Barney began TO bark. and I looked
out and saw that the noise | had heard
had been made by stray COW from
one of the foothin ranches So I re
mounted and rode on To catch the
train to Copah. At Greaser siding !
tried TO make Barney lead the pony
home, and Barney tried his best to do
it. But Wrinkle wanted 10 Craze. and
/ had 10 go off and leave them when
the train came. That's all, think