The St. Johns herald., 1921-07-14

FOnca. CalKlnS naQ 10 Oe put Out O1 the way" ~.ass&-,
 "You-mean Macklinf'
 "Yes; only, as I say, that is prob ably not the fellows name-he is Cor nelius Churchill's son."
 "Where-where did you learn all this?"
 "Macklin told the story, when he was drunk, to another rascal. crept up to campfire one night and heard the latter relate the tale"
 "Where was thisY
 "On Dragoon creek"
 "YeS-but whenT
 "Night before last; while I was seeking to trail you"
 She had never released her grasp of his hand; now it frightened.
 Might before last; you-you never knew 1t beforeT Certainly not"
 "You didn't marry me be-because had all this moneyT
 Shelby laughed lightly.
 'Lord, no; I never suspected you had five cents."
 "ADd-and," she went on earnestly, ''you-you followed after me. hurt as you was, never knowing about all this -just-because it was mel"
 That's sure right; leastwise until l struck this outfit over on Dragoon creek, and I can't say that I cared a d-n about the money at all; only it gave me a notion of what was up. I'd come just the same; you can bet your life on that"
 "Oh, I am glad you said sol And you-you actually don't care for the moneyT
 "Care for itl Little girl, ain't given it a thought. I'm here for your"
 ''Me? You care for mel"
 'Well, I reckon I must. Long as you're my wife, I'm your husband, ain't IP'
 "Yes," she said, rather wearily. T understand"
 Her glance was toward the open | door into the other room, and she seemed anxious to change the topic.
 "What-what happened out there last night2 Do you know2 There was fighting, and a shot fired. am sure l heard a cry, as though some one was hurt, and then after that everything was silent"
 'aThere was a fight" he answered, "and 1t cost the lives of two men one white, the other Indian. 1 found them gripped in each others arms there on the floor, both deadl"
 "Both deadI Two of them out there. How horriblel Who are theyT'
 "One must have been your guard"
 "Yes. the Indian; but the otherT
 "A rufian named Slagin; he was one of the fellows overheard talk ing about your case. He must have known that Macklin left you here alone last night, and came to see you for some purpose. He must have en. countered the Indian unexpectedly and the two went into the death grap ple."
 "And-both were killed?
 ''Yes; the red was shot, and the white choked to death. It was game fight all right. couldn't pry the fel lows apart"
 "And they are there nowT
 'Not in sight-no; rolled the bodies back under a bench out ot sight, and threw an old blanket over them. Now see here, Olga" he went on earnestly, we've got to get out oi here before anyone comes. know { place where we can hide, and a trai that leads up from this Hole; but tht first thing to do is to get safely awaI before Macklin gets back. You vii go with mel"
 "Of course; but do you dare make the attempt by daylightT'
 q don't dare anything else. Ever! minute we waste here adds to Oul danger. You have nothing to talk with you?"
 She shook her head; then suddenl! she lifted her eyes again, and looked him directly in the face.
 'aTom Shelby" she asked impetuous ly. "is what you said actually true that you are just doing this becaus you have got to, being my husbandF'
 He stared at her, surprised, ant confused by so direct a question. Sure; that's what I ought to do ain't 1t? But maybe you don't exactl! sabe what I mean. I-I reckon Pv got to thinkin' lot about you lately since that galoot took you away mean; and-and well, I'm d-d glat you are my wife" he broke forth des ] perately. "That's honest how fee l about it."
 The clear eyes watching him smiled and sho strefched ont her hand.