The Southern herald., 1921-01-14

looking at her mother. "Yap Il Ous
quick, sweet, and I'll jump to do itf
The woman began to cry softly.
go on, Edle," said Uriah. why
In HI are you blubberin' over a
thing you can't helpT
But can help it," cried Edith
"And what's more | VIII. Run away,
baby, and I'll have 1t out with your
pop while you're gone"
Devon reached forward and laid a
strong OBTAINING hand on the girls
arm.
ITS this" he got out between his
teeth. You got to get married. You
been Twin on me long enough"
The girl stared at him bIankly.
Get married." she repeated DULY.
"Who'd marry brat like me? I'm
nothin' but kid yet, and I'm goin' to
stay right here with my mother. See?
don't have to-do |, mummy darlin'T
"YCur mas word amt law IN this
boat" answered Uriah in an ugly
tone. milne Is, though. Fire ahead,
Edie, 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.
81 wouldn't marry any Of the NUTS
you know, daddy" the girl burst out
in desperation. 80 get that notion
clean out of your mind"
Her face settled suIlenly into little
lines that pursed up the lovely young
mouth, and Urlah Devon moved his
feet nervOusIy. 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 amt too old to cad 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 curlously making
a sidcwise gesture with her head.
who's the dufrer you've chose out
for me?" She asked at length. you
might as well tell me-"
"Aiy friend. Reggie" said Devon,
bending over and staring at her
Tonnibers mouth widened until two
rows Of teeth cleaned through the red
Of her lips She made a wry face.
"NOthn' like that for me-eh, EdieF
Edith Devon was coming TO "A resolu.
tlon that meant trouble for herself and
for Tonnbpl
81 amt fought it all out with your
daddy, kid" she SMILED weakly, you
get to the cabin and mend them old
CLOTHES"
Urlah Devon laid his pipe beside
him and uttered an oath,
"You1l stay right here, brat he
grittcd "and pay heed to me-
"Urlah," screamed the woman, III
you go on with this, I'll tell 'er all
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 t'
her feet.
It wasn't the same Tony who haC
come fcarfuly to them but shor
I.fnrn ,t.ftb tha Itt1n DiU In hn
arms: nor the same girl who hat
swung in the treetops making pla,
fellows Of the squirrels and answerint
the shrll calls Of the forest birds. Sh
seemed suddenly to have grown taller
and as she flung herself on Devon, tn
very strength Of her little body sen
him sprawllng against the side of tn
cabin. "Now you killed her, d
yOu,' she screamed. "If you kick e
-I'll-Ill--" She dropped at the sid
of her mother, her threat broken i
two by the awful pallor on the won
ans face. "Oh, God, mummy darlin
mummy darlin'," she ended in "a bi
ter cry.
Growing in rage, Devon turned o
her.
"Mebbe | have killed 'er," said h
:. "If so I'll make good job Of 1t an
finish you too"
The girl rose before him, her eye
blazing into his, her little fs
clenched together
Folks that murder other peopl
10 Pappy Devon" she shot back, -
strapped in chair, and they &
"a lightning run through 'em. Go on al
~. finish up! Go on and finish me!
- ruther have you kill me than make n
~ marry that old Reggie"
:. As If his name had brought him o
10 of the forest Reginald Brown walk
90 down the HOghole path.