The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-05-05

You measiy houndl coin 70 marry
her for money, am II Maybe you'd
like to say that ag'in, d-n you !
That's bout the size o. your soul.
Cowan. Take that, you whelp! You
won't be so On beautiful yourself
when get through. There now! Per-
haps you'll lay quiet awhile !"
He got to his feet and glared about
into the ring of interested faces de-
family.
ANY more Of yer want to say what
he dld?" he demanded. Here, you,
Kelly; you laughed when that dirty
pup said she was homely as hedge
fence! Come here, you red-headed
terrier" and he gripped him by the
throat shaking the fellow helpiessly
back and forth in his mad rage. "Im
| goin' ter marry that girl, If she'll have
me, an there amt nobody goin' to
slam the looks o. my wife, either. You
set that, you coyote? What do yer
think of 1t now-hey? Spit It out !:
what do you think OF her now?'
Kelly had to spit 1t out; it was all
he could do with those fingers grip
ping him.
"Let go-d-n it-let go H !!
She's-she's the handsomest woman l
ever saw; you-you let go o. me-"
Shelby flung him to one side in utter
disgust hurting an oath after him as
he reeled dizzily into the protection
Of the crowd. He cast his eyes once
in contempt about the circle, seeking
some other antagonist and finding
none.
ITO HI with all Of you!" he de-
clared. "Get out of the way there!"
They fell back to give him safe pas
sage and he strobe straight on past
the dance hall and turned down the
shack. He had but one thought now
one purpose; he had burned his
bridges behind him. After what he
had said and done only single course
remained. Without a pause or a re-
greet he went straight to the door and
raped. 1t was no rfmid touch Of the
knuckles this time; he was still too
angry to either hesitate or doubt. And
there was no sign of embarrassment
in word or act when rhe door opened
and she stood there looking at him
in wonderment.
"Fve come back to say another word
to you," he announced simply. "Pd
like to come In"
Something has happened?"
"It has; I've just had to lick two
pups who got too gay bout you. They
said some things an l said some
things. Now I'm Amin to make good
You said you'd marry me awhile ago !;
does that hold?"
She was leaning against the table,
staring at him; her face seemed to
90 white and her hands toyed nervous
ly with knife she had picked up.
"You-you had trouble with two
men, over me?" she asked, her voice
trembling slightly. "What men?'
"'Red Kelly and a gazabo named
Cowan; they was both here"
"Oh; they were angry at you for
that?'
cure, HOl DeSduSc you uluu ldho
no notice of them; then they got drunk
an undertook to ride me; said 1t was
put-up job between us ter get away
with that money"
"What money!"
"The twenty-five hundred you was
goin' to get. The preacher told you
about that, didn't he?"
She shook her head, evidently be-
'wildered.
"Where was I going to get all that
money!"
"Why, Mccarthy was putin II up;
he and some other bucks, so as to give
you a start after you was married"
She drew deep breath, looking
straight into his eyes.
"You mean those men came here for
that?" Indignantly. "They were will
ing to marry me so as to get that
money? Good God! l was to be sold