Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-01-29

on. I'm askin you 10 keep It," he
said. And if anything should happen
to me. I'm askln' you TO keep the mon
ey. too"
The girl caught his tattered sleeve.
NO No" she said Don't say
that
He looked down AT the hand on his
sleeve; picked ii up; held it an in
slant; suffered her TO take il away.
u know who Killed Louie Solomon"
he said slowly. Il know who has the
Blue Moon-abSolute knowledge, hut
no proof Hen be on my trail tomor-
row and his eyes are the most danger
Gus eyes in the Flatwoods He'd ask
nothing better than a chance 10 kill
me. And am any mans game now
1t is marvellous how a woman's in
tuition will drive at the very heart of
a matter that puzzles men. She saw at
a flash what had escaped the wits of
the whole village.
you mean e-the-timber buyer,
she said
II mean the timber buyer" he an
swered, with quick look at her. His
eyes see everything. You must destroy
these bloody rags, and you must rake
the yard in the morning. Rake the
east yard first. and then the west. I'm
not aiming to leave any tracks hut
it's so dark ! can't make sure He
was talking RAPIDLY. I'm not eXpectin
to leave the FiatrUods. and--you, nm
less they crowd me hard; not till Eve
run him down and found my proof.
But the odds are against me. If any
thing should happen. ] want you to
have this money. And the minute you
hear they've got me-. you must 90
straight TO the sheriff Don't risk the
woods another hour. Put yourself I'M
der his protection, and tell him why;
have the money transferred to you;
and-send for that surgeon"
The tears beat their way up into the
girls eyes in spite Of her, and ran
down her cheeks. Her head bent low
II was the one thing he knew not how
TO face His hard life hadn't taught
him that The tears hurt him. What
had caused them? Maybe it was lust
wOmans way. Maybe he bad done
wrong to come TO her with his cuts
and blood and danger.
She raised her face after time He
drew long breath; dropped his hand
to his side: stared in establishment
She was Smiling-smillng through the
tears-and the dimples were back. The
ways of wOman-utterly beyond him
and past finding out She smodthed
The draft out in her hands and was
cooking at him over ii.
II wonder If I ought to take it." she
mused to herself. as mach AS to him.
He took the paper out of her hands
folded it and with a masterfu air
thrust il under a fold of the loose gar
ment across her bosom.
II haven't a soul in the world to
leave 1t to but-you."
Bis slow eyes left her face and
stared hard at the basin of red water
Stepping over 10 the stand, he stopped
and snuffed the candle The huge
shadow of him filled the room. Turn
ing away. after he had the candle
again at full flame, his eyes came back
to the thoughtful face of his compan-
ion.
THAT revolver ! saw yesterday on
the mantel-is it loaded?"
II think so"
She looked up in curious half sur
prise, as if the question had brought
her thoughts back from afar.
May see it1"
"Why-yes--"
He shaded the candle again while
she lifted the curtain over the door A;
paused a moment to listen to the
heavy breathing of the sleeper in the
west room; crossed to the mantel over
the fireplace and brought him the re
volyer.
Several minutes the man spared 10
it's inspection: testing the action of
the hammer, cylinder revolution. and
trigger pull; replacing the somewhat
corroded caps on the tubes with new
ones; even packing fresh grains of
powder into the tubes where he
thought necessary.
DO YOU know how II use it2' he
asked, looking up from his inspection.
rive shot lots OF squirrels with il.
sometimes clear in the treetops," She
answered and once killed naNk
! thar ppstered the chickens"
a grin puckered his eyes for a mo-
ment, then his brows lowered An
other question, a hard one, had 10 be
asked ihay set him raking over his
slim stock Of words for ways to ask IT.
"Do girls--I mean-have you got ally
place about you---your dress-to car
ry it?"
She was looking at him, her eyes
| frank and wlde-eyes that had no
need 70 narrow.
~ haven't" she answered; "but
| can make one"
81 advise you to
He laid the revolver on the stand
and turned back IN her The time had
come 10 go, and they both knew st.
For a while they stood silent Once
his hand reached toward her. hut be
/ drew Il back
a