The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-01-07

Ponca. callIins had to be put out of
the way"
"You--mean Macklin?
Yes; only, as say, that is prob
ably not the fellows name-he is Cor
nelius ChurchiIls SON."
Where where did you learn all
thisY
"Macklin told the story, when he
was drunk. to another rascal. crept
up to q campfire one night and heard
the latter relate the tale"
Where was thls?"
"On Dragon creek"
"Yes-but whenT
Might before last; while I was
seeking to trail YOU"
She had never released her grasp of
his hand; now II frightened.
Might before last; you--you never
knew II before?n
Certainly not
you didn't marry me be-because
! had all this money!
Shelby laughed lightly.
Lord no; never suspected you
had five cents,'
'And-and," she went on earnestly,
'you--you followed after me. hurt as
you was, never knowing about all this
--just---hecause 1t was me?n
THAT'S sure right; leastwise until /
struck this outfit over on Dragon
creek. and | can't say that / cared
DIN 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, / am glad you said sol And
you-you actually don't care for the
money!
"Care for It'll Little girl, amt
given 1t thought. I'm here for
your
ME? You care for me?"
swell, / reckon must. Long as
you're my wife, I'm your husband,
amt n"
yes" she said, rather YEARLY, II
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 night? Do you know? There was
fighting, and a shot fred. am sure /
heard cry, as though some one was
hurt, and then after that everything
was silent" ~
There was fight" he answered,
"and it cost the lives of two men
. txrIIfa hn pfh Tn 7 fnnnI
them gripped in each others arms
there on the floor, both deadw
Both dead! Two of them out
there. How horrible Who are theyT
"One must have been your guard"
"Yes, the Indian; but the other?"
"a rufiian named Slagin; he was
one of the fellows l 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-
pie"
"And-both were killed?
Eyes; the red was shot, and the
white chOked to death. 1t was game
fight all right. l couldn't pry the fell
lows apart"
And they are there now?"
Not in sight-no; rolled the |
bodies back under a bench out of |
sight, and threw an old blanket over
them, Now see here, Olga" he went |
on earnestly, we've got TO get out of |
here before anyone comes. / know a
place where we can hide, and trail
that leads up from this Hole; but the
first thing to do Is to get safely away
before Macklin gets back. You will
go with me?"
"Of course; but do you dare make
the attempt by daylight?"
81 don't dare anything else. Every
minute we waste here adds to our
danger You have nothing to take
with your"
She shook her head, then suddenly
she lifted her eyes again, and looked |
him directly in the face.
TON Shelby" she asked impetuous-
ly, "is what you said actually true
that you are just doing this because
you have got to, being my husbandT'
He stared at her, surprised, and
confused by so direct question.
Sure; that's what l ought to do.
amt it, But maybe you don't exactly
sabe what mean. I'll reckon I've
got to thinkin' a lot about you lately
since that galoot took you away
mean; and-and wen, I'm id glad
YOU are my Wife" he broke forth dies.
perately. That's honest how | feel
about It."
The clear eyes watching him smiled,
and she stretched out her hand.
'Iou are sure then II Is not lust a
duty, You really want me to go with
YOUR
y amt much good telling these
things, but that's what want.
reckon there amt no world big enough
to keep me from huntin' YOU up--God