The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-01-08

on. "Tm askin' you TO keep II, NC
said. "And II anything should happen
to me, I'm askin' you to keep the mon
ey, too"
The girl caught his tattered sleeve.
"No! Mop she said. Don't say
that!"
He looked down at the hand on his
sleeve; picked it mp: held it an In
slant: suffered her to take 1t away.
II know who killed Louie Solomon"
he said slowly. Il know who has the
Blue Moon-absolute knowledge, but
no proof. He'll be on my tfail tomor-
row and his eyes are the most danger
GUS eyes In the Flatwoeds. He'd ask
nothing better than chance TO xiii
me. And am any mans game now.
It is marvellous how a wOman's In
tuition win 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 the-the-timber buyer,
she said.
81 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, out
it's SO dark I can't make sure" he
was talking rapidly. 'Tm not expectin
to leave the Flatwoods, and-you, I'M
less they crowd me hard; not till I've
run him down and found my proof.
But the odds are against me. II any
thing should happen, / want you TO
have this money. And the minute you
hear they've got me, you must go
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.
1 II was the one thing he knew not how
tn face. His hard life hadn't taught
him that. The tears hurt him. What
had caused them? Maybe 1t was just
woman's way. Maybe he had done
wrong to come to her with mis- cuts
and blood and danger.
She raised her face after time. He
drew a long breath: dropped his hand
to his side: stared in establishment
She was smiling smiling through the
tears-and the dimples were back. The
ways OF woman-utterly beyond him
and past finding out! She smoothet
the draft out In her hands and was
looking at him over 1t. 5
81 wonder IL ought to take II" she
unused to herself, as much as to him.
He took the paper out of her hands
folded it and with a masterful all
thrust it under fold of the loose gar
ment across her bosom.
II haven't soul in the world t
leave it to but--you."
Il His slow eyes left her face ant
stared hard at the basin of red water
Stepping over to the stand, he stoope'
ana snuffed the candle. The hug
shadow of him filed the room. Turn
ing away, after he had the candi
again 1t full fame, his eyes came bac
to the thoughtful face of his compar
lon.
.4That revolver / saw yesterday Q
the mantel-is it l0aded?'
!. II think 50.
Il She looked up In curious half SUI
: | prize, as II the question ha6 Drougi
her thoughts back from afar.
j MAY see it,"
/, 'sWhy-yes.-"
He shaded the candle again wni
I she lifted the curtain over the dool
: uaused q moment to listen to Il
. heavy breathing Of the sleeper IN Il
I west room crossed to the mantei ov'
j the fireplace and brought him the T
vOlver.
Z Several minutes the man spared
! its inspection: testing the action
: the hammer, cylinder revolution al
] trigger pull; replacing the somewn
: corroded caps on the tubes with ne
I ones; even packing fresh grains
I powder into the tubes where
! thought necessary. -
.Do you know how II use III!
4 asked, looking up from bis inspectio
! .I,ye shot lets Of squirrels with
& sometimes clear in the treetops, .
: Unanswered. And once ] killed 9 nav
Z that pestered the chickens "
a a grin puckered his eyes for q q
ment. then his brows lowered. 2
! otl,or question. hard one, had to