Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-03-26

oPNihS III uultlphttutis W uAsNuoS ~
in cold blood with an intended victim,
was more than he had bargalned for.
lnartlculateiy resentful of such
squeamlshness in himself, he looked
furtively aside, licking his lips, and
discovered the decanter of Madeira
which Mario had left unsupported on
the table, after opening 1t for Leonora.
Carnehan brimmed an ordinary
drinking glass with the, wine and
drank 1t In one long draught, grateful
for its pungent warmth, deluded by
its mellow smoothness.
Now. Madeira may not wisely be
taken on top Of rye whisky. Con-
scious of reinforced bravado the man
leaned against the table, his back to
1t, leerlng truculently.
what did come for3 Oh, l dun
no. What d'you thinkT
you've threatened me often enough,
II you ever caught me with him
again
He nodded In a heavy humor "You
got that right, kid. No girl of mine can
pass me up for any stool pigeon or
dick that ever lived"
HE isn't"
and get away with 1t. You wait
you'll seel"
She shut her eyes. In spite of her.
self she shuddered. He laughed with
qualification, and her eyes reopened
of sudden, passionately unafraid,
seeking first the pistol In his hand,
then his face.
you're going to kill me, Red"
"Pll say am"
In spite of his shamefaced smlrk,
he meant it In deadly earnestness. She
had another shudder, but fought 1t
down without releasing his gaze.
After minute she said: VERY
well; I'm ready, only"
He interrupted: You're worse'n
ready; you're in heluva hurry. His
turn comes first, yours next. Get me?"
"But"-she implored his credulity
with clasped hands extended-T tell
you, you're wrong about him, Red. He
hasn't got anything to. do with the
cops-honest to God, he HASN'T
The Madeira was working powerful
ly. A flash of unwonted insight WIS.,
tied his sodden intelligence. "You
wouldn't be Begin for that pill II
you wasn't stuck on him. And that's
enough. Bull or no bull, he ain'1 goin'
TO live to say he store Red Carnehau's
girl !"
you're wrong, Red--yDu're all
wrong" she protested willy. "And
anyhow, what good'll 1t do you? Don't
you know you're just playing Inez'
game"
"G'wan. Inez ain't nothin' to me-"
II know she isn't, and she knows it,
too, and that's why Don't you see?
You turned her down for me and she's
been crazy jealous ever since. Now
she gets even with us both-gets ne
out of the way right off the bat and
sends you to the chair for 1t. My
God, Red You don't trust that hell
cat do you? Don't you know she's
only waiting to fix things safe for Leo
before she squeals on your
"Ah, forget It'll" That, together
with more profanity, silenced her.
"Le' me and Inez alone. Mebbe did
pass her up for you; but that's long
time ago and she's forgot all about IT
by now. She don't think Of nobody
but Leo"
IF you believe that you're as big
boob as she thinks"
"Maybe-but not as big a one as
you think" Carnehan emptied the
decanter into the glass and swilled 1t
at a gulp. "'Most anybody I'm strong
for can fool me once, but not even
you can fool me twice.
'Inez has"
"Ah, sure! You'd say so :"
But there was an accent Of doubt
In his 1eering retort and in the look
he gave the girl as well. Far gone
In befuddlement, he was insure Of
himself, insure Of anything within the
scope Of his perceptions, and uneasy.
What If Leonora were telling the truth
about Inez? Inez whom he secretly
despised. Leonora who, was worth
score of Inez' sort =.
"ITow do you mean she's fooled me
.twice| he demanded thiekly.
''F'irst, when she made you think l
cared anything about anybody but you
Red" The girl inched nearer, playing
to perfection a part upon which her
life depended--her life and Marios
"She was the one told you about Ma
rio-lled to you, told you | was see
ing him often-a man / hardly knew,
hadn't spoken to dozen times in all
my life. Why, Red, before tonight I
never have seen that man anywheres
but in the street, and then only to
pass the time Of day! But you'd take
anybody's word instead Of mine, you'll
believe anybody except the girl that
loves your
Her hands came lightly to rest upon
his forearns. He gave them no well
come but made no move to repulse
them. The uncertainty in his eyes was
giving way to another emotion, one
which the girl knew too well. She
moved stll closer, and one hard stole
slowly up to his shoulder
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