The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-06-23

NNNhtt III ihbAhS yOut tiaiA Vao ~
Ponca. Calkins 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 Churchill's son."
"Where-where did you learn all
this?"
"Macklin told the story, when he
was drunk, to another rascal. / crept
up to campfire one night and heard
the latter relate the tale"
Where was thls?"
ION Dragon creek"
"Yes-but when?"
might before last; while I was
seeking TO trail you"
She had never released her grasp OF
his hand; now 1t frightened.
might before last; you-you never
knew 1t before?
certainly not"
'You didn't marry me be-because
| had all this money!"
Shelby laughed lightly.
Lord. no; l 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-because 1t was me?"
That's sure right; leastwise until
struck this outfit over on Dragon
creek, and l can't say that / cared
d--n about the money at all only II
gave me notion of what was up. I'D
come just the same; you can bet your
life on that"
ooh, ! am glad you said SOL And
you-you actually don't care for the
money!"
care for It! Little girl, I amt
given ii thought. I'm here for
your
"Me? You care for me?"
swell, I reckon I must. Long as
you're my wife, I'm your husband,
amt II"
YES" she said, rather YEARLY, 81
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 shot fired. am sure l
heard a cry, as though some one was
hurt, and then after that everything
was silent"
There was a fight" he answered,
land II cost the lives of two men
one white, the other Indian. / found
them gripped In each others arms
there on the floor both dead I"
Both dead! Two of them out
there How horrible! Who are they?"
Zone must have been your guard"
Eyes, the Indian; but the other?"
"A rufiian named Slagin; he was
one of the fellows / 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 Crap
pie"
"And-both were killed?
YES; the red was shot, and the
white choked to death. 1t was q game
fight all right. / couldn't pry the fell
lows apart"
"And they are there now?"
"Not In sight-no; rolled the
bodies back under 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.
"Tom Shelby" she asked impetuous-
ly, lis 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 ought to do,
amt it7 But maybe you don't exactly
sabe what l mean. IL reckon I've
got to thinkin' a lot about you lately;
since that galoot took you away
mean and-and well, I'm id glad
you are my wife," he broke forth des-
perately. That's honest how / feel
about It."
The clear eyes watching him smiled,
and she stretched out her hand.
"You are sure then II Is not just
duty. You really want me to go with
you?"
81 ain't much good telling these
things, but that's what l want.
reckon there amt no world big enough
to keep me from huntin' you up-God