Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-01-13
CHAPTER cont,nusd.
-.


3S. CHAPTER Continued.
Ss So
In another moment the girl had
stripped of her wet clothes, had
blown out the light and was in bed
beside her mother.
When Edith was assured the girl
slept, she crawled out, Of the bed and
! lighted the lamp. She. tried to collect
her thoughts, to lay plan for the fu-
ture for herself and husband. John
Pendlehaven had been there! Pendle-
haven, the one man in the world she
dreaded the mention Of And Tony
had said he would come back tomor-
row.!
She turned and looked at the sleep
+, ing face, half-hidden in the blankets.
She had stolen this child from her
father, and now she had to escape the
consequences Of her wicked deed. She
had to 60 away, and that quickly. II
she had dared to face her husbands
wrath. she would have. then and
there. communicated with Paul PEN
dlehayen.
She reached out and touched Tomb
bells face. s4-f g
Baby, darlin', wake up" she said.
n want to ask you something!"
Tony opened her slumber-laden eyes
and smiled.
Don't go to sleep again." exclaimed
Mrs. Devon, hoarsely. "Tell me this.
Do You hRnest believe what yon said
about that thing on the card? About
It bein' holy?''
YEP asserted Tony, with droop-
ing eyelids. BE
you don't want to hurt Uriah and
me, do you, honey7' s3.i;1s
The girl shook her head slowly, and
doubtful shadow settling in her eyes,
seemed to make her wider awake.
~ II wouldn't hurt you, darlin'." she
replied at length, but sometimes.
when daddy's beatin' you. 4 feel like
1 whackin' the life out Of him. Why,
today " = ssss 5. 4 q
Edith stopped her By a tug al her
sleeve. stss
). '''n you swore by that card you
brought, I mean II you took an oath,
would you keep Z" she asked hoarse-
u.
I lyon bet I would" There was
amusement. surprise and eagerness in
+ the young voice. ST. Is,
'tDidn't you tell me. the Teller said
y Jesus was a holy bird !" !,
Tony nodded. .5 gsss
Mrs. Devon gripped her fingers
about the girls arm.
&, 'Mebbe he's in the Dirty Mary here,
only you can't see him. baby dear9''
The woman's voice was slyly toned.
but she .shivered in superstition.
'.He's right here" affirmed the girl,
thinking. Of a boys earnest uplifted
face and vibrant assurances. I.
..s Then say after ne what TN
shinkin' off, said Edith.
Tony lifted her eyes 70 her mothers,
but drew back when she discovered
how terrible she looked, white like q
/, dead person. An I. IF. 5s sS Il. !;
swear BY the Twin Jesus" began
i Edith, and then abe paused. Say II, 2
4 ~ Missed. Il. u Il i$ 4
S8s swear by the Twin, Jesus Tony
repeated fearfnIly. &
SSH 3sssFa.I swear to my mummy never to
y ny nothin' mean against Uriah De.
4 Won. my daddy 3 went on Mrs. Devon.
Tony repeated this, too, almost
u frightened into She had never
seen her mother look and act 30 mys-
fsriously. es9a s'I
i Is. - Now say this. keepin,s in your mind
4 yon1l be blasted to hell II You break
your word 4. won't never ten that my
father beat my poor mummy, sor that
he's i thief and u liar n, ~ thick
fearless sob burst from the woman's
lips and brought % ejaculation from
the girl. & n al n 9fsis rs
ss5 r swear to IL Ill, honey mummy 4,
she cried. s.You believe me, Etiie,
4 dariin', dom you z 4
yes. believe you" replied Edith,
1ully. Crawl Into bed, and CO. to
etieep, baby dear. &
Shiyeringly Tony Devon rot back
Z under the blanket. gs H 81.
Then for more than aD hour; there
Il Was silence on the canal boat, silence
that was broken only by the night
I nOises outside.
Then, extremely weal. the roman
{ prepared herself To- % ont. IL took
\ - u loag time to write 3 n0fs ahe'
ssRAd u leave for sT,uny, and when that
Z Q6H Hntohlds N diy3 "a = N