The Holbrook news., 1921-05-20

swept, the fire in the stove blazed ! cheerfully. and the table was covered with the essentials of truly appetiZ- ing meal. She set the lamp down in | the center, fully rewarded by the ex- pression on the faces of the two.
 You boys wash up there in the sink" she commanded use that piece of sacking for towel; it was all l could find. Then we'll get busy"
 If Shelby was to live a thousand years he would never lose memory of that meal. The grateful warmth of the stove, the neatness of the table, the good fellowship with which she served, all coupled with the wonder full surprise, left upon him an inn preSSiOn never afterward to be plotted out. She talked about what she was going 10 do about what he had pur- chased in town; about anything which came into her mind that she could manufacture conversation from. He told of their adventures outside, and made her laugh heartily over the struggle of getting the Kids pony safely into the corral. The Kid him. self said little, eating heartily but in silence, only occasionally lifting his eyes from the plate. This pretense at modesty did not seem like the Kid. and Shelby found himself observing the fellow with some wOnderment. His looks were not at all prepossessing, now that he saw him more plainly re- IN1 &l, hn some years older than he had sup posed. The fellow had hard, dissi- pated face. and his lips were thin. with distinctly cruel twist to them. Shelby had intended putting the man in that bunk in the front room. but now decided the stable was good enough for his use.
 AS soon as they were through he hunted up second lantern.
 'Take the rest of that stuff off the blackboard, Macklin," he said shortly, 'and stow it away in the cellar-cave just to the right of the house. I'll be out presently, an we'll fix things up for the night
 As the fellow disappeared SheIby's eyes encountered those of his wife across the table.
 And what are you going to dO?" she asked directly.
 'Why, help you with these things, and then clean the shack up a bit; 1t is in worse shape than realized"
 She shook her head positively.
 "Oh, no, mister man. This is my house, and am going to take care of tall alone. I have seen your style of housekeeping, and prefer my own. You go on, and finish the work out side; when you come back It will look better in here"
 Shelby went out. Macklin was seem ingly busy at the task assigned him, the lantern hung to the broken branch of a convenient tree, lighting his path. Without even speaking, the ranchman passed by down the steep path leading toward the stream below. He was some time in completing his task, and, when he finally emerged once more from the stable, the only gleam of light he could perceive above came through the log chinks Of the cabin He wondered what had become of Macklin, yet gave the matter no spe- cial thought as he tOiled slowly up the path. his mind more deeply interested in the reception awaiting him within.
 He passed close enough to the buck board to assure himself that his or ders had been executed, and, believ- ing the fellow had probably re-entered the house for some purpose, passed on directly 10 the front door. No one was in the main room, nor in the