Evening journal., 1922-03-22

Continued From Our Last Issue)
You're so scared OF me. you
can't hardly breathe" he said calm
~. ] don't like lit girls to be scared
Of me. so you can just get you an
other plate and cup and saucer and
sit down there on the other side OF
the table and eat your supper with
me-"
To eat supper with your uncle's
murderer Here was a grotesque
iape OF fate II was unthinkable.
Absolutely. The man OWNED some
thing OF what was passing in her
mind
"All in the line OF business, III
girl" he said with a backward jerk
OF his head toward the front room
where ne had killed her uncle. II
didn't have a thing against him
personally"
There were dishes here on the
fable" she babbied hysterically.
"Thev found them here after-after
-showing how he'd fed you first,
and"
sure he fed me- he interrupted
''I was hungry. hungrier than l am
now. Ala same, you gotta eat sup
per with me-"
He twisted her wrist 20 emphasize
his wish. She uttered a little moan
Don't! Oh. don't hurt me any
more. I'll do what you want
Beaten. body and soul. she went
to the cupboard and got herself
plate and cup and saucer. knife and
fork and spoon.
She sat down opposite the man
and tried to eat IL required every
atom Of will power 10 permit her
10 swallow. Dan Slike watched
her with savage satisfaction. He
found the situation intensely anus
ing. To murder her uncle and later
eat a meal with the niece. What
joke.
"T saw two mules and horse In
the corral when I came by ne re-
sumed. Looks like a good horse
better than the one l left up IN the
timber I'll ride your horse and
lead the other Listen, I expect
tomorrow some time you'll have a
Few gents a-callin' on you. Ith
ukelv take those Golden Bar ciu-
zens tT about then 10 pick up my
trail"
CHAPTER XIII.
"you see" said Dan Slike, as he
tanned his mount. "1 amt beer
hard on you only took what
needed. Think OF that and be
He whiried the horse and rode
away.
Hazel remained standing beside
the corral gate. Suddenly she wal
conscious Of great weariness
with dragging steps she returned
70 the house when she returned
10 the kitchen. there was a MAJ
standing in the middle Of the room
Nothing had the power TO sur
nrise her now. She would not hav
been amazed had the devil himsel
nopped into the room. The mai
turned at her entry. He was Raj
Tuckleton.
what do you want?" she aske'
lifelessly.
who's been here" he demanded
pointing an accusing hunger az IN
table. 1.-TWO plates. two cups tw
\ saucers-who YOU been entertain
inE?"
Entertaining, Good Lord Haze
sat down on the wood-boX an
laughed Historically.
He was around the table and con
fronting her in three strides. VINO
heen here o" he kept at her.
"Dan Slike." she said with spas
modic giggle.
you're liar" he told ne
nroneptly Dan Slike didn't com
ihis way. He-he went anothe
wav. You've had Bill Wingo here
that's whatsamatter.'
She said nothing Billy WinEo
lie had loved her-once. What
queer. queer world IL was. Every
body and everything at cross-pur
noses. Yet there was a reason 10
IL ALL Must be- Even reason 10
Rafe. She lookd mp ~ Raie' ID
was elar.ng down az her with mos
viUainous expression on his lea
features.
"sav. whatsa use OF lyin' 10 me
You're an odd number by an a'
counts but you- ain't so odd yo
could sit here and eat and drink an
carry on with yon uncle's murdere
You can't tell me that"
She was regarding him with cur
Gus eyes. II thought you alwal
said Dan SliSe didn't kill my uncle
"Well-uh-you see. everyooo
else seems to think he did. Ana-
ah-mavbe I was wrong.
You had Bill Wingo here an
Wen settle this Wingo business rigl
now This Tip O'Gorman murd'
has queered him for keeps. Soon'
or later he'll hang for IL. You'd loc
fine, wouldn't you. the widow
a."
Don't say IT," she cut him shoI
BILLY Wingo is no murderer. How
eyer. you can set your mind at res
I'm not likley to marry Billy Wing
or anybody else"
His eyes. savage and mean. he
hers steadily. 81 come over her
tonight to get you. I'm taking "
back witk me tonight to my ranch
You're taking me to your ranch
she gasped. Me-"
He nodded. you. nobody else.
She laughed harshly without
note OF hysteria. You're two hu
dred years behind the times. NJ
don't carry of their women a
more"
Now for the first time she sm