The Adair County news., 1922-03-28
CoTINUED E ON PAGE 2
"On Dragon creek"

might before last; while I was
seeking to trail you"
She had never released her grasp of
ais hand; now it frightened.
"Night before last; you-you never
fnew it before?
Certainly not"
"YOu didn't marry me be-because
had all this money!"
Shelby laughed lightly.
Lord. no; l never suspected you
kad five cents"
"And-and," she went on earnestly,
"yOu-yOu followed after me, hurt as
you was, never knowing about all this
-just-because it was me?"
THAT'S sure right; leastwise until /
struck this outfit over on Dragon
creek, and can't say that 1 cared a
G-n about the money at all; only it
gave me notion of what was up. I'd
come just the same; you can bet your
life on that"
"Oh. 1 am glad you said so! And
Y0u-yOu actually don't care for the
faOney?"
Scare for it, Little girl, l amt
given it a thought. I'm here for
you'll"
'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 wearily, 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
ssst night? Do you know? There was
tghting, and shot fired. am sure /
heard a cry, as though some one was
huTt, and then after that everything
EBs silent"
There was a fight" he answered,
~and it cost the lives of two men
8ne white, the other Indian. | found
shem gripped in each others arms
ghere on the floor. both dead!"
Both dead! Two of them out
"One must have been your guard"
"YeS, the Indian; but the Other?"
"A ruffian named Slagin; he was
one of the fellows l overheard talk
Gng 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-
Cenntered the Indian Unexpectedly,
ana the two went into the death grap-
pie"
'And-both were killed?
~Yes; the red was shot. and the
white chOked to death. 1t was game
Rght all right. l couldn't pry the fel-
&ayS apart"
AAnd they are there now?"
mot in sight-no; / rolled the
bodies back under a bench out of
Sight, and threw an old blanket over
shem. Now see here, Olga" he went
on earnestly, "we've got to get out of
here before anyone comes. l know
place where we can hide, and a trail
SAat leads up from this Hole; but the
IESt thing to do is to get safely away
before MackIin gets back. You will
nAlu LlC.
''Of course; but do you dare make
ahe attempt by daylight?"
Il don't dare anything else. Every
=aSaute we waste here adds to our
&Anger. You have nothing to take
with your
She shook her head; then suddenly
sAe lifted her eyes again, and looked
him directly in the face.
'TOm Shelby" she asked impetuous-
~. sis what you said actually true
chat you are just doing this because
you have got to. being my husband?"
He stared at her, surprised, and
confused by so direct a question.
Sure; that's what I ought to do,
amt it? But maybe you don't exactly
Sabe what 1 mean. II reckon I've
got to thinkin' a lot about you lately;
since that galoot took you away l
mean; and-and well, I'm ID glad
Jou are my wife" he broke forth des-
-Pcrately. That's honest how I feel
about it."
The clear eyes watching him smiled,
and she stretched out her hand.
You are sure then it is not just
hlty. You really want me to go with
sOu?'
II amt much good telling these
things, but that's what l want. I
reckon there amt no world big enough