Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-12-14
BY oPIE READ
Copyright, The Bell Syndicate, Inc.
Chapter XII-Continued


now you will listen. Early I thought
l heard Tony and MY mean Stepho
la Vitte, go out. But Stepho was not
walking with Tony, the strong man.
but was dragged out in the rocking
chair; for some time in the night come
the strange stroke, and Stepho was
paralyzed"
"Nadinei What are you saying"
Il am saying that you must listen.
Tony came to the window and told me
what was happen. / ask him to let
me out, but he would not, for he wants
to please Stepho till the last, on ac-
count of the money that may be some
where hid. He went for the doctor,
and he came but has gone away again.
for hear him say he can do no good.
The old man was out in his chair
where he SO often sit and we will go
see him, for 1t will not be for long
Let us forget all and be kind when
death was come, Virgil"
'Yes, but where is Tony now?"
Il think he is looking for the money
Let US go now to the poor old man."
You forgive easily, Nadine"
She looked at him in wonderment.
How can we not forgive when the
heart say we must, Virgil? He use me
for the trap, which will explain all to
you, but he give me the chance to be
with you, and for that l thank him
and for not being my sure-enough
father Come with me-"
Old Stepho sat In his chair asleep.
but as they approached him, he
opened his eyes, looked at Nadine.
then at brace.
Monsieur was YER strong. An /
kill you if 1 be not struck down like
the beef. An Tony kill you if he here,
but send him off for something. All,
the leetle gel, she hate me now?"
"Monsieur," she said, 81 cannot find
it in my heart to hate. It is the poi
son. Many times you were kind, and
] remember them
He bowed his head. and through his
cleaning through brushwood. But he
spoke to Nadine, turning upon her q
less malignant glance.
"The paralyze, it begin down here
an creep up. When It touch the heart,
was go. say just now that Tony,
he would kill the strong monsieur. He
would not. He be scared when I was
done.
Your name, lectle GEL" pursued
Stepho, twas Walton-the daughter of
a northern man who live in the same
town with Mr.. Braces father near Gin
cinnati. You an your mother were
carried off by my men but your moth
err, she fall from the horse just as we
come to our camp and she die. About
her neck was a purse with money and
papers-one that tell where more
money Is buried. After the war / go
back and dig up this money, but
keep it for you, for your dowry. 1t
is here-buried under the hearthstone.
Now-now beg you to go for
Father Tahan. You know where he
live Quick. for IT creep up"
Yes. will go. Virgil will stay TO
keep you company"
LET me go with yoU," BRACE plead
ed. fearful that some harm might be-
fall her.
mo. my love one" she gently OPP
posed him. "You must stay here for
no harm cam come to me now. Stay
here and be kind to him, for Kindness
is the will of the One above. You
will. yes?''
She kissed him fondly. and the old
wolf-eues closed. that they might not
see Now she was ready to go. Virgil
steadied the canoe for her and gently
showed it off She threw him a kiss.
and rounding Il green cape, raised her
paddle into the sunlight and flashed
him adieu
BRACE returned to Stepho's chair. the
old man shagging his brows at him.
Then thinking of the rope still but
toned tightly beneath his coat, he tore
if out and threw it away. Nature, he
reflected. had usurped his task. and he
could safely turn over to her his
claims. slight noise behind him; he
looked quickly about, and there few
feet behind him at the edge of the
cane stood Tony. Upon him the vision
of Braces countenance came. it
seemed with startling flash. In
stantly he fell back, through the cane
fringe. into the bayou. Loudly he
cried for help.
J "Oh, monsieur" implored the old
man, please hep heem queek. He can
no swim. An he die befo' hees sins
they was forgive. Hep the po' wretch,
monsieur. Queek, monsieur"
Virgil threw Off his coat and his pis-
tol-belt, and leaped into the water A
moment before, he would have shot
the beast; now he would save him.