The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-11-09

0MGH IlaAA& W3F& WIIuIM Tie EA1&S OI
human possibflity-the evil drippings
of his crooked lips.
He crossed to the side of the road
where ran the inevitable gully and,
taking advantage of the shelter, hur-
ried forward, smiling grimly In the
darkness at the memory of the fact
that things were now reversed; that
he was following Squint Rodaine ais
Rodaine once had followed him. Swift
~ he moved, closer-closer; the scar
faced man went through the tumble
down gate and approached the house.
not knowing that his pursuer was less
than fifty yards awayi s ~,
A minute of cautious waiting then,
In which Fairchild did not move.
Finally a light showed In an upstairs
room OF the house, and Fairchild,
masking his own footprints In those
made by Rodaine, crept to the porch.
Swiftly, silently, protected by the pad
Of snow on the soles of his shoes, he
made the doorway and softly tried the
lock. It gave beneath his pressure,
and he glided within the dark hall
way, musty and dusty In its odor, for
bidding, evil and dark. Now Fair
child could hear voices, and In a mo
ment more they became louder, az a
door opened!
1T don't make any d%ifferencel I
amt going to stand for it! Why
didn't you wait until they were both
there?"
I'll thought they were, Ready! !"
The wornan's voice was whining,
pleading. Saint you going to kiss me?"
mo, l amt going to kiss you. You
went and made a mess of things"
You kissed me the night our boy
was born. Remember that, Ready?
Don't you remember how you kissed
me them"
"That was a long time ago, and you
were a different woman then. You'd
do what I'd tell you"
"But I do now, Ready. Honest, 1
do. I'll do anything you tell me to-
If you1l just be good to me. Why
don't you hold me in your arms any
more-?"
A scufling sound came from above.
Fairchild knew that she had made an
effort to clasp him to her, and that he
had thrust her away. The voices
came closer.
"You know what you got us into,
don't you? They made a strike there
today-same value as in the Silver
Queen. II it hadn't been for you"
But they get out someway-they
always get out" The voice was high
and weird now. They're immortal.
That's what they are-they're immor.
tai. They have the gift-they can get
out"
"Boshl Course they get out when
you wait until after they're gone. Why,
n Of 'em was downtown at the as
savers, &C I understand, when you
went In there"
"But the other-he's immortal. he
got out"
you're crazy"
Eyes, crazy" She suddenly shrieked
at the word. '"That's what they all
call me-Craxy Laura. But I amt
hear mel ANTI I know-they're Inn
mortal, just like the others were Inn
mortal! I can't hold 'em when they'vt
got the spirit that rises above-rvt
tried. ain't land I've c1:y got one r
"OneT Squint's voice became sud
denly excited. "One-what oner'
"I'm not going to tell. But I know
knowl" = =
There was silence then for q mo
ment. and Fairchild, huddled In TIT
darkness below, felt the creeping
crawling chill Of horror pass over hin
as he listened. Above were a rogu.
and a lunatic, discussing betwees
them what, at times, seemed to, con
FERN him and his partner; more, /
seemed to go back to other days, whel
other men had worked the Blue Popp,
and met misfortunes.
Squint Rodaine was talking again.
$50 you're not going to tell M,
about the enc, Ell? What have 70,
got this door shut fort"
-"Ne doors shut"
TT b-don't you think I can see
This door leading into the front room.
The sound Of heavy shoes, followe'
by q lighter tread. Then a scream
Shove which could be heard the Jan
Cling OF a rusty lock and the bumpin,
Of a shoulder against wood. High an
strfdent came Crazy Laura's voice:
*+Stay out of tsereT tell you
Ready! Stay out OF there! It's some
thing that mortals shouldn't sect
sometfling-stay out-stay out" d.
II wen't-unlock this door r.
II can't do 1.-THE time hasn't com
yeti mustn't"
''You won't-wel1, there's anothe
way" A crash, the sudden, stumbling
feet OF a man, then the scratching o
q march and an exclamation $50 thf
liz ygur immortal, ehy"
Only a moaning answered, moaninl
intermingied with some vague form q
q weird chant, mo words q whic
Fsairdhild In the uausty, dark hall b.
Row could mot distinguish. At las
came Squint's Voice again, this tin
In softened toneG:
"Iaura-Laura, Honey
yes, Squint."
"VVhy didn't yoa TIN your swee
heart about thist'' J.
" tmustn't-yod"ve spoiled II nov
Ready" " s.
sNe-Honey. I can show ron q
way. He's nearly gone. What wer
yeu going to do VIXEN he Ssent-r' .
Held have dissolved In mir, Roady-
4 know. The spirits have told me"
II F&= wnI4au#MMS&&AEl - uaa $3.50 AL8~ $3.50