Arizona republican., 1922-05-13

young Mr.. Houston for me, and she
| bucked against it. Then ! told her
! that she had done worse things, that
she had perjured herself. She got
| her cousin to help her in the trans
| fer of the papers; 1t was a lease and
stumpage contract. The thing was
| illegitimate, OF course. Shortly after
that young Houston came out here
again, and got her to come too.
"'I had lodged marrying her
promising that / would do II when
the mill was mine. In the meantime,
had hooked up with this man
Blackburn, and he had started mill
for me.
"T guess Miss Jierdon had gotten
to thinking little of Houston, after
all, because when / forced her to
the final thing Of telling some lies
about him to young woman, she did
| it, but went away mad at me and
threatening never to see me again.
| Our relations, while she had been at
the Houston camp, hadn't been ex-
actly what they should have been.
Miss Jitrdon is dead-she had stayed
| in a little cabin in the woods. I had
lived with her there. About ten days
ago, the baby died, while | was laid
up at camp with a sprained hip. To-
day | went there to find her dead,
and while / was there, Renaud and
young Houston caught me. This is
all / know. ] make this statement of
my own free will, without coercion,
and / swear it to be the truth. the
whole truth, and nothing but the
truth. so help me Cod
The little lobby milled and buzzed
drowning the scratching of the pen
<zr tNlf - 49, ttA
fession, page by page. Then came
the cliflk Of handouts. Houston
Strengthened, to find a short bulky
form beside him, Henry Blackburn.
''Well?" questioned that person. II
guess it's up to me. IL haven't got
much chance against that"
What do you mean?"
Simply this" and the bulky Black
burn drew q nervous, sweating hand
across his brow. Il amt above deal
ing with crooks. I'll admit that But
kind of draw the line at murder.
I'm in your hands, Houston. I've
got mill up there and 1t amt worth
the powder to blow it up--to me,
anyway But with you, it's different.
If you want to make me a fair offer.
say the word, and I'll go more than
halfway. What say?'
rs tomorrow time enough" ?"
"Tomorrow-or the next day.
Suits me"
Then he went on. leaving only
three figures in the lobby-the bent
silent form of Ba'tiste Renauu,
grave, but rewarded at last In his
faithful search; the radiant -eyed
Houston, free with freedom
that he hardly believed could exist;
and a girl who walked to the window
and stood looking out moment be-
fore she turned to him. Then i'm
petuously she faced him, her eyes
searching his. her hands tight
clasped her whole being one of sup
plication.
I'm sorry" she begged. Can
you-will you forgive me?"
Boyishly Barry Houston reached
foreward and drew away strand of
hair that had strayed from place, a
spirit of venture in his manner,
buoyant tone in his voice.
Say it again. | like it,"
But / ain-don't you believe me?"
"Of course. But then--I--I--''
Then he caught her hands ''Will
you go with me while / telegraph"
he asked in sudden earnestness. Il
want to wire-to the papers back in
Boston and tell them that I've been
vindicated. VIII you"
"T11 be glad to-"
"They went out the door together.
Houston beaming happily downward,
the girl close beside him, her arm in
his. And it was then that the fea-
lures of Ba'tiste Renaud lost their
gravity and sorrow. He looked after
them, his eyes soft and contented.
Then his big hands parted slowly
His lips broke into a smile of radiant
happiness.