The diamond drill., 1922-01-27

hand. Jcanie: or II 4 have. don's'
know what II U.s."
"You have committed the unpardon-
able sin." she accused coolly. II don't
wonder that Miss Randle took your
ring on"
wasn't going to let the talk shirt
10 Lisette; not II knew II. and could
help II.
"what Is the objectionable sinY'
asked.
".ro misunderstood 10 think q per-
son capable OF thing when a person
that person is guilty--oh"--with =
little stamp OF her foot--'I can't bear
10 talk about itl"
guess it's part OF mans equip
ment TO be dense and sort OF stupid
In his dealings with women. / mean.
Slowly. so slowly that thought tho
catch would never snap and hold. my
fool mind crept back along the line.
searching blIndly for the point At
which all this fiery indignation toward
me had begun: hack and still back to
that moment Of our deliverance---
Daddy's and mine-at the shafthouse
door. with this dear girl untwisting her
aims from her fathers neck. and with
me saying, I'm not hurt. either. Wei
come home. Miss Twombiy--or should
say. Mrs. BufiertonY
"Jeaniei" gasped; -do you mean
that you're not going to marry Charles
Bullerton that you never meant tor
"Of course. I'm not! she retorted,
with q savage little out-thrust OF tho
adorable chin. "But you thought 90
small Of me that you simply took Il
for granted ~
wagged my head in deepest hu-
mility.
I'm as the dust under your pretty
| feet, Jesnie please don't trample mo
too hard Builerton--that is-er.-we
had n scrap the next morning after
you went away. you know. and I ..
well. he rather got the worst OF IT,
And when had him down and was
trying TO make him tell us where you
were-even your father thought you'd
gone of with him-he said you'd
planned 10 go with him to get mar
ried. hut that you had failed TO show
up ut Atropia In time for the train"
'He told n lie, because that Is the
way he is made and he couldn't help
| IT," she said simply. still as cool as
a cucumber. "He said we were going
10 Angels 10 get married. and IL
didn't say we weren't; just let him
| talk and didn't say anything mt all"
won't you tell me a bit more?"
! begged
''You don't deserve II the least lit
tie bit, but viii. IL began with the
deed your deed 10 the mine. One
day. when you were over az the shaft
house. and had left your coat here in
! the cabin. ! saw him take the deed
from your pocket when he didn't know
| I was looking. He read IL and put IL
back quickly when he heard me stir
ring In the other room. I knew II
| hadn't been recorded; YOU and Daddy
had both spoken Of that. felt sure
he'd take Il again. and perhaps de-
stroy H. At first. thought I'd tell
you or Daddy or both OF YOU. But
knew that would mean trouble"
''We were never very far from the
fghting edge in those days" j admit
ted. FULLERTON had shown me the
gun he always carried under his arm,
and had told me what 20 expect In
case 7 were foolish enough TO lose my
temper"
"I know" she nodded. He killed
man once; II was when I was a
| little girl and we were living In Grip
pie Creek. He WAS acquitted on the
plea Of self-defense So didn't dare
say anything In you or to Daddy.
what did was TO steal your deed
myself. when had q chance. Daddy
has some blank forms just Ike Il, and
, sat up one night IN my room and
made n copy. II wasn't a very COED
copy-your rrandfather's handwriting
was swfulIy hard 10 initiate. Bsadss.
I didn't have any notnrisl seal But
I thought II might DO for-for some
thing 10 he stolen. Then Y hid fhs
real deed snd put the copy back In
the envelope In your pocket"
And Fullerton bnsliy stole n, t'st
ss you thought he would" put ~
"He did Ton are dresafulIy crrs-
less with ysur things: yes are si-
ways leaving yopr coat around. lust
where you happen to take II on.
knew then that the merit thing to be
done was TO ret your deed recorded
quickly. He--he was urging me every
day to run away with him. and was
afrnid 10 tell him how much I despissd
him: afraid he'd take II out on ysu
and Daddy SO just let him - On
and talk and believe what he pleased
OF course. he wanted TO ride with ma
the morning we went away. but aftsf
we got down the road q piece. mads
nm excuse to 70 on ahead BY another
trail"
THAT much of what he toM your
father and me--when We were having
the sersp-wss true. He said ysu
went on ahead"
~ didn't 10 TO Atropis, ~ - cx-