Evening journal., 1922-05-03
Cconunued From our Last Issue)

three days. The fire went out-m
baby" hysterical laughter brob
from her dry lips MY baby diet
and still he didn't come. He"
"Angesl" Houston grasped h Q
hands. Try to control yourself
Maybe he couldn't get back. Tn
storm"
Yes. the storm! It's aways tn
storml We would have been mar
ried--but there was the storm"
Then she halted, for the briefes
part of moment, TO become sudden
ly madly cajoling. crafty cunning
Listen, Barry. You want to know
things. I can tell them to you-oh
so many OF them. I'll tell them too
If you'll only do this for me. It!
my baby-my baby. Won't yol
promise for me? Take her to {
priest-please, Barry-and have hel
buried in hallowed ground. Won't
you, Barry? Do you want me ia
die too-or do you want me TO live
and tell You why did the things
did? Do you want 20 know who
was back OF everything? I didn't
do 1t for myself. Barry. It was
some one else-I'll help you. Barry
honestly I'll help you"
about the murder?" Houston
was leaning forward now. tense,
hopeful. But the woman shook her
head
"No-the lease, and the contract.
III help you about that-if you'll
help me. Take my baby"
The man rose.
"I'u promise, Agnes II you want
to help me afterward, we'll and good.
II not-you are free 70 do as you
please"
The woman had raised eagerly.
Then look In a box in the top
drawer. You'll find a crucifix.
They-they might want to put it on
her"
In a mass OF tangled, old-fash-
ioned jewelry, ne found the crucifx,
its chain broken and twisted, and
placed II In a pocket. Then he turn
ed 10 the grimmer task-and the
good-by. A half hour later, white
featured, his arms cupped gently
about blanket-wrapped form, he
stepped forth into the storm, and
bending against the wind, turned to-
ward the railroad in obedience to the
hazy directions OF the sobbing wo-
man he had left behind
The nowfall was lighter now; he
could find his way more easily
Black splatches against the snow,
two figures suddenly had come out
OF the sweeping veil-a girl and a
man Something akin to panic
seized Houston The man was Lost
Wing. The girl was Medaine Rob
lnette
Medaine's eyes went with woman
~ instinct to the bundle in his arms.
"a babyT" There was surprise in
her tone. Forgetting for the mo-
rnent her aversion to the man him
self. she came forward. touching the
blankets. then lifting one edge ever
so slightly that she might peer be-
meath. Where did you find it?
whose is it?"
Houston sought vainly for words.
And the words seem TO come unbid-
len:
Does II matter
"Of course not" She looked at |
i'm queerly. merely thought /
ould be of assistance"
you can. Tell me where I can
Ind priest-the baby is dead"
~oh." She touched the bundle
yer so softly. Il didn't know" Then
nth a sudden thought; But her
paa1-n
"Only a doctor. I will try to get
a'tiste to come out"
But couldn't T."
.Tm sorry" He felt that he was
firing himself hopelessly. He want
/ TO tell the truth. to ask her aid.
send her back into the woods to
he assistance Of the stricken woman
lere. But he could not frame the
aquest. Instead. Il cant tell
on. I've given woman my word.
he wouldn't understand-if you
vent there. With Ba'tiste. it Is diff :
erent. He is a doctor. He has a ?
light. Il"
L understand" came quietly, and
In those two words Houston felt
that her opinion had been formed: !
that 10 her, he was the father; the !
quiet form in his arms his own
childl
you are asking something all
most impossible. The nearest priest
Is at a settlement near Crestline."
''Crestline?" Houston instinctively |
turned toward the hills, bleak, for
bidding wall against the sky. "Wiu
you lend me Lost Wing TO run an
errand? I want to get Ba'tiste-for
her"
certainly"
She spoke to the Indian in Sioux
then and drew away. Houston,
pointing with his head, instructed
the redskin.
The Sioux started on, soon TO be
engulfed in the swirling veil Of the
storm. Barry turned again to the
girl.
"Just one more request: 1 can't
carry the child up there-this way.
VIII you help strap her to my
pack?"
Silently she assisted him in the
grim task Of mercy. Then:
do you know the Pass?"
He shook his head. She tapped !
me glove against the other.
1T is impossible then. You
'I'll make 1t some way. Thank
ou--for helping me-"
He started on. But she called him
ack.
IT'S dangerous-too dangerous"
nd there was a note of pity In her
oice. It's bad enough on foot
hen there's no snow-if you're not
lmiliar with 1t. l."
Tell me the way. Perhaps I
onld find 1t. It's not for myself.
ade a promise to the child's
iother. I'm afraid she's dying"