South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-22

Don't! Oh, don't hurt me any
more! I'll do what you want"
Beaten. body and soul, she went
to the cupboard and got herself
plate and cup and saucer, knife and
fork and spoon.
She sat down opposite the man
and tried to eat. IL required every
atom Of will power TO induce her
throat muscles to permit her TO
swallow. Dan Slike watched her
with savage satisfaction. He found
the situation intensely amusing. To
murder her uncle and later eat
meal with the niece. What a Joke,
Il saw two mules and a horse in
the corral when I came by" he re-
sumed. Looks like a good horse
better than the one left up in the
timber I'll ride your horse and
lead the other Listen, I expect to-
morrow sometime you'll have a few
gents a-callin' on you. Jtll likely
take those Golden Bar citizens till
about then TO pick up my trail"
CHAPTER XIII.
You see" said Dan Slike. as he
topped his mount, Il amt been
hard on you. only took what I
needed. Think of that and be
happy"
He whirled the horse ana rode
away.
Hazel remained standing beside
the corral gate. Suddenly she was
conscious of a great WEAKNESS. With
dragging steps she returned to the
house. When she returned 10 the
kitchen. there was a man standing
in the middle of the room
Nothing had the power 10 sur
prise her now. She would not have
been amazed had the devil himself
popped into the room. The man
turned at her entry. He was Rafe
Tuckleton.
What do you want?" she asked
lifelessly
Who's been here?" he demand
ed. pointing an accusing finger at
the table. Two plates. two cups.
two saucers-who you been enter
taining?"
Entertaining Good Lord Hazel
sat down on the wood box and
laughed Historically.
lie was around the table and con-
fronting her in three strides. Who's
been here?" he kept at her.
Dan Slike," she said with a spas
modic giggle.
You're a liar" he told her
promptly. Dan Slike didn't come
this way. He-he went another
way. You've had Bill Wingo here,
that's whatsamatter."
She said nothing. Billy Wingo,
He had loved her-once What a
queer. queer world f. was Every
body and everything at cross-pur-
poses. Yet there was a reason for
It all Must be. Even a reason for
Rafe She looked up at Rafe. He
was glaring down at her with a
most villainous expression on his
lean features.
Say whatsa use OF lyin' 20 me2
You're an odd number. by all ac-
counts. but YOU amt so odd you
could sit here and eat and drink
and carry on with your uncle's
murderer. You can't tell me that"
She was regarding him with curl
Gus eyes. IT thought you always
said Dan Slike didn't kill my
uncle?"
'Well--uh-you see. everybody
else seems to think he did And
ah-maybe I was wrong
You had Bill wingo here. and
vel settle this Wingo business
right now This Tip O'Gorman
murder has queered him for keeps
Sooner or later he'll hang for IT,.
/ You'd look fine wouldn't YOU. the
widow Of a."
Don't say IT," she cut him short.
Billy Wingo IS no murderer. How
ever. you can set your mind az rest.
/ I'm not likely 70 marry Billy Wingo.
or anybody else
His eyes. savage and mean. held
hers steadily Il come over here.
tonight 10 set you. I'm taking you
\ back with me tonight 20 my ranch -
You're taking me % your
ranchi" she gasped. Me-"
lie nodded. You nobody else. "
She laughed harshly without a
note Of hysteria. You're two hun
dred years behind the times. Men
don't carry of their women any
more"
Vow for the first time she smelt
/ his breath. II was rank with the
/ raw odor OF whisky. SO that was
what had given him the void idea
OF carrying her of by force. The