The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-07-12

ahAounctd unaiiy, ana don believe
III fire yon-not yet. anyhow"
IT VIII not be al all necessary" she
said quietly Il shall attend 10 that
for myself
You mean you will quit?"
Il certainly shall"
"oh. hill Spunky little tiEress.
Amt your reckon IN have some
thing TO say about that
You mean you will compel me 20
remain whether | wish 10 or nOtT- she
asked in surprise. "why. that cannot
be done: ] am not a slave"
1T can't heyf DO you know where
you arey"
Certainly do"
by Cd. I doubt II. This Is the
MeageT ranch IN Arizona. There amt
another outfit within fifty miles. and
nothing else round us but desert I;
there amt no water. and no grass.
I'm a-runnln' things here. and you bet
know how 10 run them. You get
mef I'm the boss: before another
weeks out every white man on this
ranch win be hunting job. and
therell be Mex in their places. /
know how 20 handle Mex; they'll do
what / say--you bet they viii. So
Miss Deborah Meredith. how Is II
you're going TO quit before ever / say
you CAM Aim 10 hoof II across the
alkali 20 Nogales? Ten miles O. that
stun would break your heart. You
better think II over"
She saw him clearly in the light OF
the window, and. in spite OF her nat
ural courage. the girls heart sank.
Was there any act OF brutality the
man would be incapable Off He was
big. burly. with broad shoulders and
a deep chest. almost n giant OF man.
but IL was the face which bespoke
his character Brute was written
plainly all over II. seemingly Inn
printed on every feature. yet AT the
moment she did not fear him; In
stinctively she felt the coward skulk-
Ing back Of his brutishness.
Il prefer" she said quietly. mot TO
discuss the matter now. Surely this
was not why you came In hereY
II sure like your nerve. little girl"
he admitted admiringly. "No. didn't
come exactly for that. but whatever
brought me I've changed my mind
Wen let things go on Just as they are
at present. / reckon. But don't you
ever imagine ] am playing with you;
law don't count for much out here.
sister. an what I say goes"
She watched him as he turned and
went out the door. her hands clenched.
n wave OF intense hatred surging over
her. Yet in another moment she had
herself and moved quietly
back 10 the side Of the bed on which
her patient lay sobblng. She bent
above the distressed woman.
'He Is worse even than l thought"
she said. unable wholly 20 hide her
distress. what caused him 10 come
In here. do you suppose7"
"Ie came 10 send me away" an
'wered the other clasping the girls
hands. Il knew II would not be long:
be has disliked me always
~Send you awayi Why. you were
his fathers wife. Even n there was
10 viii you must have dover rights
n the estate. Surely. that is the law"
81 do not know" YEARLY. TON 1
lever explained anything 10 me. but
,ut I am afraid Of Bob Meager. Don't
ross him; don't anger him. He Is
dangerous. and am afraid OF him. for
our sake rs well as my own"
"What do you want me 90 dor the
fri questioned. Influenced by the
imidity Of the other. Let that beast
ave his own way with mef'
Mono. not that. But--but treat
I'm fairly. Miss Meredith lie VIII
ot always be as be = today. As be
aid. you cannot fight or run away.
N depends on winning his favor.
hen sometime there will be a chance
Fe must wait and watch until be Il
] a mood 10 let us both 20. But
ven II there was n way for you O.
scape alone. you could not leave me
ere in his power"
-You fear him like tbaff~
III ! stand between the man and
IFS fortune his father left. my life
worth nothing-I know that
And Deborah Meredith. looking
1wn into the white face lying on the
low. made her choice.
rA.1rcn A