The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-01-05
CHAPTER XII

he walked out alone In the garden, I,
muse upon his situation. Slowly h
paced his way along the path. Some
Zone spoke. and he turned to face thu
Dan Batoche.
Monsieur, q note"
brace took the paper and hastenet
Into the summer house.
The note was brief, but full In thu
EXPIRE sion of what had befalIen Ma
dine. something to throb with the tell
ing Of It: "As soon as you can. ms
love- one, you must come to me to take
me from the man | thought my fa
ther, but who Is the awful brute. Yes
terday he called me she-wolf and
told me / am not his daughter; and
when he told me, my heart was light
for then / have notfwithin me the muir.
derer's blood. Come not alone, Virgil,
for Tony will b here, and both OF
them watch. I am locked prisoner In
my room. and TOMORROW they take me
to Memphis to nuke me marry Mon
sieur Boyce. But fear not so long
as / know you con v"
Quickly Drace Ripped up to his
room, buckled on his pistol found a
rope. looped 1t With a hangman's moose
and tucked it(beneath his coat Ma
dine was not Stepho's daughter; now
he was free to act Swift was he to
answer the appeal. but he was set
'rgai71st her caution, the advice to bring
someone with him. 1t was his fight
alone, the execution of his oath. which
was not dead like the autumn leaf, but
fresh like the new leaf in the spring
He would shoot Tony, the dog. and
then string up his master.
No one saw him, not even the watch
full Tycie, and he FASTENED toward
Willow Head. not having found boat
mt the landing. Never had the river
seemed so broad, the current so swift
At last his canoe touched In among
the cane roots at the islands edge
He leaped ashore, but was cautious In
the cane, an Indian In stealth as he
approached the house. He heard not
q sound, saw no smoke issue from the
chimney. Perhaps the wolves were In
now In full view, and he ran at the top
of his speed. But near the house he
halted. peering about, looked In at the
door of the main room, found 1t desert
ed. then walked softly around to the
barred window. Nadine spoke before
light of her prison.
my heart was loud to tell me you
would come, Virgil. And you brought
no one with you. But of that there
was no need now"
He stood in silence looking at her,
his strength exerted against bar at
the window, to tear 1t loose. but the
wrought-iron nails were too long, and !
he could not bulge them.
THE ak, Virgil Is it lying there"
Acting upon her suggestion, and |
with no caution now against making |
a noise. he cut the bars away and
helped her through the window.
"Nadine. he said. my oath must
now be kept"
His arms about her, he stood press
ing her close, and never had he felt so
strong, and surely never so deter
on his arm, she did not speak. She
looked as If she were at rest, and
dreaming. He kissed her, and her eyes
flashed wide.
81 have come to hang the monster
that called you she-woIf."
hox f..11 nj
now you will listen. Early I thought
| heard Tony and MY mean Stepho
Ia vitte, go out. But Stepho was not
walking with Tony. the strong man.
but was dragged out In the rocking
hair; foe some time In the night come
he strange stroke, and Stepho was
,aralyzed."
Nadine What are you saying?"
'T am saying that you must listen.
Tony came to the window and told me
what was happen. | ask him TO let
ne out. but he would not, for he wants :
o please Stepho TIL the last. on ac-
cunt of the money that may he some
there hid. He went for the doctor.
nd he came but has gone away again.
or hear him say he can do no good.
The old man was out In his chair
where he so often sit; and we VIII go
ee him. for IL Will not be for long
.ei US forget all and be kind when
cath was come. Virgil"
yes. but where IS Tony now?' ,
~ think he is looking for the money
,et us 90 now to the poor old man."
4You forgive easily, Nadine"
She looked Mt him in wonderment.
"HoS can we not forgive when the I
cart say we must. Virgil? He use me c
" the trap, which will explain all to +
Oh. but he give me the chance 10 be b
tih you. and for that I thank him 2
nd for not being my sure-enough b
lfber. Come with me-
Old Stepho sat in his chair asleep. p
II as they approached Aim. he $
,ened hIs eyes, looked at Nadine, O
zen al BRACE. o.
Monsieur was YER strong An o.
n you II he not struck down like Ct
10 haaf An Tony kill Won II he here. | ca