The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-08-23
BY Randall Parrish
Coosrish, by A. c. MeClurs 8 Co.

- sou q wv WV wv
think ! am, anyhow? Some kid afraic
Of a woman? Say, listen. that's M
way for a wife to welcome her hus
band. ! got a right here, and you bet
I'm going TO stay. Got an idea yor
can bluff me. ! reckon. Well, I ain't
that kind, an you might as well learn
II now rs later. This is our wedding
night. Here's where I ought to be
Amt 1t? Say, why don't you say some
thing2 What you going to do?"
IL am going TO kill you. Bob Mea-
ger" she said coldly. unless you. leave
this room"
XIII met Why, you blame little
fool. could crush the life out o. you
with n hand-see. just like that
And by Cd, ! got the right lf you
get too gay. I'm your husband, amt
/? That's what the law says and Pm
going to be your husband, you can bet
your life on that. Think you1l scare
me, do your he burst into an ugly
laugh. Not this time, you won't" He
turned and closed the door; then
crossed the room toward her. reeling
drunkenly, yet quite able to retain
his feet. The starlight rendered his
features visible. Her motionless ST.
lence caused him to pause.
Pretty d-n still, amt your" he ex-
claimed. peering at her su~spiciously /;
why don't you talk? When | speak
to a woman I want her to say some
thing
There is nothing more for me to
say"
Only that you're going to kill me
II touch you, hey7 All right, then
here's your chance"
He took two steps toward her, his
hands reaching out eagerly, his face
thrust forward. Then he stopped sud
denly, with startled eyes staring into
the leveled muzzle OF the "A, his lips
giving suppressed utterance to a swift
ejaculation.
"P1l be d--d!"
Put your hands up, Bob Meageri"
the words were icy cold. up, I say
Don't fool with me now. Turn around
and 60 out that door. I am not play
'NS hA' htUuAiS 9ouI lIIG OF Illut. GO
He cringed back. cowardly, yet with
drunken cunning. Desperate as she
was, there was hesitation in the girls
action. Dimly he grasped the truth
that she shrank from the necessity OF
shooting that she would actually pull
the trigger only as a last resort. He
took the chance.
Sure" he muttered. "you got the
drop and cave. So long, honey"
He half turned away, Keeling drunk
emily, then suddenly, unexpectedly,
flung his body directly at her, crush
Ing her back against the wall, both
falling together, the weapon undis-
charged beneath her body. /, sur
prising as the assault was, she had yet
escaped the grip Of his hands, and was
on her knees again before he could
move. The revolver was her only
weapon. but In the fall she had lost
grip OF the stock. II lay there glitter
In the starlight, and, desperate,
maddened by the danger, obeylng the
first Wild instinct OF the instant. she
snatched Ii up by the barrel and
struck with all her force at the mans
head. The fellow gave utterance to
moan, his limbs twitched, and then
he lay ~motionless. his face against the
floor.
Deborah slowly lifted her body,
shrinking back from the darkly ont
lined form. beginning to comprehend
with horror what she had done. She
still held tight to the weapon with
which she had dealt the blow, although
realizing that she no longer required
rs protection. The silence was terri
'ying: her nerves finxled painfully,
The found difficulty in breathing. Was
he man deadf Had she actually killed
with that one hasty blown She
,ould scarcely realize the possibility,
yet she had struck with all her
'orce. driven to II by terror uncontrol-
able. She shrank now from ever
ouching him /: nurse as she was, hav-
ng Witnessed death In every form of
lorror. and ministered to wounds OF
degree, she would not place hand
m this man. whether he lived or died.
lie represented to her mind all that
vas base and evil she was glad she
lad struck him down.
But what nowf This question over
hadowed all else. The thing she had
'een imagining for 30 long had at last
ome to pass. He had come to her.
ONE claiming her with insult and out
age. and she had actually dealt the
low OF which she had dreamed. Her
outrage had not failed her. and he was
wing there nov In the darkness at her
eet. sorely wounded. perhaps dead.
I was her act; she had done it--what
low: She had never faced this stu
Ition before, the aftermath. Whether
deager was dead or alive. she must
,et away. Better to face any danger
4 the great desert than remain where
be vas. with not a friend to counsel
II prutect her. not a white man to
vhom she could appeal.
The girl thrust the revolver back
nto Its holster at her waist. and
j through the window into
he quiet night. OF two evils. the des-
1T, or these lawless e she chose
he less cruel. the desert. II she was
D die. 1t would be, at least. IN honor.
NEE decided. her mind worked rap
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