The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-10-04

| had up to this minute supposed you
fellow back yonder; nov l learn you
were running away from me also. Ia
that the TRUTH"
She hesitated; then courage re-
turned.
Il fear you more even than do Bob
Meager," she answered honestly. land
despise you more"
THAT is a pleasant statement. ]
wonder II I really deserve IT. You
think I deserted your left you
essarily1 First listen to my explana.
tion-yss, you must; I shall not let
you 60 until you do. VIII you listen
70 met"
Il know of no way to avoid doing
so but l prefer that you release my
horse"
His fingers relaxed their hold on
the rein, and he Strengthened up fac
ing her.
81 trust you" he said simply. "You
are better mounted than I, and armed.
but I will not believe you look upon
me altogether as a villain. You had
confidence In me last night-did you
not2"
"Yes-last night. I was desperate,
afraid, and-and I accepted all you
told me-" p
Il an the same man now" he said
earnestly. II am Daniel Kelleen, just
as ready to prove my friendship now
as then. You do not believe that2"
mo, do not l cannot. Last night
l accepted your assistance from ne
cessity. had to escape that ranch
before daylight. and you offered the
only chance. IL did not know who you
were then-only-only In a vague way.
[ rather accepted you as an American
cowboy, and-and you made me trust
you"
During our night ride, you meanT"
Eyes. you told me a little about
yourself; perhaps 1t was not true, but
you made me think 1t was, and !
gained confidence In you in spite-in
spite Of your-your reputation"
II see-the Frisco Kid business.
lhul IL u tlllkC VII NOlOL, WISH l u
II l remember right you got my his
tory principally from Pop Reynolds,
with all embellishments thrown IN.
Yet, nevertheless, you managed to
like mef Is that itT'
81 had to trust you then. I tried to
believe all you told me, and-and you
were nice"
Good enough and then whatr'
1T was not because you left me. I
thought l understood that you were
seeking to save me from discovery.
Yet even then I was not sure. not as
alone together. Sanchez was too
friendly, too willing to acknowledge
your leadership, and obey your or
ders-and-and you knew too much
about what vas going on here. You
told me a very interesting story, Mr..
Daniel Kelleen, which I now know to
be false"
Kelleen made no movement, and for
the moment no answer.
~"You have lied to me, haven't your
e" prefer learning first why o
reach this conclusion" he replied
calmly. Does II come from my con-
versation with Juan Sanchez"
ut began there. l could scarcely
help suspecting you after listening to
what you had to say TO that Mexican
outlaw. You are out here not so much
In my protection, but as the repre-
sentative Of Bob Meager. l am merely
your plaything en- route"
"You are indeed complimentary.
Did serve Meager, you think, by run
ming off with his wife?"
There is no law or decency on this
border where any woman Is con-
cerned," she burst out bitterly. II have
at least learned that. i do not know
your real object; only that you are
one Of this d~isreputable gang; that
YOU come here to serve It's purposes ;
that I was therefore only an incl
dent-to be lied to, and laughed at"
"You reached this conclusion from
what you overheard OF the talk be-
tween Sanchez and myself? or course
knew you were there"
Exactly, and did not ven care
Your very insolence was an insult
You believed me then entirely In your
power. You could sit calmly there
on your horse, laugh and sheer, and
dare do nothing to protect myself
Then you rode off. and left me-youl
last glance one of insolent triumph
II was then / fully realized that l was
only your victim. ! was afraid of you
and | hated you then
His voice was very low, very quiet
"You lost all faith? You attempted
to run away, and hide from me before
I could returnf"
II attempted to get away-yes.
could not remain there; II would ever
be better to die on the desert. But
but l am not wholly sure I had lost
all faith. Nothing was quite clear
J but--but / was afraid of you. Yo,
had lied to me; l could not trust my
self alone with you any longer. Blu
: since then l have. lost all faith--d,
you know Why's"
J II can make a guess, You also over
heard the talk between myself an,
{ Rob Meager."
Every word. How did you know
Because i had a glimpse Of you a