Evening star., 1923-09-14
But what can the letter ,do71 Tam
a aked fhr0uSh sDbs

But what can the letter do77 Tam
asked through sobs.
Il don't know. but it will do some
'if il only could" Tam pulled her
self up with an effort and dried her
tears. I'll go again 20 Moapa in the
morning, but I'm SO afraid to leave
come while I'm gone, then Butler Will
find out, and he'll be terrible, just
terrible; ] think sometimes the man
You pack a Run?' Hawkins asked
anxiously, ignoring the danger he
was soon to face and thinking only
of the piucky girl beside him.
Always" she answered, "and |
thought yesterday j would use it. |
caTry it here" Tam indicated lit
tie pocket over her hip, concealed by
a fold in her sweater. "He looked at
mo so strangely when he asked If you
were better"
Don't kill. Tam. until you have to:
these things arc worrying your mind
beyond reason. But don't let the
gTieving and worry get you, Tam, II
doesn't pay. I've been in these hills
twenty years and more; seen the old
Alder Gulch rush when men were
killed by their own brothers. all gold
mad. Yes, and I've seen men crazy
with liquor KILN for sport when
.Moapa was only an Indian camp: But
wild days In the camp. Those times
are all gone now. Tam, an We're hav-
ing a new kind of war. Bad as it
was. man could fight his own bat
ties then. But Its different now. They
brought law in then to stop murder
and thieving: now they use it to Kill
and steal in lots of ways I'm not
used to. No, Tam, guess haven't
got a trick TO turn. after all. They're
lighting way over my head now. we
lao ChAnCe,
There's you, ought TO be making a
home warm and bright. for some good
man, yet here you are. half crazy
and fighting wild. and still you're not
quit il ali and go away from here?
Let the past go, Tam. let it go. 1t
hurts. know, but it's really past
now, you see, and it can't come back.
long to them, Tam. You don't mt
throwing yourself away" The long
speech tired the old man yisibly, but
the fervor OF his words held Tam
fascinated until he had finished.
Then she replied in a strange, thin
voice. Yes, Mr.. Hawkins, | do be-
long to the old days, Just like you,
but can no more leave the fight than
you. Listen! Hear the wind moaning
racks over fathers grave? Every
night they speak. to me, urge me on
and on. No. there is nothing else for
me, nothing else in life" Susie hest
tated and a shudder came over her.
What must decent folks think Of me?
Living with gangsters, one of them.
for all people know. Even Mr.. Alden.
the first time he saw me, talked of
--of-the Barbary Coast, and L know
what he meant How hated him
for IT." Her little hands clenched in
anger. But I can't let him die. be-
cause he's so innocent of everything.
But ii doesn't matter what he or any
one else thinks of me now, Mr.. Haw-
kins. I'm going to answer the tama-
racks, and then, when it's all over
and my work is done, I'll go back to
the past. Don't you see. Mr.. Haw-
kins, can't leave the fight any more
than you CAM"
YES, girl, l understand. under
stand. But you're all worked up
now. we've both talked too long.
You've got to signal yet and get
some sleep. The fight seems to be
in the dark, but it. might be. a short
one, Tam, SO better get, your rest
while you can, Good-niEft sFnow, and
Down below in the prison house