Evening star., 1923-02-04

petty charity. II only Nathan wouio
drive past while he was here!
You'd get more, up at the other
house." said Retta. I'D cook some
eggs, only" He guessed the un-
spoken words, easily enough. She
kept the eggs for trading at the store.
They were too precious to be eaten.
"ThisIl suit me fine" he said good
naturedly.
He heard steps in the woodshed and
grew suddenly self-conscious. Old
Duncan seemed glad to see him.
Well, Steve-what you doin' in
these parts? Home for a spell?"
Just going through" said Stephen
uneasily. "Retta said could get
some supper"
That's right; 1 guess" The old
man stood his gun in corner and
hung battered hat above it.
Thought I'd mebbe get a rabbit. but
they're skurse. this year. Games
about gone, round here"
.Gettin So the only way a man en-
git meat is to raise it," Duncan
grumbled at supper. "Wish't I'd had
the spunk to git out and go west.
Too late. now"
You could raise all you want with
out much trouble" Stephen said.
You got pasture enough for a few
steers. and you could fat Sp four-fivs
hogs, / guess"
The old man scowled. That's what
Retta says" he complained. But I
amt a butcher. II raise a critter, I
get SOS 1 hate to kill 1t. Games diff
ferent. Some fun gettin' your meat
in the woods. with a gun
Old Duncan smoked placidly. while
Retta cleared the table. His eyes in
spected Stephen with a frank ques-
tion, his lips family quizzical.
Been up to see Nathan yet?"
The name woke Stephens half
browsing hatred.
NO. Guess I'll go up pretty soon"
supper here. He'd take it kinda hard,
l guess"
CTEPHEN helped Retta with the
- dishes, rejecting her protest.
When they had finished, the old
man begun to nod in his chair.
Stephen turned to the girl.
Guess I'll get along now. Much
obliged for supper"
"Wait-Ill walk ways with you"
She took a shawl from a peg and
slipped past him before he found
p 1>I har
'I sort of wanted to go along" she
said, a touch of apology in her whis-
per. "It-it'd be exciting-and maybe
could help"
No" He vetoed the suggestion
positively I'm not going to get any
body else mixed up in this. It's my
job"
Let me walk a ways, anyway.
won't hinder-and it's-it's better
than staying back there and won
dering-. He might wake up
might shoot"
He won't. I know how to fix that
You better go back"
He stopped. as IL to forbid her COM
ing. She stood facing him in the thin,
diffuse light.
"I-I just wanted to be sure you
meant IT," she said, at last. IT didn't
believe you'd dare--'
The tone carried him back abrupt
iy to day at school. when he had
evaded a hsht with Thad McTague,
while the others jeered. He could re-
member Retta Duncan's face, as she
looked on.
You'll find out. soon enough Think
I'm afraid?"
Maybe motif he's asleep. You'd
be afraid of him, though, If he came
along the road right now. Yes. You'd
hide" She laughed. "why. he'd pay
twice as much as you're likely to
steal. to get shut of you, and you're
going to sell out cheap--just to keep
from letting him see you! After to-
night he'll have the whip over you
for always"
I'm not afraid of him." he de-
clared. Tiff there was any bet
ter way Of doing tt"
She interrupted: "why don't you
make HIM buy you out of the Glen.
then? I been thinking-suppose you
stayed with us. right where he'd see
you every time he drove home:
wouldn't he hate that worse than
losing q little money!"