The Holly chieftain., 1923-10-11

She looked him coldly. contemptu-
ously In the face. conscious of the
struggle to remove the older woman.
Don't try to remain. Mrs. Meager,"
she said quietly. go back to your
room. I can take care Of myself"
"But-but, dearIe. what is 1t they
want to do with you7"
Deborah laughed bitterly, so des-
perate by then as to be reckless.
Marry me to this drunken brute"
she explained, "this delightful stepson
of yours There is nothing you can do
to help me; so go on back to your
room-please go!"
Sanchez, grinning still. as though he
enjoyed the task, forced the helpless
woman down the hall. He showed her
roughly into her room, closed and
locked the door. Deborah heard the
fall on the floor within. but her eyes
were upon the threatening face of Bob
Meager.
"Well?" she said sharply, you seem
to have won the first round?"
"You bet l have. There wasn't no
need breaking in, while there was an
easier. way. So you amt going to
make no row."
II have not said what mean to do"
AN l don't give a d-n" roughly.
"Only I'd like to know whether you're
going along by yourself, or whether
we got to drag you? It's one or the
other of them two things"
"Along whereT
ITO the living-room, of course
That's where / aim to have the cere-
mony pulled or"
The girl thought, quickly. Resist
ance there and then was absolutely
useless. Both men were armed. and
one of them, at least. was crazy drunk.
It would be better to appear to yield,
to seem reconciled to the inevitable
She was weaponless, unable to put up
any defense; perhaps in the larger
room some better opportunity for ac-
tlon might present itself. If she lulled
their suspicious. led them to believe
that she was conquered, she might be
able to snatch revolver from some
holster, or even evade them and rush
back to the safety of her own room.
1t was grim, ghastly chance, but
she could think Of none better.
II prefer going there by myself"
she said, wondering at the steadlness
of her voice, watchful of the express
sion on Meager's leering face. "No!
don't touch me; don't dare to touch
me-"
The fellow laughed, but there was a
snarl in his tone
"All right; SO the cat has still got
claws, has she? Well, I guess can
wait putting hands on you; 1t won't
be for long. Go on ahead. then. Come
along. Sanchez"
In spite OF. her trembling limbs the
girl walked firmly. never so much as
turning her head to glance at the two
behind her. She must act her part,
play her character. permit them to
think her Indifferent to results, yet in
no way afraid. Without question
she opened the door herself at the end
of the narrow hall, and stepped into
the room beyond. There were two
men In the room. the short, thick Mex
lean called Arvan. sprawling on
settee, and the Judge, sunk into the
easy chair, where old Tom Meager had
sat for SO many years, calmly smok-
Ing pipe. At their entrance the fell
low got upon his feet and bowed. the
pipe still In his hand. Deborah
looked anxiously about for the other
the "Frisco Kid"-but he was not In
the room. Then. ignoring the hand
Garrity held out. her eyes fastened
upon the face before her. She never
before had seen countenance more
repulsive or SO deeply marked by dis
sipation, and her heart seemed to
choke her before the sudden stare of
those pig eyes and the bestial grin of
the thick lips.
"Yon-you are the Justice from No
gales? she asked doubtfully
"That's what am; Judge Cornelius
Garrity, ma'am, at your service"
And you were asked to come out
here to marry me to Bob MeagerT'
maybe so, II you are the gurl."
II am Deborah Meredith. / want
to appeal to you, Judge Garrity, as an
officer Of the law, to refuse to perform
this marriage"
Refuse! refuse Bob? Why, it's
all straight enough; I've got the
license here all made out regular with
your name on It,"
"That is just the point. That license
was procured without my consent or
knowledge. I repudiate 1t; refuse
to assent to 1t In any way. l have
never agreed to marry Bob Meager.
am here now under threat, and ap-
peal to you for protection"
"My dear young woman" he began
hoarsely, II was told before coming
here that you were somewhat tenn
peramental, and might therefore de-
sire not to proceed with the ceremony.
I shall not be swayed in any way by
such tantrums. My own duty is plain;
tho g,,