The Holly chieftain., 1923-12-06
CHAPTER xl-continued.

The girl hesitated. biting her lips.
angered by his insistence.
Il cannot very well help listening;
doubt II believe"
believe or not, as You d-n please"
he broke forth impatiently. "This is
no time or place In which to play.
Ihe truth Is have been white with
you-square. came here seeking
refuge Just exactly as I explained to
you last night knew this was 4
thieves hole, OF course, but had no
suspicion that we were going to run
into their outfit at this time. But
when we did, had to act along with
them. There was no other way. I had
you to consider. and had something
efse to consider. lied to them, not
to you-to both Sanchez and Bob Mea-
ger. They are going to get the sur
prise Of their lives tonight Now lis
ten. l came back there for you;
tried to trace you all the afternoon.
knew you cualdn't be far away, be-
cause you had not taken the horsA
Finally I decided you must have
climbed the cliff on foot and I came
up and ran Into Meager. Neither Of
us was very happy about It. but
had some knowledge Of what was on
foot from Sanchez. Only Bob wasn't
there for that purpose; he pretended
to be. but he had something else up
his sleeve. You don't know what he
was really up to. do your
NO" she said quickly, not willing
yet to tell her tale. "why should IT"
Kelleen wene on, undiscouraged.
II didn't know how long you were
hiding there. But that is why I came
back"
because you saw me?"
"Yes; and because / believed Bob
was up to some trick. even had rea-
son to suspect. did I not. that you
two might be there together7'
She faced him Indignantly.
"You thought would secretly meet
him?"
"Why notI You evidently believe
every evil of me. How did know
you had told the truth? You are his
wife, by your own statement. Why
shouldn't I suspect, finding you there
together1 Anyhow I went back to
discover the truth. That is why / am
here with you now
believing what of me?'
Il hardly knew-except not that.
You were not with him, yet that is
his horse You are riding. He fired
at you. did he not?"
"Yes; he went past me down the
gully after you left. It was dark then.
and was not seen. I stole his horse
and rode away. doubt II he even
knew 1t was a woman he shot at"
The llstlessness suddenly left her
voice.
but am not going with you" she
went on ccldly. "1f you are man
You will not try to urge me. trusted
you last night, but not now. VIII you
let me goT'
"Where!-
I'll find my way; I have a horse.
and the stars. BY morning I'll be in
sight Of some point of guidance. Any
how II the choice is between the cruel
desert and you, take the desert. Am
l free to goT'
Kelleen laughed.
"You leave it to me, then? Well, I
say you are not going. ] am not the
sort of cur who would let you com
init suicide just because you have
taken a dislike to me. You would be
lost in ten minutes; you don't know
this conntry-it's treacherous as HI.
Now listen; you are going TO trust me
whether yon wish to or not. You
needn't like me-that cuts no ice in
this affair--but you are going to learn
that when l give my word to either
man or woman, I'm going to keep It,
Now, that's fiat. II you want TO go
back to Bob Meager, all right. III
take you to him, and we're done. But
when you talk Of my turning you loose
IN this desert. to take your chances
out there alone, am the wrong kind
81 man for nny such job. You can
bate me all you please, but we stick
together until get yon where there
are white folks"
Il believe I do hate you'll"
"All right; don't mind that. VIII
tuu uU W iut teAi lou W w
He had spoken quickly, almost
harshly, and the tone of command had
aroused Deborah's resentment. The
two wills cIashed, and neither would
give way or seek compromise Deep
down in her secret heart a bit OF faith
In this Daniel Kcleen yet fingered,
but she was in no mood then to ac-
tlrauf n N n
her; trying to frlghtcn her; enheavor
Ing to force her into his power, and
she resented 1t immeasnraby.
mo. will not" she said sharply.
""ake your hand of my bride rein!'
She struck her mount suddenly. and |
the startled animal sprang forward.
whirllng sidewise from the blow, ca
reening agninst the flank OF kellePn's
horse as ii swept swiftly past. The
next instant the Wild race was on