The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-08-16

She looked him coldly, contemptu.
oaslJ 10 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. can take care of myself"
"But-but. dearie. what is 1t they
want to do with yon?"
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, grinnlng still, as though he
enjoyed the task, forced the helpless
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 | have. There wasn't no
need breaking in. while there was an
easier way. SO you amt going to
make no row."
81 have not said what | mean TO do"
AN | don't give a d-n,' roughly.
going along by yourself, or whether
we got to drag your It's one or the
other Of them two things"
"Along whereY
"To the living-room, Of course.
That's where | aim to have the cere-
mony pulled off"
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.
II would be better to appear to yield.
to seem reconciled 10 the inevitable.
She was w~eaponless, unable to put up
any defense; perhaps In the larger
room some better opportunity for ac-
ton might present itself. II she lulled
their suspicious. led them to believe
that she was conquered, she might he
able to snatch n revolver from some
holster, or even evade them and rush
back 10 the safety of her W room.
1t was a grim, CHASTITY chance, but
she could think of hone better.
II prefer going there by myself"
she said, wondering ut the st~eadiness
of her voice, watchful of the express
sion on Meager's leering face. mol
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. | guess I 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 a 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 a
settee, and the judge. sunk into the
easy chair. where old Tom Meager had
sat for so many years. calmly smok.
ing a pipe. At their entrance the fel-
low got upon his feet and bowed, the
pipe still in his hand. Deborah
looked anxiously about for the other
the Frisco Kid"7-but he was not In
the room. Then. ignoring the hand
Clarity held out. her eyes fastened
upon the face before her. She never
before had seen a ~countenance more
repulsive or so deeply marked by dis
sipation. and her heart seemed "a
choke her before the sudden stare OF
those pig eyes and the bestial grin %
the thick lips.
"You-you are the justice from No
gaiesT" she asked doubtfuIly.
That's what | am; Judge Cornelfu.
Clarity. ma'am. at your service"
"And you were asked to come our
here to marry me to Bob Meager7,
Maybe so. n you are the gurI.r
"T am Deborah Meredith. I wan
to appeal to you, Judge Clarity. as an
officer OF the law. TO refuse to perform
this marriage"
"Refusei I refuse Bohy Why, It.,
all straight enough: I've got III,
license here all made out regular with
your name on It."
THAT Is Just the point. That icens,
was procured without my consent OF
knowledge. I repudfate It; I refus,
to assent "a II In any way. I hav,
never agreed To marry Bob Meager.
am here now under threat, and I ap
peal to ycu for protection
my dear young woman" he begaI
hoarsely, II was told before cominv
here that ron were somewhat TEN
~peramcital. and might therefore de
sire not to proceed with the ceremony
shall not be swayed In any way b,
such tantrums. My WI duty Is plain
the papers are In correct form; MI
Meager assures me that ne had you
consent, and has acted In accordanc
with your own wishes In the matter
n 10 too late at this hour to chang
your mind. I trust you will see tn
Justice OF this and make M turtle
objections"
"Oh, cut the hot air. Clarity.
h~,<ka In lfooUor curving foruarS -