The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-10-11
CHAPTER xl-contlnusd.

F a. kAit HCoAtdtCnt DttAhB ECA tAPos
Angered by his insistence.
II cannot very well help listening; I
doubt II I believe"
"eelieve or not, as you d--n please"
he broke forth impatiently. "This is
no time or place In which 20 play.
The truth Is ! have been white with
you-square. I came here seeking
refuge just exactly as I explained to
you last night. / knew this was a
thieves hole. of course, hut had. no
suspicion that we were going to run
Into their outfit at this time. But
when we did. l had to act along with
them. There was no other way. / had
yeaatc consider. and had something
else to consider. ! lied to them, not
10. 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; l
tried to trace you all the. afternoon.
Il knew you couldn't be far away, be-
cause you had not taken the horse.
Finally / decided you must have
climbed the cliff on foot, and l came
up and ran into Meager. Neither Of
us was very happy about 1t, but /
had some knowledge Of what was IN
foot from Sanchez. Only Bob wasn't
there for that purpose; he pretended
70 be, but he had something else up
hls sleeve. You don't know what he
SEas really up to, do your
= mo" she said quickly, not willing
yet to tell her tale, why should II"
KelIeen went on, ~undlscouraged.
II didn't know how long you were
Hiding there. But that is why / came
lack"
Because you saw me?"
Eyes; and because | believed Bob
was up TO some trick. / even had rea.
son to suspect, did / not. that you
two might be there together?"
she faced him Indignantly.
you thought l would secretly meet
kim?"
."Why not? You evidently believe
every evil of me. How did / know
you had told the truth? You are his
wife, by your w statement. Why
SHOULDN'T | suspect, finding you there
together? Anyhow / went back to.
discover the truth. That Is why / am
here with you now"
r"Believing what of me?'
~ hardly know-except not that.
You were not with him, yet that is
lbs horse you are riding. He fred
at you. did he not?"
Eyes; he went past me down the
CHILLY after you left. II was dark then.
and ! was not seen. l stole his horse
aPd rode away. l doubt If he ever
knew II was a woman he shot att
THE llstlessness suddenly left her
Voice.
E"But I am not going with you she
went o coldly. IF you are a man
You Will not try to urge me-. / trusted
you last night. but not now. VIII you
lef me gof"
,"where?"
-'I1l find my way; / have a horse,
apd the stars. BY morning I'll be in
sight of some point OF guidance. Any
hHw II the choice is between the cruel
desert and you. l take the desert. Am
I..free to gof'
Kelleen laughed.
g'You leave II to me, then7 Well, /
say you are not going. l am not the
sdtt OF cur who would let you com
NIT suicide just because you have
taken a dislike to me. You would be
lost In ten minutes; you don't know
this country-it's ~treacherous as HI.
Now listen; you are going to trust me
WHETHER you wish to or not. You
snaedn't like me--that cuts no Ice In
this affair-but you are going to learn
thpt when ! give my word to either |
man or woman. I'm going to keep 1t.
New, that's hat. Ii you want TO 60
back to Bob Meager. all right. I'll
take you to him. and we're done. But
when you talk OF my turning you loose
In this desert. to take your chances
ort There alone. ! am the wrong kind
of: man for any such job. You can
hate me all you please, but we stick
together until ! get yon where there
areAwhite folks"
II believe / do hate you!"
aAfl right I don't mind that. WIN
You do what I tell you to dol"
He had spoken quickly. almost
haFshly, and the tone OF command had
aropsed Deborah's resentment. The
two wills FLASHED, and neither would
give way or seek compromise. Deep
down In her secret heart a bit Of faith
In this Daniel Kelleen yet fingered.
but she was In no mood THEN 70 ac-
knowledge II. He was threatening
her. trying to brighten her; endeavor-
ing 70 force her into his power, and
she resented It UNNECESSARILY.
"No. / WIN not" she said sharply.
Take your hand of my bride rein II
She struck her mount suddenly, and
the startled animul sprang forward.
whfrIing ssdewise from the blow. ra-1
reensng against the flank Of KeHeen's
as N swept swiftly past. The
mort instant the wild race was on
th5sugh the black night. She rode
re~ckiessly. desperately. iashing her
mount with the tapping era ~ hrr
relns. vet. leap BY leap, KeIleen drew
-ioser. riding as he often had beforr
ii heudin0 On d Wild stampede or
.4tfJn reS<i1x .fr horse. more III !