The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-15
By RANDALL PARRISH
Copyright by A. c. MeClurs s Co.

ing at the calmness with which sh
spoke, and now on her feet facing him
II think know what you mean. You
have me completely in your power
you have planned 1t all out"
"Thats the ticket. Now there ain
no use your getting mad. I like you
like you awfully well, and Pm goinf
to be mighty square with you. But
there wasn't any other way for me tc
get you-was thereT
NO" she said frankly, there was
no other course possible"
(which means you don't like me
at all?"
1T means all Of that, and more, Bob
Meager. l do not believe I ever de-
| spised anyone so much In my life as
I do you. disliked you before ever
saw you; now l hate The very ground
you walk on. Have you any use for
me after that?"
"You just bet 1 have" he grinned.
You're sure wildcat, but I'll tame
you. On it like 1t In you you're
not the wishy-washy kind. One Of us
has got to be boss; saw that from
the very first. and that's what this
means now; I'm going to be the one."
"In what way do you mean?"
Haven't you got the idea yet? I'm
going to marry you-see? took the
notion the first time 1 saw you
you're exactly my style. But
know'd then there wasn't but one
way to do 1t. Now I'm ready to talk
business. How is 1t, my lady? Going
to be nice about it?'
She endeavored to rally her cour-
age, even attempting a laugh.
Marry you? Not in this world. 1
know you are a scoundrel, but 1 never
thought you were fool before"
mo, and you never will again." his
voice hardening. Because you will
have no chance. 1t is nothing to me
whether you say yes or no. I been
down in Nogales today, an among
other things I got a marriage license
It's right here in my pocket, an the
names written in 1t are Robert Mea-
ger and Deborah Meredith And that
amt all; sometime between now and
ten o'clock a justice of the peace is
going to drive in here to do up the
business for us. That's why I'm tell
ing you all this-so you can sorter
brace up and get ready"
She made no attempt to move or to
speak; she seemed paralyzed, staring
at him through the gathering dark
ness.
II amt going to touch you now" he
went on sullenly, angered by her 81
lence "But you just think it over,
and go on back to the house. When 1
send for you, you better come; that's
ALL"
He turned, and walked back to his
horse, and she stood there, trembling
in every limb, as he vanished amid
the shadows.
She understood now, clearly, def
nitely, just what she was called upon
to face. Bob Meager had not minced |
his words, or left anything to imagi-
nation. He had planned this DELHI
erately, In cold blood, and he had the |
will, and, perhaps, the power, to carry
1t out.
At first she was In white flame of |
Indignation; she even laughed hyster-
lcally at the fellows threat. 1t
seemed preposterous, absurd, dream
Of delirium. Marry himl Marry that
degenerate brutel Why, she would
rather die hundred deaths than have
him even touch her. He was foul,
brutal curl Yet even as she realized
his, shrinking in terror from any pos
,ible contact with him, there arose In
ler mind a sense of fear a grim, per-
'istent fear she could not conquer.
He was ruthless, merciless. II he
ruly desired her, nothing would be
permitted to stand In his way. He
lad not been drinking when he talked
With her; he had spoken soberly and
With full knowledge of what he said.
Niendish as 1t was, he had acted de-
iberately and In cold blood. That
made 1t all the more dangerous, for
lie would likely drink now and be-
ONE an utter flend. Within an hour
lie would be raging drunk, capable Of
ny indignity. any wild act. A brute
ober, he became a demon drunk And
he must face it-alone This was
he conviction that slowly took full
ossesslon Of her mind. His threat
,as not an idle one. He could turn
away and leave her
here, completely confident that she
ould not escape. There was no spot
T safety to which she could fly, no
riend to whom she could appeal.
She gazed hopelessly out into the s
lack void; not light cleaned any {
here except from those distant stars
verhead. There was but one way
fading across that expanse, the single
all connecting with the pass through {
lie mountain canyon beyond. There |
light, Of course, be others-known to l
ldian or outlaw-but this path was 9
lie only one she ever had travelled
nd 1t never could be traversed alone /
n foot. S
Yet, was there any other hope of
postponement even? To t