The Winslow mail., 1923-11-30
CHAPTER XI-contInued.

81 cannot very we'll help listening;
doubt If believe"
Believe or not, as you d-n please"
he broke forth impatiently. "This is
no time or place in which to play.
The truth Is l have been white with
you-square. l came here seeking
refuge just exactly as I explained to
you last night. 1 knew this was
thieves hole, of course, but had no
suspicion that we were going to run
nto their outfit at this time. But
when we did, had to act along with
them. There was no other way. had
you to consider and l had something
else 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; l
tried to trace you all the afternoon.
/ knew you cEr11dn't be far away, be-
cause you bed not taken the horse.
Finally I decided you Dsust have
climbed the cliff on foot. and I came
up and ran into Meager. Neither Of
us was very happy about 1t, 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 sai6 quickly, not willing
yet to tell her rale, why should I?'
Kelleen Welt on, undiscouraged.
81 didn't know how long you were
hiding there But that is why / came
back"
Because you saw me?"
yes; and because | believed Bob
was up to some trick. I even had rea-
son to suspect, did I not, that you
two might be there togetherY'
She faced him Indignantly.
you thought 1 would secretly meet
him?"
why not? 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 1 suspect, finding you there
together? Anyhow l went back to
discover the truth. That is why am
here with you now"
Believing what of me?'
II hardly know-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 l was not seen. I stole his horse
and rode away. l doubt if he even
knew it was a woman he shot att
The listlessness suddenly left her
voice.
But I am not going with you" she
went on coldly. 'If you are a man
you will not try to urge me. I trusted
you last night, but not now. Will you
ter me gO?'
"Where?"
"I'l find my way; have horse
and the stars BY morning I'll be in
sight of some point of guidance. Any
how if the choice is between the cruel
desert and you, I take the desert. Am
| free to go?'
Kelleen laughed.
"You leave it to me, then? Well,
say you are not going ] am not the
sort of cur who would let you com
NIT suicife just. because you have
taken 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
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. If you want to go
back to Bob Meager, all right. I'll
tnlle you to him, and we're done But
when you talk of my turning you loose
In this desert, TO take your chances
pQt there alone, l am the wrong kind
Of man for any such job. You can
hate me all you please, but we stick
together until l get you where there
are white folks"
81 believe l do hate your
L.
you do what l tel: you to do?"
He had spoken quickly, almost
harshly, and the tone Of command had
aroused Deborah's resentment. The
two wills clashed, and neither would
give way or seek compromise Deep
down in her secret heart bit of faith
In this Daniel Kelleen yet fingered
but she was in no mood then to ac-
knowledge it. He was threatening
her; trying to frighten her; endeavor-
ing to force her into his power, and
she resented it immeasurably.
mo, will not she said sharply.
Take your hand off my bride rein ~
She struck her mount suddenly, and
the startled animal sprang forward
whirling sidewise from the blow, ca
reening against the flank of Kelleen's
horse as it swept swiftly past The
next instant the wild race was on
through the black night. She rode
Ill n