The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-01

coat belonging to one of the men .,d
wore a flmsy, deep-hooded bonnet tb,,
once had been azure blue. Her shoul.
ders sagged wearily, her back was
bent, her arms lay Imply upon her
knees. She was staring bleakly before
her over the horses ears, at the road
ahead. The reaction had come. She
had told the story of the night. halt
ingly but with graphic integrity
that left nothing to be desired.
Martin Hawk had spent a black
and unhappy hour. He was Obliged TO
listen to his daughters story and
much to his discomfort, was not per-
mitted to contradict her in any par.
dcular. Two or three mournful at.
tempts to reproach her for lying
ABOUT her own-and, he always added,
her only-father, met with increasing.
ly violent adjurations to shut up,"
the last one being so emphatic that
ne gave vent to sharp howl of pain
and began feeling with his tongue to
see If all his teeth were there.
1t was after eight o'clock when the
wagon and Its escort entered the out
skirts Of the town.
Martin Hawk was lodged in the re-
Gently completed brick Jail adjoining
the courthouse. He complained bitter
ly OF the injustice that permitted his
daughter, confessed murderess, to
enjoy the hospitality Of the sherifrs
home, whilst he. accused of nothing
more heinous than sheep-stealing, was
hung into jail and subjected to the fur
ther indignity of being audibly de-
scribed as fit subject for the whip
ping post, an institution that still pre-
vailed despite general movement to
abolish 1t throughout the state.
1t CALLED him to hear the fuss that
was being made over Mol. Everybody
seemed to be taking her part. Why
that Gwyn woman not only went so
far as to say she would be responsible
for Molrs appearance in court, but ac-
tually arranged to buy her lot of new
clothes. And the sheriff patted her on
the shoulder and loudly declared that
the only thing any judge or jury could
possibly find her guilty of was criminal
negligence in only half-doing the job.
This was supplemented by look that
left no doubt in Martins mind as to
just what he considered to be the neg
lected part of the job.
He bethought himself of the one
powerful friend he had in town-Bar-
ry Lapelle. So he sent this message
by word of mouth to the suspected
dandy:
I'm in Jail. l want you to come
and see me right off. l mean busl-
ness"
Needless to say, this message, con-
veying far from subtle threat, was a
long time in reaching Mr.. Lapelle, who
had gone into temporary retirement at
Jack Trentman's shanty, having ar
rived at that unsavory retreat by a
roundabout, circuitous route which al
lowed him to spend some time on the
bank of a sequestered brook.
Meanwhile Rachel Carter approached
her own home, afoot and weary. AS
she turned the bend she was surprised
and not little disturbed by the sight
of Kenneth Gwynne standing at her
front gate. He hurried up the road to
meet her.
1.-THE worst has come to pass" he
announced. stopping in front Of her.
Before you 90 in must tell you just
what happened here this morning.
Come in here among the trees where
we can't be seen from the house."
She listened impassively to his story
Only the expression in her steady. un'
swerving eyes betrayed her inward con
Germ and agitation. Not once did she
interrupt him. Her shoulders, he OBJ
served, dropped little and her arms
hung Imply at her side, mute evidence
of sinking heart and the resignation
that comes with defeat.
"I am ready and willing" he assured
her at the end, ito do anything. to say
anything you wish. 1t is possible for
us to convince her that there is no
truth in what he said. We can lie
She held up her hand. shaking her
head almost angrily. mol Not that,
Kenneth. / cannot permit you to lie
for me. That would be unspeakable.
1 am not wholly without honor. There
is nothing you cnn do for her-for
either of us at present. Thank you
for preparing me-and for your offer,
Kenneth. Stay away from us until
you have had time to think 1t all over.
Then you will realize that this gener-
GUS impulse of yours would do more
harm than good. Let her think what
she will of me, she must not lose her
faith in you, my boy"
"But-what of herr" he expostulat.
ed. What are you going to say to
her when she asks you"
''I don't know" she interrupted, life
lessly. II am not good liar. Kenneth
Gwynne. Whatever else you may say
or think of me, IL have never wilful-
ly lied"
She started away, but after few
steps turned back to him. Jasper
Suggs is dead. Mol Hawk killed him