The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-02-15
CHAPTER XII

Billie had been standing heal the
wall, inspecting a portrait Of the late
MFR. Josiah Appleby, of which the kind
est thing me can say is that II hopes
tt did not do him justice. She now
stirank back against this wall, as If
she were trying to get through it. The
edge of the portraits frame tilted her
hat out of the straight, but in this
supreme moment she did not even no.
.tice II.
~Er-how do you do?" she said.
nf she had not been an exceedingly
Fpretty girl, one would nave said that
she spoke squeakily. The fighting
spirit of the BENEFITS. though it was
considerable fighting spirit, had not
risen to this emergency. 1t had ebbed
out OF her, leaving in it's place q cold
spanic. She had seen this sort Of
thing iaSthe 9m~osies--there was one
series of pictures. 1.-The Dangers Or
DIANA" where something of the kind
had happened to the heroine in every
reel-but she had not anticipated that
III would ever happen TO her: and con-
'seqnently she had not thought but any
plan for coping with such a situation.
"A grave error. In this world one
Ashould be prepared for everything. or
where is one? The best she could do
was TO stand and stare at the intruder.
IL would have done Sam Marlowe good
he had now finished the synopsis
= and was Swimming through the current
y installnent--if he could have known
how she yetrned FOR his return.
I've brought the revolver" said
Mr.. Peters.
$3.50 | see - said Billie.
Mr.. Peters nursed the weapon affec-
%tionately in his hand. He was rather
q shy man with women as n rule. but
what Sam had told him about her be-
ting interested in his revolver had made
his heart warm TO this girl.
II was just IN my way TO have a
little practice at the range" he said.
"~Then / thought | might as well look
In here"
IL SUPPOSE suppose you're a good
/. shoty" quavered Billie.
) II seldom miss" said John Peters.
~1TnIe shuddered. Then. rejecting
r.hat the longer she engaged this ma
yniac In conversation the more hope
Nilere was Of Sam coming back in time
% save her. she assayed further small
talk.
"It's-it's very ugly" !.
~rOh, no !" said Mr.. Peters, hurt.
Billie perceived that she had said
the wrong thing.
avery deadly looking. meant" she
corrected herself hastily.
cit may have deadly work TO do,
Miss Milliken," said Mr.. Peters.
Conversation languished again.
Billie had no further remarks to make
Of Immediate interest. and Mr.. Peters
was struggling with a return of the
deplorable shyness which so handi-
capped him in his dealings with the
other sex. After a few moments, he
pulled himself together again, and, as
MS first act was TO replace the pistol
In the pocket Of his coat. Billie became
conscious of a faint stirring of relief.
"The great thing" said John Peters,
els TO learn To draw quickly. Like
this" he added. producing the re-
.volver with something of the smooth
ness and rapidity with which Billie, In
happier moments. had seen conjurers
take a bowl OF gold fish out Of a tall
chat. Everything depends on getting
,fho frsf shot The first shot. Miss
.Milliken. is vital"
Suddenly Ellie had an Inspiration.
n was hopeless, she knew, to try to
convince this poor demented creature.
obsessed with his 'idee fxe," that she
was not Miss Millikcn. Denial would
be a waste of time. and might ever
-sfwiste him Into precipitating the