The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-10-16

~
She made a more to pass,
a
that Hut 20 fall IN her promise "a
pay-ah. that was sail 90 her spirit
However. II couldn't kill them. ahs
reasoned. no matter how bitter might
be their humiliation There was all
Ways another day. another year. Cor
work and hope. and there were atm
tho hogs They would bring AZ least,
enough for the winters food supply
Of flour and sugar, salt and tea.
She could not turn them In on ths
dcb,-thc trader must SEQ that
Cordoya Jay sleeping under q late
MONDAY sun when rhH rode into thr
end Of tho struggling street a frv
horses were tiod 20 the hitch rack IN
front Of tho storc and a halfduzrn
men louugcd on tho porch Nance
went hot and cold az sight Of th~m.
She had hoped all tho way down
that NeKans would bn alone Tor no
conversation inside tho store could
fail 20 BIZ audible on tho porch II
would bo hard enough 90 talk 20 him
without an Interested audience.
She felt terribly alien. as u these
people were allied against her. and
yet sho could not discern among the
loungers anyone from Say line,
As she drew near she ava 80 with
grateful thrill tina, Sheriff Price
sslwood sat tiitrd back against the
door jsinb. his feet on tho riuE o. his
chair A. sight Of him biz ~ the
distress iefi her a faint confidence
took To- place She remembered hls
Kindly eyes that could harden and
narrow 30 quickly hIa way o. under.
standing things and people
Shs dlsmnuutsd and tied Bucknkin
under a ,ruc and went forward. ~
she mounted tho steps the sheriff
looked up. rose and missed his hat
Nance smiled AZ him more crate.
fully than she knew
Then aho stepped inside tho door
and came face 20 face with Kats
Cathrew who was Just coming out.
McKano was behind her carrying a
small sack which held her mail and
some few purchases.
The two women stopped instantly.
their eyes upon each other.
II was the firut time they had met
thus pointsily
A. algh, % this woman whose IN
proved, hidden workings had mrant
50 much 10 her. Nance Alllsou's face
went slowly white.
She stood stili in the door. straight
and quiet. and looked At her In
silence.
AZ tho prolonged intensity Of her
scrutiny Cattle Kate nung up her
head and smiled. a conscious. tnsoloui
action.
"it you don't want all tho door.
young woman" she said. please"
She made move 20 pass. but
Nance suddenly put out a hand.
There was an abrup, dignity IN the
motion, sort Of last stand authority.
y DO" snid tho girl. want Il all.
I have something 20 tell McKanc,
and you may as well hear T."
Tho lmperous face of Kate Cath.
rev flushed darby with tho rising
lido Of her temper.
Get - on, - of-that--door. she
said distinctly. but for once sha was
no, obcycd.
The big Girl standing on tho TIRES
hold looked over her head az the
trader. There was n little white line
pinchsd in at tho base OF Nanee's
nostrlis. her blue eyes were colder
and narrower than any one had ever
seen them In her lie.
"McKnne." she said clearly. 50 that
hushed listeners behind her caught
every syllable. you know what a
fight I've made 20 hold my own on
Samclssg since my father dicd--or
was killed You know how close 20
the wind I've sailed to cnt. Tor you've
sold me what we've had. And Two
always managed 10 keep even.
haven't r.
Yes" said the trader uneasily
UP til six months ago when had
10 80 In debt for a now harness or do
no work in my fields this spring. I
told you when bought Il. didn't I.
why I had 20 buy It7''
Yes" he snid again.
1T was because someone went into
my barn one night and cut tho old
harness into ribbons That put me
In debt 70 you for the first time"
She stopped and wet her lips There
was tho sound Of someone rising on
tho porch and Price Sclwood moved
in behind her.
E5hc felt him there and n thrill
went thru her. as II he had put IA
hand on her shoulder.
II told you when I bought II that
I'd pay you when my corn was ripe
that, II II went well, I'd have far
and away more than enough. Wen.
II went well-Bo we'll that / knew
E'HAFl ttg 4 u NNiltf bhA All'tiN tAiltA Uf
able 10 meet that debt and. live be-
side. This morning that field OF corn
WIS gone-tramped out--cut TO pieces
like my harness pounded into tho
dirt by band Of cattle that had
been driven--driven. you under.
stand-ovcr ever foot OF Il. There
wns n wide gap cut in the fence al
the upper end. That's all--but !
can't pay my debt 10 you"
She stopped and sharp silence fell.
Outside the store in the shade the
stallion Bluefire screamed and
stamped.
Kate Cathrew took quick ster
forward.
what for did you tell this drive
before meT' she snid whats II 70
meg
Nothing, I know" said Nance
maybe n laugh-maybo n hope. My
big flats on tho rivor'd feed a pretty