The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-01-17

at a woman's house named Doll Baker
on Brickbat alley. He is sick and
wants me to come. Mr.. Hopkins got
a letter from him askiD' him to come,
bein' his old classmate, so he went last
night and wrote back to me this morn
ing. Pore Ken, | guess he is awful
proud, and he is so sick. Mr.. Hopkins
thought he better not tell him nothing
about father. He don't want me to tell
nobody, and to come alone. But
would of told you, for I know you wont
tell, but 1 saw you going up in the
woods this morning, so l wrote you this
note. o, Jack, amt you glad.
"TEXIE."
He crammed the letter into the en-
velope, thrust it into the pocket of hrs
blouse and turned back across the
yard; stopped, and glanced around at
the woman
"She had t. go and look after some
business" he said. 81 low I'll ride in
and hep 'er'-he pondered a moment /;
went on-"and / reckon you better
stay at Aunt Liza's, as she said. I'll
be back t'night-sometime-but it may
be late"
The woodsman probably never Gov
cred the distance to the barn as quick
ly as he covered it that day. The
words: eff she's there" that had so
puzzled the pair in the old cabin-as
well as the man at the chink-fared
clear as the midday sun. Hopkins-it
was his last desperate move-a nov
totally unforeseen. His intentions to-
ward the girl had been foul from the
first. That he would make some at
tempt to rob the safe was to be expect
ed-had been expected. But this
He buckled IN his spurs bridled and
saddled Graylock with a feverish haste
that walked the mettle of the good
horse. When he led him out, Mrs. Cur
ry was waddling across the barn-lot.
In the tense moment he had forgot
ten that his haste must be causing her
no small wonder.
Eyes, I low I'll ride in and find 'er,"
he ventured, land bring 'er back t.
Observation-Disclosures you better go on
t. Aunt Liza's anyhow, FIR fear it'll be
late, and Wen come and git y'u."
He saw that the attempt at reassur-
ance-an attempt that cost him NJ lit
tle-had failed. The good housekeep-
er's face twisted quite beyond her con-
troll her apron went up to her eyes.
ooh, Jack" she sobbed, "I'm plum
fuster'd. Las night Brother Hopkins
left without leavin' no word, and now
Texie's gone"
The man turned and feigned to ad-
just the saddle girth. A woman's
tears-the big woodsman was utterly
helpless. He glanced back at the
heaving apron.
"NOw, Mis- Curry, don't be fluster'd.
She's all right" He hesitated. "Them
two facts amt no ways-connected,"
he finally muttered, knowing only too
well that they were. 1.-THE parson
more'n likely went" in after some more
books, pears like he must "a gone
through all them e had, and Texie-
I'll hunt 'er up this afternoon and ride
home with 'er." He gazed hard to-
ward the village. 81 don't b1ieve, If
I was you, I'd leave the house till after
dark, and I wouldn't mention she's
gone-only t. Aunt Liza and Uncle
Nick"
The apron came down from the trou-
bled face and the housekeeper began
to dry her eyes. The woodsman turned
away; stopped; turned back.
"One questionable she take 'er re-
volver with ERR"
"W'y, no." was the wondering an
swer-"why?"
81 didn't low she would a."
The words came over his shoulder
as he threw the bride rein into the
hollow of his arm and strobe away
down the barn-lot. He flung the gate
open, sprang to the saddle and Gray
lock was off like a bird on the wing
twenty miles of dust and flying sand
toward the dim spired gateway that
led out into another world.