The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-04-24

women for killing men like that Teller
over there. Like as not you'll be set
free in no time at all. All you've got
to do Is to tell the truth about how 1t
happened and that'll be all there is
to it"
You're lyin' to me. Jest to git me
to 60 along quiet" she quavered, but
there was a new light in her eyes.
I'm not lying. You will have to
stand trial. Of course-you understand
that. don't youf-but there isn't
Jury on earth that would hang you.
We don't do that kind of thing to
women. Now you 60 along with Mrs.
9wyn and do what she says-and you
can tell me all about this after a
while"
"rll wash, but hain't got no more
Clothes" muttered the girl.
1--WE will manage somehow" said
Mrs. Gwyn. Zone Of the men will
give you a coat-or you may have my
cape to wear, Moll."
Moll looked at her in surprise.
Again she said the unexpected thing
"Why, everybody says you air mighty
onfeelin' woman, Mis- Gwyn. l can't
believe you'd let me take your cape"
"You will see, my girl. Come |
Show me where to find water and
comb and"
"Wait minute" said Moll abrupt.
ly. "Somehow I amt as skeert as
wuz. You're shore they won't hang
hat % l. "a
hate to dleathat-away, mister"
"They won't hang you, Moll-take
my word for it."
swell, them" said she, bringing for
ward the hand she had been holding
behind her back all the time; "here's
the knife l done it with. It's his'n
He was braggin last night about how
many gullets he had slit with i'll
mean mems gullets. i wuz jest sort
o. hangin' onto it in case but
don't believe l ever could a done It.
'Tain't case I'm afsared to die but
they say a person that takes his own
life is shore to 60 to h-l-'ca'se he
don't git no chance fer to repent. Take
it, mister"
She handed the big sheath-knife to
the sheriff. Then she followed Rachel
Carter out of the hut, apparently un-
conscious Of the curious eyes that fol-
lowed her. She passed close by the
corpse. She looked down at the ghast-
ly face and twisted body without the
slightest trace of emotion-neither
droad nor ropu0p o moo nor iptaroot ha
yond curious narrowing of the eyes
as IL one searching for some sign of
trickery on the part of willy adver-
sary. On the way out she stopped to
pick up a wretched, almost toothless
comb and some dishrags.
II guess we better go down to the
river" she said as they stepped out
into the open. "'Tain't very fer, Mrs.
Gwyn, an the waters cleaner. Haint
no danger of me tryin' to git away"
she went on. with feeble grin as her
eyes swept the little clearing, reveal
ing armed men In all directions. Her
gaze rested for moment on Martin
Hawk, who was staring at her from
his seat on stump hard by.
There's my pap over yonder." she
said, with a scowl. Hes the one that
ort to be strung up fer all this. He
didn't do 1t, but he's to blame, just
the same. They amt got him rested
fer doin' II, have they? Case he
didn't. He'll tell you he's as innocent
as unborn child-he allus does-an
he is as fer as the killin' goes. But
eff he'd done what wuz right hit never
would al happened. Thet's whut
got ag'inst him."
Rachel Carter was looking at the
strange creature with an interest moi
far removed from pity. Despite the
sullen. hang-dog expression she was
rather handsome girl wild, untutored,
almost untamed she was, and yet not
without certain diffidence that be
spoke better qualities than appeared
on the surface. She was tall and
strongly built. with the long, swing
ing stride Of the unhampered woods
woman. Her young shoulders and
back were bent with the toll and
drudgery of the life she led. Her
eyes, In which lurked a never-abseni
CLEAN Of pain, were dark, smoldering,
deep set and so restless that one
could not think of them as ever being
closed In sleep.
The girl led the way down narrow
path to little sand-bar.
81 20 In swimmin' here every day,
'cept when it's froze over" she vol.
unteered DULY. "Hain't you skeert
at the sight o. blood, ma'am? Some
people air. We wuz figgerin' on whuth'
er we'd dig n grave fer him or jest
pull out yonder into the current an
drop him over. Pap said we had to
git rid of him fore anybody come
around. Men the dogs begin to bark
an he thought mebby 1t wuz Mr.. La
pelle, so he-say, you mustn't get Mr.
Lapelle mixed up in this. He"
Il know all about Mr.. Lapelle'
Moll," interrupted the older woman.
The girl gave her sharp. almost