The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-01

ouSes told her about me- She WIN
Keep the secret. Go and see the sheriff.
at once. He will tell you all that has
happened"
linen sne strode off without another
word. He watched the tall, black fig
ure until it turned in at the gate and
was iost to view, a sort of stupefaction
gripping him. Presently he aroused
himself and walked slowly homeward.
AS ne passed through his own gate
he looked over at the windows of the
room in which Viola had sought Sc
clusion. The curtains hung limp and
motlonless. He wondered what was
taking place inside the four walls of
that room.
Out OF the maze into which his
thoughts had been plunged by the swift
procession of events groped the new
and disturbing turn in the affairs of
Rachel Carter. What was back of the
untold story of the Staying of Jasper
Suggsf What were the circumstances :?
Why had Moll Hawk killed the mar? ?
Had Rachel Carter figured directly or
indirectly in the tragedy? He recalled
her significant allusion to Isaac Stain
the night before and his own rather
startling inference-and now she was
asking him to help Moll Hawk in her
hour Of tribulation. A cold perspira-
tion started out all over him. The
question persisted: What was back
of the Staying of Jasper Suggs?
He gave explicit and peremptory d.
rections to Zachariah in case Mrs.
Gwyn asked for him, and then set out
briskly for the courthouse.
By this time the news of the mur-
der had spread over the town. A
crowd had gathered in front Of Scud-
dsr's undertaking establishment.
Knots Of men and women, disregard
Ing traffic, stood in the streets adjoin-
Ing the public square. listening to
some qualified narrator's account of
the nights expedition and the tragedy
at Martin Hawks.
Kenneth hurried past these crowds
and made his way straight to the Of
fice of the sheriff. Farther down the
street group of people stood in front
Of the sheriff's house, while in the VI
cinity Of the little Jail an ever-increas-
ing mob was collecting.
A friend espied him. I've been over
to your office twice, young man." he
announced as he came up. "Where
the devil have you been keepin' your
self? Mrs. Gwyn left word for you to
come right up to her house. She
wants you to take charge of the
Hawk girls case. Maybe you don't
know 1t, but you've been engaged to
defend her.
Kenneth accompanied the sheriff to
the latter's home for an interview with
his client. He had promptly consent
ed to act as her counsel after hearing
the story of the crime from the sheriff.
After considerable persuasion on
the part of the sheriff and his kindly
wife, Moll repeated her story to
Gwynne. She was abashed before this
elegant young man. A shyness and
confusion that had been totally lack
ing in her manner toward the other
and older men took possession Of her
now, and 1t was with difficulty that
she was induced to give him the COM
plete details of all that took place in
her fathers cabin.
When he shook hands with her as
he was about to take his departure,
she suddenly found courage to say:
"Kin see you alone fer a couple of
minutes, Mr.. Gwynne?"
Certainly, Miss Hawk" he replied,
gravely courteous. "I am sure Mr.
and Mrs."
"Come right in the sitting room, Mr.
Gwynne," interrupted the housewife,
busting over to open the door.
Moll stared blankly at her counsel.
No one had ever called her Miss Hawk
before. She was not quite sure that
she had heard Alright Could 1t be pos
sible that this grand young gentle
man had called her Miss Hawk7 Still
wondering, she followed him out Of
the kitchen, sublimely unconscious Of
the ridiculous figure she cut in the
garments Of the older woman.
"Shut the door," she said, as her
keen, wood-wary eyes swept the room.
She crossed swiftly to the window and
looked out. Her lips curled a little.
Most Of them people has been stand
in out yonder sence nine o'clock, tryin'
to see what sort Of lookin' animal
am. Mr.. Gwynne. Hain't nobody got
any work to dor"
"vulgar curiosity. nothing more
said he, joining her at the window.
"Tafn't ever day they get chance
to see a murderer, 10 III" she said
lowering her head suddenly and put
ting a hand to her quivering chin. For
the first time she seemed on the point
Of breaking down.
He made haste to exclaim, "You are
not a murderer. You must not thinh
or say such things, Miss Hawk"
She kept her head down. A scarlet
wave crept over her face. IL wish
you wouldn't call me that Mr.
Gwynne. Hit-hit makes me feel kind
o-kind O. lonesome-like. Jest as
eff I didn't have no friends Call me
Moll. That's all / am"