The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-05-15

up to him from under her long lashes
let her eyes stray far out across the
bottoms toward Alpine island. pore
Reni Hopkins met me up the road
and told me he was sick on the boat
didn't know Hopklns-then-"
II did-and l knowed Br!ckbat al
ley. That's why rode after y'u the
minute got y'ur note. Hopkins was .
bad man. but we've already talked
about him. and what boone OF him.
All that money he stofd tuck away
from I'm at the parsonage the evening
OF the-funeral. and drove I'm out o.
Flatwoodx. That's why he went. and
all that stun he told y'u about-Ken
was fist lies. I've got all that money
bid. and Wen put II back in the safe
as soon as you're able Z open H."
The eyes came back from the distant
point where Alpine island split the sill
yer rim OF the bottoms.
Il know now that what he said was
all lies. but didn't then. AS soon as
got on the boat saw-Ken wasn't
there but Hopkins locked the door and
wouldn't let me OF. And such cabin
as that house-boat had-tight as a jail.
lie made all the apologies a man could
f'r raisin' false hopes about-Ken. and
told me he'd done Il all rr my own
good. Then he told me there was two
men piannln' to rob the safe that night
and he'd brung me on the boat Z git
me out O. danger"
she paused; looked at the man;
went on.
''He said he was goin' Z git you Z
hep i'm and you'd both watch the
house. and after the danger was over
you'd come and bring me home. lie
said one o. the robbers would be Slim
Finger Doolin, the most dangerous pls-
tol fighter In the world. asked I'm
how e found II all ous-not KNOWN
then that he 'imself was Slim Finger
Doolin-but he said he'd rather tell
me all about II next day. From that
minute | was afeard OF him. though he
was as polite and respectful to me as
e could be. short OF lettin' me 60"
She felt the eyes OF the woodsmau
upon her. He looked away and she
went on.
"From that minute mistrusted he
was one o. the robbers. though I never
let on. and as soon as he was gone I
tried all I could Z git out ] was
afear'd"-she looked down at the blan-
ket; crumpled a corner OF II hard In
her hngers-"you might chance Z
hear 'em, and knowed II y'u did you'd
fight and / was half wild rr fear
they'd kill y'u. Oh. II I'd only knowed
II was you that moved the boatl-
Jack why didn't y'u let me OUT
The man stared at the floor and
twisted his great hands TIL the
knuckles turned white.
Cd" he groaned-''if only Ind |
But thought you'd be safest there. II
was the worst mistake ever made In
my life-that and lettin Hopkins
preach Pap Simon's-funeral, but |
didn't have no good proof on i'm
then"
The girl glanced at HIS bowed form.
The tick Of the tall old clock In the
corner throbbed loud on the silence;
through the open window came the call |
Of crows flying heme.
1T was away In the night" the girl /
went on NJ last, thoughtful and slow,
'b1ore finiy got out by bsatin' hole
IN the roof with a stove leg. swum
ashore and run home as fast az could.
I'd jist got in the yard whes l saw you
l-standln' there by the winder. Then
.ome that shot and thought Slim Fin
yer Doolin had-ki'led y'u. I don't
Enow what happened after-that--"
after that" the man echoed. his
'oice low and broken. we've all ben
ryln' 10 coax the bravest aud mos
wonderful girl In the world back TO
ife."
Life" she murmured, as II the
word came new and strange 70 her
lfter being so fearfully close TO death.
oh, ! want so much Z have II all back
gin"
"And y'u shall have II becki" the
nan cried. catching the appeal In her
dice. "You've got II now. Every
reath brings the woods and bills. the
unshine and flowers. fist that much
you're as good as well
his very minute"
The smile IN her eyes came alive
gain. stole cut over her face and
rought back a heartening suggestion
( the dimples.
BY some intangible bridge MI unseen
I human eyes. the smile found Its
ray across 70 the mans grave and seri-
Us face. kindled it--like The CLINT Of
Forming upon the front Of Black rock.
He picked Up her hand touched the
aided orchid In her palm.
Il low y'u aln't rrgot the day we
found it,"
He felt the twitch OF her fingers
Il tried & ask y'u t.-promise me-
rat day-rm askin' y'u t-promiss
le-now-"
II was the biggest word be had ever
aid In bis life. Much Ike q man who
nd committed a crime and awaited
Is sentence. BE raised bis bead: ven
lred 4 ri1nce az the girl.