The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-03-05

the gold?"
Railway writhed under the sting of
her contempt. "You were eavesdrop-
ping outside the house, d-n you y
Suddenly he changed his tone
Both !" he cried exultantly. "Pve got
the girl, and I've cached the gold near
here, where no one can find It,"
His rage broke out again. 1--WE had
enough of your tongue!" he cried.
'Ill have no spies in my camp. You
could put a rope around my neck with
what you know. BY God, Estelle, a
little common sense should tell you
you're playing with fire when you try
to cross me. I've never treated you
mean with money. You'll have enough
to live in comfort on for the rest of
your life if"
"What have you done with Ander-
SOM asked Estelle quietly.
"Anderson's where he'll cause no
further trouble"
you mean you-you killed him,
after-after your agreement"
On you, you heard that, did your"
shouted Railway, turning livid with
fear. mo, l didn't kill him, If you
want to know. He met with an ac-
cident.
"See here, Estelle," he continued,
you and me've got to work together
on this game and not try to cross n
another. Play fair with me and I'll
play fair with you. l want you to
make that girl act sensible. She's like
a tigress. Now you're an intelligent
woman. You know how I feel about
her, and quarrelling won't help mat
tiers. 1t won't last, and then I'll come
back to you"
Estelle drew her bands out of Rath-
ways grasp and placed them on his
shoulders, looking s%earchingly into his
face.
"Now, Jim, 1 want you just to lis
ten to me-" she said. you know
you've never gone wrong when you've
followed my advice. And 1 guess you
know I'm the only friend you've got
in the world, don't you, Jim?"
well, what if that's soT" he NUT
tered.
Il told you you'd made a mistake
in bringing that girl here before"
aye" he sneered, land you told
me old Pelly's mine didn't exist. And
I've got the gold! I've got the gold, ]
tell you'll !" he cried ex%ultantly.
81 was wrong, then, but that was a
matter of fact and not Of judgment.
Jim, you know this Is nothing but an
infatuation of yours. AS you said, it
won't last. And what are you going
to do with her afterward? You know
what it'll mean to you" Estelle was
pleading now. you know when Nc
Grath learns the truth, he'll raise the
whole country against you. Let her
go, Jim. What do you mean to do?"
"You know what I mean to do"
snarled Railway; but he could not
meet her gaze.
Estelle laid her hand on his arm.
"Jim, did you ever have pity on any
one in you life?" she asked.
ooh, maybe, when l was young and
foolish"
did vol ever feel respect for any
woman, JimT
"Ah, cut out that line Of talk, Els
telle! Don't try to ride the moral
horse when it's just plain jealousy
one female jealous of another. That's
all it is"
Its not, Jim. And you'll regret
what you're planning to do. Jim, II
feel you're slipping your neck into a
moose
He leaped back and swore violently
at her. "Cut out that talk, l tell your
he shouted, almost beside himself.
Jim, listen-just listen. l guess
I'm not what anyone would call a good
woman, but l was like that girl once,
and-I can't bear it, jim. Jim, I'll do
anything in the world for you if you'll
have pity on her. 1t may be there's
jealousy, too, but it's much more
much more for her sake-and for
yours"
Esteiie was working herself into one
of her historical frenzies.' Railway
grew crafty. 1t is not easy for a man
TO fool q woman, except when sic ID
in love with him. Then it isn't very
hard. And Estelle was desperately
eager to be deceived.
"See here, Estelle," said Pathway
gently, "you know if l let her go what
would happen. I've got to keep her
here till l know there's going to be
no come back. I've got TO see this
thing through. She'll come 10 no
harm at my hands"
Estelle looked at him eagerly. Jim,
you mean that?" she cried. you
swear that you mean tt?"
IT mean more than that. You
know me and you are partners,
through thick and thin, for a good while
now, though we've had our quarrels.
Well, I won't deny what you said