The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-03
q. sGEGEH!A a !''E
49, ss Rex Beach
Published by vsnssmra,
CHIApTER Nil. continual

away frptu the group with which
he had been drinking and made for
the door.
VITA sinking heart the giri watch
ed him go. After a moment she
rusa and followed ham out into the
night She was surprised 20 DIS.
cover that tho mud under foot had
fruzan and that the north wind
bore a burden Of fine, hard snow
particles. Keeping well out OF
sight. she stumbled to another ga,
loun door, and then. after shtyerlng
wretchcdIy outside for a while. she
stois in and crept up behind tho
stove
There were several hauk,notcs OF
lArge denomination ON tho plank
hartop and sam Kirby was watch,
ing cast u dice when his daugh,
ter approached: therefore he did not
see her. Nor dd he turn Ibis head
when she laid hand upon hts Hrui-
IL was quite natural that the fell
low with whom Kirby was gam.
bling should Interpret her effort 20
claim attention as an attempt 10 In.
tsrrupt the game, and that he
should misread the meaning OF her
impIoTing look.
"Nons OF that SISTER he warned
her You set out Of here"
sam Kirby turned, the dice-box
poised in his right hand
"Eh2 What's that?'' he queried.
vaguely.
I'm talking to this plnkfaeed
guid-digger--
you said that to-herT'' Kirby
sasped in amazement. To my kidg''
There was a moment OF tense ST.
lence during which tho speaker ap-
peared 10 be numbed by the insult.
then. by Godr'
Rouletta uttered faint moan
and flung herself at her father:
with a strength born OF terror she
chung 10 hts right wrist In this
she was successful. despite old
Sans effort 10 shake her on. but
could not imprison both his arms,
Kirby stepped forward. dragging the
gtri with him; he raised that wick.
ed artificial left hand and brought
il sweeping downward. and for a
second time that day the steel shaft
met flesh and bone.
-Hs inSulted my kid-my girl
LettyF' Kirby muttered. hoarSely.
When the fallen man had been
lifted TO his feet and hurried out
Of the saloon old Sam tried his best
to follow. but his cnptors held him
fast
Il didn't want anything 20 hap
pen" The girl spoke llstlessly.
Kirby began TO rumble again. but
she interrupted him. 1T wasn't the
mans fault. IL was a perfectly
natural mistake on his part, and
I've learned TO expect such things.
lin sick. dad. You must find
. place for me. quick"
Sam AGREED readily enough. The
hitting cold OF the wind met them
AZ the door. Rouletta summoning
what strength she could. trudged
along at his side. II did not take
them long TO canvass the town and
10 discover that there were no
lodgings TO DO had Rouletta halted
finalIy. explaining thru teeth that
chartered:
'T-I'm frozenl Take me back
where there's a stoye-back TO the
aaloon--an anywhere. Only do 1t
quickly"
''Pshaw. It isn't cold" Kirby pro-
tested. mildly.
The nature OF this remark showed
more plainly than anything he had
said or done during tho evening
that the speaker was not himself
Looks like we'd have to make
the best OF It and stay awake till
morning tho father went on.
duly.
mo. mol I'm too sick" the girl
sobbed. "and too cold. Leave me
where l can keep warm: then go
lind the Countess and--ask her to
put me up"
Returning to their starting. point
Kirby saw to his daughters COM
A0lN d1 bFIE lA9 Nt3hAAs 1AkHk nHAtAt
he wandered out in the night once
more.
No one. on seeing him thus. would
have suspected that he was drunk;
no walked straight. his tongue was
otedient. and he was master Of his
physical powers 10 deceptive de,
gree. only in his abnormally alert
and feyerish eyes was there a sign
that his brain was completely
crazed.
Rouletta waited for a long while,
and steadily her condition grew
worse. Her fever was high now: she
was nauseated. listless: her chest
ached and her breathing troubled her
when she was conscious enough 70
think.
Unmindful OF his daughters need
needless Of the passage Of time. Sam
Kirby ioitered about the saloons and
waited patiently for the coming OF q
certain man After time he bought
some chips and sat In a poker game
but he paid less attention TO the spots
on his cards than to the door thru
which men came and went. These
latter he eyed with the unbllnhins
stare Of a serpent.
Pierce Phillips life was ruined. He
was sure OF II.
Yes, the Countess Courteau wa,
heartless. but also that when he hac
managed TO reconcile himself to thai
wrong she had lacked the courage t.
meet him halfway. There were but
TWO explanations Of her action
she was weak and cowardly or else
she did not love him. Neither az
forded much consolation.
From q tent saloon near by came
the sounds Of singing and Of laugh
ter. and thlther he turned his steps
When he entered the place a llvely
scene greeted him. Somehow or Other
small portable organ had been Sc.
cured. and at this a bearded fellow
in mackinaw coat was seated. III
was playing a spirited accompanl
fnent for two women, sisters, evident