The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-15
CHAPTER vIl-Continued


-
Selwood, once started, warmed to
the subject. at isn't nonsense.
You're the first one ever saw in my
life"
I wish you please wouldn't make
fun of mew protested Christie meek
ly; but, in matter of fact, not I'M
happy in her embarrassment.
"All my life, since l ran away from
home"
She opened her eyes. did you run
away from homer"
II never had home, rightly speak
ing, but I ran away from an uncle
l lived with. And ever since I've
lived on the frontier and seen nothing
but these poor, half-starved emigrant
wOmen-or worse. When l see any
body like you-T-why shouldn't l
help, IL 1 can? Christie, I'd do any
thing for you'll mean 1t. every word.
Just give me a chance to do things
for you. IF my own affairs were as
Strengthened out as most mems are''
he stammered-"I never would ask
anything more than the chance"-he
leaned toward her in his intensity.
Christie, frightened at what she had
aroused, stood with her eyes down
on her hands, clasped nervously be-
fore her on the counter.
-''to do everything for you," he
exclaimed.
Her heart beat tattoo. She
breathed fast in spite of herself. This
was a new tone in mans voice for
Christie, and she was afraid.
-''and kill any man that stepped
between us-do you hear, Christie?"
It was not hard to hear words such
as these words, but difficult to know
what to say. However, the simplest
answer was the best. "Yes," she
answered family.
''Look at me, Christie" he said
almost sternly. Christie summoned
up her courage. She raised her eyes.
Selwood's face was red to the tenn
pies. His eyes glowed. Her heart al
most stopped at their expression.
"Some time," he said in deadly ear
nest, I'm going to tell you every
thing; then-you'll be the judge,
Christie"
He walked down street with his
head thrown well back, and kept on
to the tent quarter for his daily visit
to Tracy.
Selwood found him much disturbed
He had just received a visit from an
unusual caller-Harry Barbanet, one
of his old-time enemies. Harry had
told him long story about Selwood's
uncalled-for meanness in cleaning At
kins and Bartoe out of FLYERS store.
threatened reprisals, and left the
sick man worried. Selwood made light
of the complaint, but Tracy took il
seriously. "What did you do it for?''
he asked with invalid peevishness 81
don't like to get that bunch stirred
up. What's the use?"
Selwood tried in vain to bring
Tracy around to his way of thinking.
Tracy was much upset that Selwood
should dip into quarrel not his
own. II dunno, John" he said at
last;i 81 don't guess you're fitted just
exactly for keeping out of other folks
rows. You amt that Kind, John.
You're too much Of a conference.-the
fellows that nicknamed you hit ii
about right. Oh, 1 know you don't
like 1t. / didn't used to like to be
called Smooth Dave Tracy, but they
had me right You're too much of a
gentleman-so you're fightin' all the
time with these river rats"
"'All the timer" echoed Selwood
Indignantly.
swell, good deal of the time,
Carpy tells me. But why stir up At
kins and Bartoe and Starbuck for
this man Fyler? What's he to your
Selwood squirmed but held his
peace.
II know, he's got girl"
Don't drag her name into it." ex-
~ claimed Selwood savagely.
Suppose they are robbing people,
Tracy went on, shifting ground in
stantly, "or shooting people-they
amt robbed you"
They've robbed my company" in
terrupted Selwood sharply; "that's
robbing me; they shot you. didn't
they? That's shooting me! What arc
you talking about?" he blurted out
in a rage. 81" A2
Tracy feebly put him OF. that's