The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-06-17

moment tell you, l must talk to
him alOne--nOw."
1t was impossible not to acknowl-
edge her extremity. Carpy reopened
Selwood's door. He spoke to Parda-
loe and Scott. look here, boys" he
said, reckoning with his head, "both
of you. Step out here minute. Meg
wants to talk to John, private"
Selwood, cleaned up and brushed
up as decently as he could be with
his bandaged arm and hands. stood
before the table preparing to go to
the barn. He was buckling on his
cartridge belt; his coat was thrown
over his shoulder. Hearing Marga-
ret's footsteps. he looked around. One
glance revealed the agony in her
face. He laid unlighted on the table
cigarette that Scott had rolled for
him, and spoke. "What is it, Marga-
ret?" He pointed to chair. You're
not hurt?"
Looking at him like one dumb with
emotion, she sat down. When she
spoke, she had already forgotten the
question he had just asked. "Mr. Sell
wood"
He interrupted her. He had taken
his revolver up from the table and
was slowly slipping cartridges back
into the cylinder. "Since when," he
demanded with goOd-natured uncon-
Germ, did l stop being Just plain
'John'?"
"Never. to me-never," she said
brokenly. "But tonight I come to beg
my life at yodr housekeeping, pray
ing you won't deny me. Let me tell
you what l mean-tell you my story.
I was married ten years ago, when
was eighteen. Oh, yes" she said,
to cut off his surprise. 81 know how
old 1 look-troubIe has done that.
For three years l had the best hus-
band in the wOrld-kind. considerable,
devoted. His friends persuaded him
to go into politics. They elected him
city treasurer of the little town where
we lived in Michigan. That was his
undoing: 1t meant being out nights.
being good fellow, drinking, spend
ing. wasting.
1T lasted two years. And during
that time fell sick. I was very sick,
a long time, and he did everything
he could in the world to care for me
to relieve me. l cost him so much,
OH so much for doctors-mOre than
| wanted him to spend; but he would
try everything that gave US the least
hope. He said l should have the best
care, and he gave it literally, extrav-
agantly, to me. Then-One night he
come home. He had been drinking"
She stopped an instant.> ''It was the
first time in my life. John, l had seen
him in drink" she went on. "He told
me that night his accounts were short
that the next day his books would
be examined; that he must face the
penitentiary-or run away"
In her agony she sat. now twisting
and clasping her fingers. now her
hands; now looking at the floor, now
looking at Selwood imploringly-he
words wrung from her reluctant lips.
"When he told me that" she faltered
on, Il was frightened. l was so weak
that night! And l was wicked. told
him to go, John-to go at once. But
to write me- And that when he found
some safe place far away in the
West, l would join him."
Selwood only looked at her-not
unfeelingly. but as one who could
say nothing because he knew of moth
ing to say. Margaret moistened her
parched lips. He never wrote me-"
she said, in a low, hard voice; ''if he
did, never got the letter. made up
my mind he must have been hurt, or
killed. and that would find out, or
find him, myself. And after weary,
weary months of search did find my
husband-here-in Sleepy Cat"
Her eyes had dropped from her lis
tener's eyes. Her head hung. Her
voice fell still lower. HE was not
hurt, nor dead. But worse for me
his feellng-for me-was dead. He
cared nothing for me-nothing-"
But you." interposed Selwood cold
ly, you cared for him. It's an old
story. Well, what then?"
Il stayed here while he was here;
then went to Thief River to be near
him-nOt chasing him, not bothering
him-hoping sometime to repay him
for his old goodness to. me. But he
had chosen bad company. and through
drink was going from bad to worse
can't excuse him for the evil. But
know there is good in my husband
I've come to you to plead for his life."
ITO me?" echoed Selwood, mildly
astonished. "Why to me? What's his
name?"
1t took all her courage to speak.
He doesn't use his real name here"
she said in strained. broken tones
you wouldn't know 1t If mentioned
it.. He is known here-as Cliff Star
buck"
''Starbuck
She heard the name blurted> out in
hateful amazement. With dry, de-
spairing eyes she watched the pas
sionless features before her harden
into the cold refusal thar she sav