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

tengLn.
Scott, lifting his eyes, answered
with a broader smile and another
question: "Got any money!
No inquiry could have surprised
Selwood more. "Not a whole lot" he
confessed with abating interest. SLOW
much do you want?"
"Two thousand dollars"
Selwood took 1t for a joke. swell,
I'm broke just at present; but If it's
coming to you, you'll get it. What do
you want with two thousand dollars"
1--WE got man down below the
barn you been wanting to see."
"Whos the man I mant to- see?"
asked Selwood, with only moderate
interest.
''The old padre"
Carpy was slowing his instruments
away in his bag. He looked up with
an exclamation of establishment. Sell
wood regarded Scott searchingly.
"You mean the old padre l wanted
to see?' Scott nodded. .a
Selwood, who had taken chair,
rose to his feet. and with one hand
picked up his coat to throw over his
shoulders. eScOtt helped him. where
in thunder did the old padre turn
up?" asked Carpy.
"McAlpin passed him on the Gala
basas trail about an hour ago. when
he was bringing in Dave. He had a
couple of Gunlocks with him." Scott
so designated the Indians from Gun
lock reservation. "McAlpin told me
he met a black-robe and that he was
on his way up here and going to
camp along the river. So rode down
there and talked with his guides.
They told me they had very ,,old
black-robe along. So talked to
him. They're heading for the Black
feet country. I saw the big fire in the
sky he told me, and said to my
men the new town is burning; many
people are in distress. We will go
there before we start up the riverr
II held my lantern into his face"
continued Scott. "He is the same man
whose picture. you had in your room
up at the hall. And 1 told him there
was white man here wanted to see
him. And to go to fhe horse barn If
it wasn't burned. But he said he
would camp down by the river. He's
there"
If there was a surprise for Carpy
in the recital there was greater one
awaiting him in Selwood's reception
Of it. For a moment Selwood did not
speak. When he did. Carpy stood
open-eyed. well" said Selwood
deliberately. "If you've got the man.
the money is coming to you-when
can dig it up. But don't hold him on
my account--I don't care about see
ing him."
Carpy was well nigh speechless
with amazement. "What ~ he ex-
claimed, recovering his breath.
"'Don't care about seeing him?'
Man." he cried. "Don't want to see
the man-if it is the man-that's got
your whole story? Have you lost your
senses?" 1J
Selwood. standing unmoved, parted
the attack with stubborn Indifference.
He felt that Christie had cast him off
what did name, good or bad. mean
to him now? But he would say not
one word, and Doctor Carpy. unable
to stir him with eloquent reproach,
in the end lost his own temper. Here
after all these years." he protested,
''that blamed old martinez Roper has
been running over you, and you get
chance to nail him, by Jing, you
won't take the trouble to do it!
"All right. I'll do 1t myself" the
doctor exclaimed. II won't let that
old buck run over me any longer.
Bob" continued the incensed surgeon.
pointing his finger at Scott, "hold on
to your back-robe and his redskins.
If we can't find anything else for
breakfast. bring 'em up here for cup
O. coffee, anyway" And with Selwood
staring at the wall, and the half
breed grinning perplexed, Carpy
flung out of the room.
In the gloom of the hall, Carpy.
still exasperated by Selwood's OBJ
stinacy and talking resentfully to
himself, almost ran into Christie, a
pathetic figure. he thought. waiting
for a chance to speak to somebody.
AS he stopped with an apology, she
seemed encouraged, for she stepped
close to him. "Doctor!" she ex-
claimed, In a frightened whisper, lis
Mr.. Selwood terribly hurt?"
Carpy laughed as he looked into
her appealing eyes-one of those re-
assuring laughs that would bring life
and hope to dying man. Christie"
he murmured, there's more the mat
ter with that fellow than just Star
bucks slashing. think" continued
the doctor, cycling her with signif-
icant expression, "that If you'd talk
you could tell-better than anybody
else-what's a-matter with him.
Christie, you're a fine GIRL good
enough for the best. or I wouldn't
talk to you so plain. But you're In
love with John Selwood and he's in
love with you. There, there! l didn't
mean to make you cry, child"