The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-01
CHAPTER VI-Continued

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Hell be pretty sore tomorrow
morning. But that won't mean any
thing. Did Starbuck get those fellows
out of the store for your"
Little escaped Selwood. She turned
her face quickly to one side. mo"
she said, looking down, she did not
What's the matter?"
"I-he-"
"Well?"
"I'm afraid / can't explain. only
wish"-she spoke from the heart
Il might never see him again"
"Well," exclaimed Selwood, ''if
that's the situation / won't ask any
more questions. So he wouldn't do
anything?"
NO." blurted out Christie, now
angry at the recollection, mot I'M
less
UNLESS what?"
She clasped her hands. "Unless
I'd do something refused to do"
An expletive, like a pistol-shot, es-
capped the listener. 81 promised to
ask no more questions" said Sell
wood, but I've got to ask just one. Is
he fit to live-or isn't he?"
Frightened, she looked up. "I'm
making it worse and worse-I didn't
mean to-please don't be so terribly
angry. / see must say what hoped
might escape-he said he would help
father-if would marry him!"
Selwood did not laugh. His distress
was too evident. "And you refused?'
was all he said. "What did your
father say?"
That cut deep. Christie could only
hold the gambler to his word. you
said you wouldn't ask any more Ques-
tions," she replied simply; but she
had a turn of simplicity that was
silencing.
Selwood drew a breath. "Tm glad
/ happened back tonight, anyway.
Perhaps something can be done. Can
your father hear us here?"
Hes asleep"
"But he has ears. There's nothing
he might not hear, only I don't like
listeners. don't believe you're afraid
of me. Step over this way minute"
Selwood spoke when they stood to-
gether, away from possible caves
choppers. "Your father isn't hurt so
MUCH" he said quickly, that he might
not startle her. "But he can't very
well do this, so you must. The min
ute day breaks tomorrow morning be
dressed, leave this tent, and walk
straight to the store. You needn't
be afraid. You won't see anybody,
but you will be watche ], and safe,
from the minute you leave the tent
till you're back in 1t. When you get
to the store, If you see an Indian
sitting on the front steps, walk right
up to him and ask for the key to
the store. He'll give 1t to you. Ask
him to watch the store till you come
back after breakfast. He will. Then
get Carpy. early, at the hotel, and
have your father carried up to the
store on his cot. He'd better stay
; there day and highland you, too
till he's up!'
AS Christie listened, wave of con-
triton swept over her. She felt re-
buked. To have sighted such man
as these, words and this darkness re-
vealed Selwood to her. in favor of
a man such as she now realized Star
buck must be, was quite enough to
humble her.
She looked at him without answer
ing. Where he stood the big moon
lighted his face, for he had surren-
dered the shadow to her own.
"What," she asked, ''are you going to
do? hope you won't go into any
danger on my fathers account"
He suppressed a laugh. "Not as
much as I'm in now" 1t was fool
ish thing to say. He tried to hedge,
but, alarmed, she cut him off "What
do you mean? You've been far too kind
to us to get into any trouble for our
sakes only wish we were away
from here"
I'm willing to get into trouble If
you'll stay. I'd rather hunt for lit
tie than see you leave"
Christie tossed Off sense Of en-
barrassment. my leaving couldn't
possibly mean anything to-any one
in Sleepy Cat"
IF / could tell you what It would
mean to me you might change your
mind on that point" She regarded
MIN in the moonlight rather bravely
tn he had said that much. After
he sHoke she was silent-almost re-
49, $500 ----------- 49,