The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-08


. been uncommunicative and, when
Selwood hove in sight, left Barbanet
unceremoniOusly and drew Selwood
aside.
Il want to explain things a little,
john" said the big fellow. "This
sneak"--he nodded toward Barbanet,
who, left alone. was walking up the
steps into the stOre-"is up here try
ing to pump me about who was in
the party; he didn't get anything.
What want to say to you is this:
/ want in no way mixed up in this
scheme to rob Fyler. l had some
goods Of my own in there and stayed
with them fellows so as not to get
robbed, myself. I've got no money,
John-you know that. It's come easy.
so easy. Last night 1 fred no gun
and hit no man. That's all, John.
Right is right. amt 1t. John? M
you know the facts. helped the girl
n the Indian and McAlpin get Fyler
up here early this morning-they'll
tell you that, too-they understood
the situation. And I want to tell
you, tween you M me-that man
Fyler amt hurt much. neither"
+ SelwOOd had no reason to doubt
Haynes story. II hold nothing
against you. Haynes. as far as I'm
concerned. And don't know rightly
what you're talking about. Somebody
at the hotel said there'd been a fight.
If any Of my men were mixed in 1t
and have injured anybody, they'll
lfave to make it right"
Barbanet came down the steps with
a satisfied smile on his face-a wise
smile, meant to ingratiate him with
the two men talking on the corner.
Nothing lacking in assurance, he ad-
dressed Selwood. THAT'S a nice girl
in there" He nodded back toward the
store. Selwood only looked at him in
silence, turned his back abruptly on
the impudent loafer and walked away.
Haynes nodded toward the store.
"Go slow on what you say about
anybody In there to SelwoOd, Harry"
SLOW sO?''
"They're friends of his"
Barbanet smiled anew. "She thinks
Selwood is a mining man. She and
her old man were talking about him
just now. asked whether she meant
Selwood the gambler. She said no,
she meant the mining mantle man
that runs the Russell and Wentworth
wagons. She don't know he runs the
place up the HILL" grinned Barbanet.
II guess from the way Mr.. Gentleman
John walked off just now, he wouldn't
like her to know he's gambler"
''I've got better guess than that {:
when he wants her to know it he'll
tell her himself"
"Wonder how he'd like me to tell
her?"
HE wouldn't like It,"
'Wonder how much it would he
worth to him for me not to tell herY'
Big Haynes was prompt In his
reply, and disinterested. "Not d cent
to him-not If l guess him right. But
before you cross his trail, Harry.
S0Hu lOE tAE DuLAuLuos tHCy Ic uuICb
workers and they'll make clean job
of you."
Selwood walked down street quite
unconscious of the corner talk behind
him. But he felt cheated out of his
visit and, feeling that he had a per-
fectly good excuse, made occasion to
walk around by FLYERS an hour later.
This time he found Christie alone
and behind the counter in the front
of the store.
Her face lighted when she saw him
coming up the steps. She had evident
ly been at work among the goods and
was still busy. Her face. already
flushed, seemed to deepen in color
under his gaze. and the slight 3isor-
der of her dress matched the pretty
.SYsAYsAY.AY.SVAYs NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.