Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-10-11

80 -
sShe wouldn't leave without her
father" protested Carpy. defending
himself land the dashed old mule
wouldn't budge-I couldn't take her
from him-she wouldn't 60"
$50 you left her thercii"
"What else could I'dor
"Knock him on the head and drag
her here, yourself" said Selwood saw
agely. He made no effort to restrain
himself, and his words fell like whip
lashes. "You knew her DANGER" he
Numbered; "she didn't So you left
her therel" exclaimed the gambler,
sardonic in his wrath. "a fine mess
you've made Of It'll"
"John," protested Carpy, 'Tll go
over there this minute with you, my
self"
"Stay where you are. What was
the number Of her roomT'
'Twelve, at the top Of the front
stairs. John, I don't want you to
go off mad this way. I did what I
could-T tell you she wouldn't leave
her father"
Selwood paused only to make a
brief amend for his outbreak and to
promise to return; he told Carpy he
was going to look for Christie at the
hotel-though In his heart he had no
hope Of finding her there.
On q table close at hand, where the
doctor had set his instrument-case
and dressings, stood lighted pocket
lantern. Selwood, picking 1t up.
closed the slide, put it out, and
slipped it into his coat pocket.
"Hey" exclaimed Carpy, don't
take that !"
II may need It." said Selwood.
Walking toward the door with Sell
wood, Carpy pointed to one of the
wounded men on the floor near where
they were passing. He lay on his
back, with his eyes closed, and his
stertorous breathing was noticeable.
There's the old general" he said,
"hit pretty bad, too; want to speak
to him?'
'No," blurted out Selwood.
HE may die" observed Carpy crit
ically.
Selwood was brutally resentful.
'He won't need me to help him." was
all he said. And flinging open the
back door, he took one look out into
the hall, slammed the door behind
him, and slipped out into the night.
On the town side of the station he
could hear sporadic firing, answered
at intervals by the fringe Of guards
defending the railroad building. He
met no opposition on the way to the
hotel. 1t was far enough out of the
line Of fighting to have been over
looked. He secuted about the build
ing for minute, and entered through
side door which he found unlocked
opening into the dining-room. With
out risking light, he felt his way
across to the hall, picking up wood
bottomed chair as he did so, and
pausing at intervals to listen for
sound. He could hear nothing any
where, and walking up the front stairs
W1IuOuI " dFOlu IuC
inevitable creaking of the treads,
he felt along the wall for the
door Of room number twelve. Lay
ing his hand after q moment on
the knob, he tried It. The door was
unlocked. Without opening it, he
knocked softly. There was no re-
Spouse. He listened intently for
sounds of breathing, but could hear
none. He then set the chair in front
Of the closed door, lifted from his
coat pocket the dark lantern, lighted
it, setsit facing the door on the chair,
pulled back the slide Of the bull's-eye,
drew his revolver, and, standing to
one side, threw the door quickly open ;
If a shot were to come from within,
the lantern should draw 1t.
Continued Next Week.