The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-12-26
SHnfHmS Tend

self into the frontier life with boyish
zest and had met, often buoyantly, al
ways unfiinchingly, the stark tests that
had been imposed on him.
She let the light shine on him. His
eyelids fiickered open and he smiled
at her.
"Your supper is ready" she told
him.
MAY wash my hands"
She had not forgotten even that.
He found warm water in basin and
a clean towel at hand.
While he ate she sat across the
table from him, elbow on table and
chin on fist, listening to the story of
his hunt in the Nal Pals country for
the outlaws. He made light Of it, but
she could muster only very faint
smile even when he read aloud Guam
trell's note. The man was more dead
ly than a rattIesnake, for he struck
without warning. She had lived over
fifty times that dreadful hour when
she had come upon her husbands dead
body lying in the road.
From her throat there leaped invol-
unfairly the thought in her mind !:
"Oh, wish you weren't sheriff, Gar
rett! p
A wave of emotion flooded him. He
dared not let himself hope that her
spontaneous cry meant more than
friendship. He passed quickly over 1t
lest she explain it away.
I'D rather Quantrell felt that way
than you," he said, trying for an
effect of carelessness.
"There's something-inhuman about
him."
He could see that fear had risen to
her throat and choked her. Therefore
he spoke evenly. almost negligently.
"Not at all. He's just boy gone
bad, as they say. And don't forget.
Barbara. that he's at the wrong end of
this hunt, not /. He's the one that
has to double and twist to escape, the
one who has to suspect every man he
meets of wanting to betray him. We
on the side of the law have tre-
mendous advantage, moral force that
makes lot Of difference"
"What difference would it make If
he ever-ever-Y
"Don't worry about me, Barbara.
He's not trying to get me but to get
away from me-" His hand moved a
few inches across the table toward
her. II understand how you must
feel about him-how you fear for your
friends. But it really isn't necessary.
I'm taking no unnecessary risks. He
may dodge me for while, but We'll
round him up in the end-and I'll not
be hurt doing it."
"If you ever get chance you ought
TOTO put an end to him as you would
a wolf" she cried with little flare Of
savagery.
The brown eyes looking into hers
were grim. Listen. Barbara he
said. II haven't undertaken to fight
a duel with Quantrell. He's killer,
an outlaw wanted because of the
crimes he has committed. If can I'll
get him at advantage. and if necessary
I'll do just what you've said. Our lives
aren't of the same value to society.
I've been chosen to put an end to his
lawless career. That's what I mean
to do, one way or another, if can.
don't intend to be chivalrous fool
about this, If that's what you are
afraid Of"
She gathered from this what reas-
surance she could. "But you will be
careful, won't your" she pleaded.
you'll not take any chances you don't
have to?"
"Not chance" he promised. "As
the boys say. I'll not throw off on
myself"
Garrett O'Hara had talked to Bar
bara with quiet confidence Of the
prospects. There was, he felt. no need
to alarm her unduly. But the argu-
ments he had used did not wholly con-
vince himself. 1t is true, in one
sense, that the advantage in such a
campaign as this lay with the officers.
In another way the odds entirely ia
vored the hunted rather than the
hunters, because the former could at
one time or another choose the setting
for battle During the two days. that
OHara's posse had combed the Nal
Pals for the outlaws there had not
been an hour when the searchers had