Nogales international., 1934-03-31

Didn't you never think" he asked fall
teringly, that things might look dit
ferent than what they are!"
"No," said Ruth boldly. But al
though he stood cringing before her,
Snavely did not appear so abject as
Ruth thought he should be. Didn't he
realize he could be sent to prison3
"Do you deny you tried everything you
could to make me lose my Interest,""
He did not reply to her question.
But after a moment he said slowly,
still with lowered eyes, Them things
is hard to prove"
81 don't think sol But I can tell
you something else which is not hard
to prove: | can whisper in the gulch
as we'll as any one elsep He raised
MS eyes quickly, his face dead white.
Ruth glanced lingeringly toward Ann.
then back again. The night Of the
storm, Mr.. SnaveIy," she said quietly.
He faced her In silence; the muscles
of his long stringy throat contracted
spasmodically. Suddenly he turned
and, walking slowly to his room, en-
tered. Almost at once he reappeared,
the packet of bank notes which Ruth
had given him in his hand. He held
them out. "You best take these here
an 60 git your brother"
Ruth took the notes. She thought
she understood: when she and Harry
returned, Snavely would not be on the
Dead Lantern. Perhaps that was the
best solution. She turned to Ann.
"Ann, I wish you would get the buck
board and take David and me over to
Thames. I'll have an early supper
ready by the time you harness UP"
Snavely had walked toward his
room, now he turned and came back.
Il don't think you'd best go mixin' the
Thames in this"
In spite of the apparent humbleness
Of his tone, twinge of fear caught
Ruth's heart. But she answered, Il
don't see that it can make any differ
ence to you now, Mr.. Snavely."
at makes sight of difference to
met" he said sharply, and his eyes,
no longer jerking, bored into hers.
Ruth gripped herself. do you real
ize that you are criminal and that
you will face arrest as soon as | bring
my brother back?"
To the girls amazement, Snavely
smiled. "You like fancy words" he
said slowly, so I'll ask you if you
realize where you stand now?" His
voice rose shrilly. Don't you see that
your brother bein' alive makes the will
no good? The will don't work, by
God! You amt got no rights-you
amt no pardner an you amt got Nc
interest in this ranch D'you get that
I'm boss here now" He whirled tC
Ann. Cit your black face outa here !!
But my brother"
"YouY brother-how do I know he's
your brother? He never told me moth
in about you nor nothin' about any
will. 'Cordin' to my way athinkin
you come here jest to steal his inter
est. Who are you, anyways? You're
a plumb stranger to ne-you amt got
thing to say about this ranch an
never did have. What about all that
truck you was jest a-talkin'---that
goin's on about the cattle dyin'? What
of it? Fer all anybody knows. | was
jest a-doin' my best to keep you from
stealin' my pardner blind; that's what
was doin'! An the law would say
the same" Snavely stepped closer, his
face thrust forward and his pale eyes
glittering. You come on this place
with paper you say is sure 'nougl
will, but you amt got nothin' to prove
| it."
Ruth was against the wall. She was
trembling. Tightly she gripped the
letter in her hand and summoned all
her courage. But your partner is my
brother-he will be coming back here
soon-he may even come t0-day-any
time. The letter must have been sent
quite while ago and he was mitch
better--he might have been able to gc'
to the railroad without any help"