The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-06-15
CHAPTER IV-Continued

I'D lose my right hand If 1t would
help" he said doggedly, looking down
and fiddling with his latigo. The
golden horse turned loving head and
rubbed it gently along his arm.
Him." said the girl through her nos
trils, sharp and cynical sound.
81 would" he repeated, "an' all
you've got to do is set a mark to prove
1t. Is there anything-any single
thing that man can do to prove his
word? Tell me, and I'll do it."
"Who is the bandit across the Bor-
der who crucifies his double crossers"
cried Sonya like a shot and gasped at
the sound of her own words. 1t seemed
as if another person spoke them, so
wholly unintentional had they been.
The mans eyes flashed up to hers,
and once again they were wild as any
hawks, the black of the pupils spread
ing over the blue of the irises. Slow
ly the color drained from his face
leaving it ash white beneath it's bronze,
the lips pale as blue milk.
"Good CD" he said and was
silent.
The girl was silent, too, and for the
first time she felt flash of fear, as If
she had set in motion sinister forces of
which she knew nothing. They stared
at each other for a moment aghast at
this thing which had sprung between
them, stark and terrible, and then
Sonya flicked her rein, moved in her
saddle recovering. She knew she
had touched disaster too deep for
woman's hand, and she drew back
instinctively.
"No," she said swiftly, don't an
swer. / shouldn't have asked. And
it's no proof, anyway. l don't want
proof What's past is past. / take
your word"
The man wet his stiff lips.
"You do? Do you believe what I've
been trying to tell you ever since that
day: that l could kill myself for
what did? Do you believe me?"
"Yes," said Sonya. "Not that it mat
tiers, but I do"
He took out a white handkerchief
and wiped his face, which was sweat
ing in the high cool wind
NO." he said unsteadily, mot that
IL matters-to you. But it does to me.
Why, 1 don't know, but it does. More
than anything has ever mattered in
my whole Id life beg your par
dom"
Granted" said the girl. "serge
swears"
"Serge?'
"My brother"
swell, it matters, and I've spent
hours alone up here and other places
wondering about it and why it does.
I've known women all my life, in sew
eral countries, and never a one that
stayed in my mind week after left
her. I'm a bad lot, as I told you be-
fore, and it don't mean a great deal
what / think, one way or another, only
/ amt ever felt so sorry in all my days
over anything. was just wondering,
when you rode around tn wall yon-
der"
Sonya regarded him steadily.
1T does NATTER" she said, "what
anyone thinks and does. No man lives
to himself alone, as the Good Book
says. To every man his place and
certain amount Of influence. And to
every man his responsibility, too, for
that influence. You've got influence,
somewhere for something"
He stirred uneasily, moved on his
booted feet, felt in his pocket for
fresh cigarette.
Sand something's changing in you,"
the girl went on, there's been change
in you since-since the first time saw
you. In your face, In your speech.
You're using more 'g's on the end Of
your words, for one thing, and your
eyes are different"
IF they weren't when look at you,
I'd be lower than I am, and that's
plenty low"
"Granted again." said Sonya calmly
and watched the slow tide of red that
swept up over his pale cheeks. "But