The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-08-09

her arms around him.
"Why1 whyr' she pleaded. -Why
will you not stay here and 60 forward
with me, into life7 Don't you love
me7'
Love you'll My Cd; It's because
love you. adore you. worship you.
that I'm taking myself out of your
life before 1t Is too late don't want
to see you"
"See me what"
Nothing. Let's go. Let's go now"
He turned Tn d'oro sharply and
headed for the down trail. Darkness
following close. Sonys sat rigIdly In
her saddle. her throat sweled pain
fully with the dark realization that
her dream of love was done for. that
this man whom she had come to love
so helplessly was riding out of her
life. She could not speak
At the mesa's foot they set out
across the levels which were once
more darkening Into q starlIt night In
dreary silence. And before they had
said another word. before they could
say that last farewell which comforts
the heart bereaved, fate was upon
them
Out OF the shadows of clump OF
Juniper four men suddenly rode across
their way. Four men on good horses.
clad In dark garments, their wide hats
pulled low over their dark fnces, guns
frankly showing At their thighs And
at their head rode that huge figure
of q man which had doomed on the
dance floor that enchanted night and
called Starr Stone ~ Z master calls
his dog.
He sat now and looked at him with
black eyes burning In the gathering
darkness.
"Hombre," be said again N he had
| said before. three times In al many
days have l sent for you, and you did
not come. This II the reason
He nodded toward Sonya.
"Yesl" cried tho girl like I shot,
though her voice shook. "Yesl +
and q better one. I drst, and the car
Ing for those who died. second am
4 doctor. and there has been great
sickness among my people, the In
dianA This man has stood with me
shoulder to shoulder In I 6ns thing.
Together We have saved many lives
That's why he stayed" There WAS :
note Of defiance In the trembling voice.
-Oh. 20 that eos why. senorita r the
stranger said. changing from the Span
ish to broken English, why he dis
obeys bees h'ordersf For you, eh. an
for thees dirty Navvys1 Well. he goes
now, an don't you forget It An 70
member. Senorita Savarin. that II he
comes to you, ever again, that will
happen to you an yours which viii b.
4 price. A fair price for thees insult
to me, In that you keep my best lieu
tenant from hees work Adios. senorita-
Do not forget"
| He raised his sombrero with I gal
liant gesture and whirled his horss
away. And this time Starr Stone.
following, looked long In Sonya's white
face with eyes In which ali the trax-
edy Of life lay stark and awful Then
be was gone. and only the soft sound
Of looping horses In sand came back to
her.
| Until the dim shapes were lost In
the night the girl sat stu. listening.
her mouth open, her hands on her
rein cold and nervelesA
That which threatened had struck
1t last
| And presently she dropped forward
with her face In Darkness' manc and
fen to such weeping - only ! heart
cleaved to the quick can know.
When Bhs rode into the patio At
home An hour latsr \ man came swift
~ from the lighted doorway, his hands
reaching up for hers, his face glow
ing with Joy.
"Sonyal Dear hearth" he cried.
and.
4Rodln said Sonya before she crum-
pied and slid limp into his reaching
arms.
Shes faintedl" he cried. LILA
Serge--Quick
He carried her to the door and In,
laying her down on the living room
couch, and Lila was at his side In :
lash.
"Get me some water" she said
| But Sonya. strong creature that she
was, did not need It. Her senses
Keeling from grief and fear and the
sudden sight Of Rodney Blake. who
was the last man she wanted to see In
her present trouble. righted them
selves swiftly. She moved. opened hes
eyes, sat up 4 bit unsteadily.
"Why, what silly thingi" she salt
| TREMENDOUSLY. And Rod-hou in thu
world"
STEADY. DEAR" said Rod. Il jus
dropped in--by plane and car--frou
New York--Williams-got ! man t
bring me over. Us rather. Have |
friend with me. But don't talk now
Lie down again"
"Pifflel~ said Sonya. I'm all right
A bit tired. guess"
shes been riding day and night TO
4 MONTH" said Lila. looking at Blake
r~tI a,rato knnwV