The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-02-13

a rouno OF ham were frying. then
with those cooked, poured more col
fee, got biscuits hot from the oven
and ate standing at window over
looking the ranch yard.
Impatience goaded him, but 1T
was a safe bet that this meal would
be his last for many hours. he
filled up.
Helen came into the kitchen be-
fore he had quite finished. he
promptly stacked his plate and cup
on the sinkboard and turned to the
outer door, wanting no talk with
anyone, not even the girl. 1t was
past time for any more words.
But she called quickly; and what
she said jerked him around.
''Walt! Did Lavic find your"
He moved a step nearer, and
would have given everything he pos
sessed to tell this girl that she need
worry no more, that it was all close
| to an end.
"Lavic?" he asked. Looking for
me? What did he want?"
at don't know The poor fellow
was worked up over something and
was hunting every place for you.
Have you seen him at all since last
night when Battle was here?"
Impatient to be gone and know
| ing that every minute was carry
ing Hollister closer to an enemy
camp, still Candy waited, feeling
an unexplainable portent in what
the girl was saying.
ssNo," he answered, his words
hurried. 81 haven't seen him. Why,
| Helen? What is it?"
/. Again she said, 81 don't know.
Bent wouldn't talk to me. Only -"
With an unexpected movement she
came across to him. At arms length
she stopped. "Only, Walt, Bent
| Lavic knows something! ! almost
think he knows exactly what has
happened here, and I've tried to
make him tell. It's no secret that
| he is terribly bitter and hates dad,
maybe Hollister, too. And last night
- Her voice trailed off.
Last night" Candy put in, "you
thought Lavic was going to talk to
me here in the kitchen, so you hung
| around until he went out! saw
that play, Helen. Why?"
| Because / didn't want him tol
He has nothing to tell you. Moth
ingl He hasn't seemed to mind hav-
ing you here, and saw how he
looked at you last night when Bat
tie was talking. But he has nothing
that you should know!"
''I know it already, Helen" They
were close, staring at each other.
"You can't go on with what you're
| doing" Candy said. "You aren't
hiding anything from me; I found
Bill HOLSTERS rifle there at Willow
Spring"
She recoiled as if he had struck
her, one hand against her cheek.
Quickly he added: ''It's all right.
| put it back in the mud. No one
will ever know. Only you can't go
on shielding Hollister forever. Girl,
you've done your partl" He turned
from her, reaching for the door. do
you know that Bill is headed for the
" right now?"
moi
''I'm trailing him."
''No!" she cried again. ''Let me
go! Let me handle this. Walt Gan
dy, you stay out of itl"
He spun back and was suddenly
close upon her. He stood rigid, look
ing into her desperate face. Let
you go?" he asked. go and talk to
Stoddards Make more promises, tc
save the c c men? That it? Listen
to me-" His voice was all at once
low and surprisingly sure. "You will
never marry JEFF Stoddard."
She stared up. 81 will. You don't
know-you have no reason to say
anything else."
ST haven't?" Then arms that had
been held rigidly at his sides swept
the girl to him. Close to her lips
he said, "I've got the best reason in
the worldl" And madly he kissed
| her.