The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-26

the cabin by Terry.
= 4 ~
for you. Only trouble is two other
guys were the heroes"
I'VE had better have him carried
upstairs" Ellen said to her father.
He can have the spare room"
jeff shook his head. Sorry, but
have to say mo, thanks, !" lady. If
1 stay here these Texas wolves
would be liable to collect the only
scalp i have. The boys are going to
take me to Round Top in your wag-
on"
Ellen had Jim bring down a mat
tress and put it on the porch. The
wounded man lay down on it, pro-
testing that there was no sense in
babying him. The girl made him a
pitcher of cool lemonade and he
drank several glasses of it. She
waved a goodbye at him as the
guarded wagon rolled down the
road.
Watching her, Terry thought there
was a kind of light, flying grace in
the girls movements.
''Will you tell me all about it
just what happened?" she asked.
Larry described their adventure
in detail.
II expect they hated to let jeff
co." Larry concluded. "The blamed
idiot stood in the doorway and told
Ellison he was the man who had
killed his spy Turley."
Ellen gave a little groan. ibid
you say that jeff -. killed Tur-
ley?" she asked.
eyes"
The color had washed out of Ell
lens face. "I'm responsible for Tur-
ley's DEATH" she said in a low mon
otone. II told jeff the man
might be Turley, and I said the
writing on the note left by the killer
looked like his
''Then you did a service to this
district" Terry told her bluntly.
Don't worry about that. The fell
low had to be killed"
eyes, but-why did I do it?
might have known what JEFF would
do. And I wasn't sure. Maybe
Maybe-maybe Turley wasn't the
right man."
'They found the money in his cab
in. He was the right man." Larry
nodded reinsurance. "He's better
dead. Don't waste any pity on him."
you're so sure about that, aren't
your" the girl cried in passionate
protest. "Only God can make a
life, but it's all right to cut one
off if you take a fancy to play at
being His agent"
Terry explained gently: "When a
mad dog is loose it has to be shot
to protect people"
Calhoun is right, Ellen" Carey
agreed. "You are not in the least
to blame, but you surely would have
been if you had concealed any in
formation you had about the identity
of the killer" Lane brushed the
doubts of his daughter aside as of
no weight. what happened to any
number of better men is of inpor-
lance. am thinking about the out
come of this raid. / don't see how
a pitched battle can be avoided, and
if so great many will be killed.
Isn't that your view, Calhoun"
eyes, and Ellison's men will be
defeated in the end. This invasion
has been botched from the begin
ming. The Texans won't escape with
out heavy loss unless they get out
at once"
'Why did Mr.. Ellison start so
crazy a thing?" Ellen cried. "Isn't
there any way to stop it? Can't you
do something, Mr.. Terry"
Calhoun shook his head. "How
can I, since both sides distrust me
and ! have influence with neither?
! have thought of one thing-to ask
the government to send troops from
Fort Garfield to stop the war. / have
no influence at Washington. Mr..
Powers probably has, if could get
word to him. Larry and I are GO
ing to town. I'll see Horace Gar
vey and try to get him to join me
in wire"
Good. I'll come to town as soon
as can get off. That will be after
the down stage passes" said Carey.
Larry went with Carey to saddle
fresh horses from the Box IS corral.
Terry started with them but was
detained by Ellen's voice, small
er in volume than usual.
"Just a minute, please, Mr.. Ter
ry."
He waited, his gaze on her.
81 want to Tess up," she said at
last. "You must think I'm a dread
full little prig, the way have treat
ed you"
His voice sounded cold, because
he was keeping tight rein on his
emotions. II haven't any complaint,
Miss Carey" he began.
81 didn't like you," she admitted.
81 thought you were horrid. And
was wrong. In all this dreadful
business nobody has been as right
as you" The color in her eyes deep
ened as she looked at him. Her
heart was fiuttering against her ribs,