Show r River I I r i By By VINGIE E ROE f 1 i I Copyright br by the th McCall Company I f Service S T CHAPTER XVI XVI Continued Continued 15 15 A little later Inter Bossick k knew nil all that Brand and the sheriff knew v concerning the hidden passage that opened Into Blue Stone and he lie was som softly profane with amazement Fair laughed Ive e 1 set a guard around the sherIffs sheriff's house he be said put six su of or his cow cowboys boys on double shirt shift I knew they would find out that he Is still all alive e und and mIght try to finish the job so Job so he would ne never r talk talk-Sk talk Sky talk Sky Line I mean And nd no noIr now Mr Ir I think wed we'd better go talk to Jermyn and the rest Im I'm only sorry Selwood Isn't able to be beVi Vi us a e Tills This Is a pretty bunch to bring back to me Caldwell said Kate Cathrew tapping her ter foot with a whIp one man disabled and another pounded into jelly Who's this tills n d-n d n stranger wh's so handy bandy with his gun Names fames Smith said s the foreman and Id I'd better belter tell you ou rIght nem now that Selwood isn't dead lIes lIe's KII alive e and they're waiting for him to comE cornE round so lie he talk cAP can talk Cattle Cuttle Kates Kate's face named flamed red Not ot dead Bring Brine Pro lne nere 1 Hut But she would not wait walt as was Iter wont when summoning her men She whirled and strode along the veranda to meet nEet Iro lne who came cume In n no na good grace Ive I e a notion to kill you on the spot l 1 I she cried furiously you ou fool bungler Of all nil the crazy wild willI im nu impossible possible things l 1 I Why didn't you get gel that man The one olle person In the world who knew of ot the Flange and Rainbows Rainbow's Pot behind You let him hIm get away l I Done my best said the man evilly l and to h I h 1 with wIt those who dont don't like It Quick as ns n a flash the woman raised her whip and him with a n roar roaf he returned the blow il and Big Basford who had followed leaped for him clawing with Ills his good goodhand goodhand hand but Caldwell knocked Provine down Instead Tale Take him away said Kate Cath Cath- Cathrew Cathrew Cathrew rew coldly her hand liand at her cheek Lawrence nce Arnold will be here soon Ill I'll let him deal with this It was night again and the stars were hung like lanterns In the tile sky The little wind was coming up the river rl the little soft wind that Nance Allison loved Once more she sat In the doorway with 1 Brand Fair beside her There as no light on the table this time so that she could not see his face with Its quiet dark eyes Its thick hair above amid aUlt the straight line of ot his lips with their g gentle smile But the f feel t l of hIs arm against her own O as he held the sleeping st set t up that nameless lon longing in in her the glowing gloving glory of n Joy jo which had become of latea laten late n a sadness She he was filler filled with vague ague sorroWs sorroW's and premonitions as It if It having found the priceless possession of oC this mans man's companionship she was vas about to lose it It was not death wholly that she feared but a more subtle thing un an InhIbItion of ot the spirit a gulf gult that seemed to lie all nil shadowy between them them-a a dark mysterious gulf g where where- wherein wherein in the Imperious face of ot Kate Kute Cathrew swirled d amid the shadows But presently Fair spoke and she shook shank off her depressing forebodings ort ns Nance lie he said softly so low that thai Ills his deep voice was scarce more than a I have wanted to tell you ou more of my life and Sonny's Sonn s for a longtime long longtime longtime time but Lut somehow it seemed seemed too had bad to add another's burdens to tho those which you alread already bear hear even ell though vicariously However the time tune st seems ems nearly ripe for tor me to reap the lie reward one way or another of ot those years of effort and hardship which I 1 have ha spent running Kate Cathrew to earth What this reward will be I 1 dont don't know of course courle No one can foretell The men menor or of Sk Sky Line are ure a n hard liard bunch crim crim- criminals criminals and worse lIH They'll yli never be he du dug dugout dugout out of ot that nest of ot theirs without n a tight fight and a hard one Somebody's go going In lag ing to be killed that's certain 1 I lIe He heard the girl catch her breath In a little Ia gasp p and shifting Sonn Sonny hie he put his arm aru around her Iler a However It t does come cone out one thIng tiling I want to 10 tell you ou a pa package I want to give you for safekeeping Will vili you ou listen Nance The Thu big girl Irl no nodded ded dumbly durably her lIer heart was waN throbbing painfully the breath labored In her lungs lung A trem trem rein bUtt setup set up along her muscles and the stars star teemed to dunce dance on the black el velvet t of or the sky sly Gentl Gently Fair leaned drown down until hIs face was ens against her hel cheek tightened v air c p t hove been hEen all over this laud of urs urs lit lie yil presently and In some f e ral hers I have ha met many umen nt 1 ninny rias's class's I have e been w mount and ind no area r a w er But al- al ways wn's In mj my m secret heart henrt there has been a place all swept and garnished and empty Nance Since the lie day In Blue Stone canyon when I first beheld you ou rocking the child In your thIs lap lap this secret place plue has been gloriously full tull Nance-Nance Nance Nance Nance I I have ha been like a n worshiper with with- without without out laying my forehead to the sill All the tho timings things I ha have e dreamed of ot I find In n you tile you the strength time the sweet sweet- sweetness sweetness sweetness ness the courage You lIre are beautiful as few women In this world are arc beautiful und and ful and you JOU are too good for an any man But I have I have dared to love lo you ou lIe Ue ceased censed and turned his lips against her cheek check For Nunce Nance Allison the stars w were re singing together at nt the dawn of ot creu crea creation lion tion the glory of oC the spheres had appeared ap- ap ap appeared before her Answer me girl said sold Brand Fair tremulously tell me what's In iii your heart I 1 I I said Nance thInk I I think It Is lathe the light from the time open gates of Para Para- Paradise the dIse-the dise the smile sUllie of ot God be himself be because cause I am so happy 1 I Sonny timer old S said ld Fair heres where you ou take a back buck seat scat for once and he rolled the child still sleepIng like the Il healthy alth little he was over o on time the lie floor a o e e e e eWhen When the man arose nrose to go 10 some later Inter he lie gave ve Nance the package which he lie had taken from a n pocket Keep It sweetheart he said and andopen open It If anything If anything happens to me It contaIns Information vital to Sonn Sonny's s life liCe and the future future the address of the New York lawyer lawer who knows all nil my affairs and his and also copies of ot time the proof he lie holds which can send Cattle and Arnold and all their lot be be- behind behind hind the bars for life Take It straIght to Sheriff Selwood If you have to o act for me and It if he Is alive and con con- conscIous conscious conscious It If not Bossick will do In his stead lIes lIe's a good man Theres There's a picture In that package the Nance-the Nance face of ot Sonny's mother But nut Im I'm not figurIng that you'll have hae any call to open not It-not It not b by a n long shot This is all b by way war of wise precaution you know Now ow gl give e me one more kiss Brand Fair rode awn away and the girl girllie he left upon the cabins cabin's step was too far Car adrift on the seas of happiness to realize that he hind had not told her the theone theone one thing who vital vital who was wag Sonny's father Cather CHAPTER The Face In the Package At last Nance Allison knew v the meanIng of the great light that seemed to glow upon all nil the world of the Deep Heart hills Instinct awoke In her and she be- be beheld beheld be beheld held the face of ot lo love e Abasement seized her What was she In her loneliness and poverty that such a man as Brand rand FaIr might find Ond her worthy What had she e ever er done of valor that one might admIre her She had merely been a drudge work work- working working In ing out her soul to carryon carry on her father's fa- fa father's fa father's ther's dreams of empire to hold fast the place pInel which he lie hind had left to her and hers She had only labor labored d and stood firm watching with anguished eyes the fruits of those labors being destroyed she she had made no effort to strike back at her enemies And despite all this Brand Fair loved her henl I ILo Lo Loved ed her lier and had laid his lips to hers In the first love love kiss kiss of ot her lien life I Verily Pertly was she blessed beyond all reason and she bhe lifted up her lIer heart In praise e It was a holy night she spent Upon her knees in the soft darkness darkness with her work hardened hands clasped on the ancient coverlet and the Ion long gold lashes trembling and wet upon her cheeks It was an offertory an nn adorn adora lion thin and a covenant She felt the hours pass with benedic benedIc- benedIctIon benediction tion lion At the first gra gray light she lifted her face and with a smile at her lips cor cor- corners corners ners Ders she slie murmured the ancient words of Davids David's immortal thanksgiving The King shall Joy In Thy Th- strength Oh Lord and In Thy salvation how greatly shall he lie rejoice I For Thou past hast made him most blessed forever Thou hast past made him exceeding glad with Thy rimy countenance Thou host hast given Iven him the desire of ot his Ills heart Selah Mammy she said at Ive pot got ot to tell you ou you ou something and Bud There was a soft Eft radiance about her herIon herlong herlong Ion long blue c eyes es a helpless surrender to the smiles miles that would keep com coming In on her features Her IIer mother looked on her lien calmly she he said nut But over Beds Bed's young oung mice there passed a spasm of ot pain You ne needn't dut tell It t he said sharply sharp sharp- sharply sharply ly we dont don't know dont don't we mammy Its It's Brand Brand- Sure we know IwO Nance honey said Mm's Irs Allison gently min an we want to tell you ou Bud an nn I how lumpy lu we owe are how are how glad we are arc to see ee happi happl- happiness nc ness come conic to the best hest daughter time the best sister two people ever had on thIs here earth Aint we Buddy The boy swallowed swallow once then looked at Nance and smiled It was not the least courageous thing lie he was ever ver to accomplish that smile and his mother knew it for he adored the girl and she sloe bad been hIs playmate mill all hl Ills his life lICe But Bitt at his bla hi mothers mother's subtle words jealousy rl and love lo stepped back huck triumphantly We e sure are arc SIs he lie said and her on elm the he cheek check The child chilli slept s late that hat morning I he had been more or I less ss dis- dis disturbed by Nances Nance's She stepped to the bedroom Jour dour our once and looked nt at him but left him there 1 We might aught at as a well sir lilt nl down alma said Mid hea fast asleep yet and I can teed feed him when he does get et up The They talked gayly nil all through the them meal m nl reviewing re the wonder that had come to Nance and It seemed a n new future was open opening In before them all Brand seems like one olle of us al al- al already rendy nl-rendy read ready said Mrs Allison an I think with Joy what a n help hell he'll be bo to you ou an th Bud Bud th land Is rich an nn will keep us Ul nil all in n pl plenty nty with wIlh a Ii milD man like hIm to manage an Oil to stand between us an anSky Sky Line An hes he's like your puppy was kInd kind an nn still a n strength an a hope hOllO for us It If Bud Is la well we'll otter him share nn share Sure said the boy decidedly When hen lie he hind had once capitulated Bud stood firm wholeheartedly backing hIs decisIon I Just dont don't seem able to grasp It all said Nance happily It seems like our whole life lito has changed overnight There Is light where darkness was Vas hope again where Id I'd about given n It up and now well we'll never ha have e to give up Sonny Throats so sol I cried Mrs Irs Allison an I hadn't thought of or that Never I seemed like we would any way bless way I hIm hImIe Me Ie asked a fresh little voice vole from I the doorway and the child stood there rumple headed In his small nightgown made from flour Gour sacks The faded red lettering still stood frankly out across his diminutive stomach you Yes Yes you said Nance come here hereto hereto hereto to your your own Nance ance Sonny sidled In holding up the hin hIn- hInderIng hindering hindering dering garment with one hand the theother theother theother other shut over oyer jome some ome small article As Nance lifted him to her lap he be laid this on time the tables table's edge See he lie said the pretty lady Indy She pm r Cattle K Kate Cathrew Sat on the Broad Veranda at Sky Line She Was Clad Like a Sybarite was was In fn a n bundle on your where'd bed bed you ou get her lien Nance And Mud Nance Allison looked down Into the pictured face Cattle of-Cattle of Cattle Kate Cath- Cath Cathrew Cathrew rew rew For a moment the laughter still drew her lips the soft light of ot happi happl happiness ness still Illumined her e eyes es Then the light and the laughter were erased from her features as If it an In- In In Invisible visible hand had wiped them In their place came first a n blank blank- blankness ness nn an then incredulity Incredulity then then as ns realization lion tion and memory struck home to her braIn the anguish of or death itself swept across her face She Slie stared with dilating pupils at atthe atthe the small picture f Nance I cried her mother Nance lance I 1 She raised her eyes es and und looked at Mrs Irs Allison and the latter felt Celt a 8 chill chili ot of fear Take Sonn Take Sonny Take Sonny Bud nurl she said slow slow- slowly slowly slowly ly and ind md get Ills ids clothes clothe Cud Bud tactful and und quiet inlet did did all as a she shea a n when she slie was alone lien her mother the girl held out tile the pic pic- picture picture ture ure Brand told me me last last night nl ht she said haltingly that a package he hI gave IO to me-to to to open In case anything hap happened to to him held him the face ot of of of of or Sonny's mother Tills This is Cattle Kate Cathrew Mv My Iy good Lord I ejaculated lat fated d Mrs III SOli Nunce Nance nodded Then who's Then who's his father his father Who d ou suppose Mammy rammy asked the girl ml miserably Im Im Its It's the Brand man LUan who sa says lie he loves he-loves loves me mime The gaunt old mother came round the table taille and put an arm am her daughters daughter's shoulders Caresses were rare with wilh her lier No o she slie said decidedly Brand Fair alit aint t a n r Id I'd stake n II loton lot loton loton on that I 1 feel to trust him hone honey r Is wron wrong In this terrible bungle It aint an Brand Brand an you ou can cun take your our old mammy's word on that The rime l girl Irl straightened lien her shoulders lifted her lier head I do trust him Mammy she sums saId gallantly gAlIant whatever has lias happened In Inthe inthe Inthe the past I know it has lias not made hima hIm n a and liar and I feel to be ashamed of ot my my- myself myself myself self said Mrs Allison succinct t ly ly I its natural tim a old age e instinct ot of Jealousy Come Conic down from our naked mi estors when hen th man maim was Iii Ih getter getter feed nn an th thO woman fought with tooth an nil nail If it another female hove In Insight ht You You'd like to tc go rIght out nOW no-A noAnn an nn scratch that womans woman's eyes out wouldn't I you ou A sickly smile trembled on Nonce's |