Show Telegram Hostile Valley l by y Ben I Fiction Y S Ames Williams CHAPTER Jennys Jenny's disclosure for tor a moment hushed them all The air in this small crowded room was stifling lUning Marm Pierce was th first to speak peak Whew she exclaimed I declare de de- de- de clare dare its it's hot hol as lov love in hay time here Bart opened th the door into the shed to admit some air The shed was a gloomy cavern the darkness in It was a black screen behind which anything might hide Th The sheriff crossed his feet teet and sat in a deep embarrassment His sh shoes 5 scraped or oft on the floor loor and Marm Pierce said I smell a lamp smoking I IThe The lamps here were all in order but when she opened the door into the dining room where Huldy lay a areek areek areek reek of ot soot oot and smoke emerged The Theold Theold Theold old woman bustled in there complaining com corn scolding the absent J Jo Joe Matth Mat Mat- th T Takes kes a man to make a mess of ot things she protested She brought out th the lamp its it chimney black He left leU it turned up too high she declared de do- dared and replaced it with another lamp and they heard her raise the thc windows window a little from the bottom Ill air out a mite she explained talking to herself in the other room Cant raise em morens moren's just a a. crack or the cats cat will be getting a-getting in i iThen Then she returned shut the dining room door again Well she ejaculated I t 1 declare Ive I've had about enough of the thc goings on this day Jenny why didn't you tell me this before Jenny looked at atVIll Will wm and she said Because first off oll I was afraid it wa was true She smiled steadily Only I I L that even if it il was I didn't S care How do you OU mean you ou didn't c care rc the sheriff asked in a dull per But before Jenny could reply Marm Pierce spoke in a sort of ance Ill tell ten you ou that sheriff she said The thing is this Will and Jenny had got gol to like each other mighty well before Huldy came back after afler that time she went away Will WillS hes he's fine line and sos so's Jenny No harm harmin S in it it I hoped not come back ever It looked to me that beS be better off ot if he was was rid of her for S good and all But when she did come Jenny didn't see him after that till S today She concluded But Jenny and S Will Vill would have married before this if Huldy hadn't been married to Will S Jenny lov loves him and he loves her and Im I'm glad of it if it comes to that S Jennys Jenny's fine and Wills Will's a man And then Jenny answered for her her- self seH right she sa said d brave ly I mean I didn't care what whal hed he'd I done because I loved him anyway And blame him for lor hitting hit hitting ting Huldy Bart insisted quick to te Wills Will's defense She needed it H bad But he never menat menal to knock her oil off the ledge Jenny cri cried d swift Indignant Will I never touched her Bart I know he didn't Bart loyally agreed But Im I'm just saying saIng i if he did He Jenny repeated very S crisply The sheriff sherI looked up at her How come you to tie be so sure Jenn Jenny he asked in sober tones Outside of ot- ot feeling about him the way you do how come you ou to lo be so sure They spoke as though Will Vill were not here ignoring his big presence there by the thc door If It I want sure Jenny challenged chal chal- think Id ever have told old you or anybody what she said You wouldn't want to marry aman a aman aman man that'd killed his wife would you Sohier urged and Jennys Jenny's eyes met his fairly and hers were vere misty with deep tend tenderness rne sHe s. s He didn't she insisted steadfast steadfast- 1 ly But Id I'd want to marry Will any anyway anyway anyway way it come and no matter what he done I I I Well Vell that aint telling me how you know he didn't do it the sheriff sherIf repeated repealed repeated re re- re- re pealed doggedly I know because I know Will Vill sh shanS she anS answered ered S If yore so sure now how come you weren't sure before he argued What made you sure all aU of a sudden sud den now Just Just corning coming to my senses Jenny Jenny Jen Jen- ny fly decided I was kind a of numb for fol fora fola a while but then after alter Id I'd been with Will for a spell I r was surel The sheriff surprisingly Id admire to hear you testify like that in court he declared Id like to see ee what the judge would say He became grave again and looked at last at Will How about it Will he suggested soberly Anything youve you've got gol to say Will with all their eyes upon him wiped his hand across his mouth The man was shaken sore He stood fumbling for words If it was anyone anyone anyone any any- one but bul Jenny told me I wouldn't believe beHe Huld Huldy said it he declared Dont doubt she did say it do you No Taint true I guess you'll say No No it aint true The sheriff frowned How come Mis' Mis Ferrin Fernin t to say a thing like that then he protested Dont seem as if It a woman would tell a straight straight- out lie the minute before s she died She was out of her head I reckon Will offered But Jenny said No Will she was same as always She me every word wora she said The man insisted almost pleadingly pleadingly pleadingly plead plead- Jenny she wouldn't tell a athing athing athing thing like that only if she was crazy or out of ot her head or something Marm Pierce had been silent long but now he she spoke in sharp and angry tones Will yore ore a fool she the exclaimed I guess most men n are ire where a a. womans woman's concerned but yore a bigger fool than most You know as as' well as u anyone that Hul was vas no good His head lifted as though he would speak but her voice rose Now dont don't try to shut me rae up Will wm Ferrini she cried For Im I'm going to have my say sl 1 Land knows why Huldy married you but everybody knows she was a bad wife to you ou She was bad from her toes up Dead as sheLI she is LI Ill I'll say so if It its it's the last word I 1 Ido Ido do say Shed She'd have drove any man that want a saint or a fool tool to kill her long ago but you didn't kill her You always would speak soft soU to Huldy and stand anything from her and com down dow hard ard on anyone that thai tried to tell you ou the truth ab about ul her herl She he t turned as U though on a sudden thought to the sheriff Will did didn't t th h lilt hit t her hez- she sha insisted He lie wouldn't lo S l i 5 5 5 1 r J h- h co have the spunk to He always did treat real Huldy Jike a lady no matter how low she Ehe behaved Maybe ta be if hed he'd took look a pole hoop-pole to her long ago it Bul But she checked the word swung to Will again Will you ou listen to me she commanded com cam him Huldy Hudy what she was saying aing all right and she she was dying too But if U she could make Jenn Jenny believe you OU tilled killed her there couldn't ever be any happiness between the two of you and that's what whal Huldy wanted That's That S why she said what whal she did Sos So's tomake tomake to tomake make it hard for you and bitter hard hards for my Jenny And she said with a sudden passion pas sion slon in her tones Just for that I Id I'd d put her out of my house this minute dead though she be if It want for tor you Will As A. it il is is she can stay but aut you ou better beller get some sense into your jour head Sh Sh Sh- was WM a man chasing lying trouble-making trouble woman and that's the truth of it and Im I'm glad she's she dead if it you OU ask me mel She finished and stood panting with her own pent rage and looked at atVill Will Vill as s though in challenge as though she dared him to deny her words And Jenny crossed to Wills Will's side not touching him but read ready there and loyal Then Will spoke slowly Maam he told old Marm Pierce I guess if it it comes to that I Huldy betten better bet bet- t- t ter ten than most But I 1 dont don't want folks to talk about aboul her so sol There was pleading in his tones Then dont don't you play the dumb fool tool to me said old Marm Pierce angrily Denying what's whal's as plain as dayl day She always would make mak trouble when she could She se set Zeke on Bart two years ago anc and shed she'd set Jenny against you ou now i if she could She looked at Bart Bad as though h he would confirm her word but bul Bart Bar was watching Will The sheriff leaned forward his elbows on his knees But just the same he urged she wouldn't think that up about Will hitting her an and knocking her off oll the ledge unless someone Will Vill or someone else di did hit her hert He looked at Marm Pierce Mis Pierce he ask asked d in a low tone lone want there a place on her face fac like shed she'd been hit Like shed she'd hit hil a tree or a stone when she fell tell yes said the thc old woman grudgingly But no man alive could hit that thal hard He nodded Seemed to me I 1 remembered re reo your saying that h he agreed Saying her face was was was- banked up I He looked troubled and then he stood up and turned to Will Will he said gravely My ily job is just to do the best t I know He lIe hesitated and silence waited on him The law is that if it a person is dying and sa says something youve you've got to lal take e it for true le n theres there's proof to the contrary That's one thing Then it if Huldy did have a banged place on her face its it's likely someone did hit hil h her r And you was down to the ledge looking for her by your our tell He added fn in n an apologetic tone Spose you did find her down there and she started talking about Jenny I guess if she got gol you mad enough you ou might hit her Will Same as any man Will answered him I didn't sheriff sheri he said Sohier was uncomfortable I dont don't knows know's you did Will he agreed But Bul Ive I've got to go on her s ay Id I'd take lake It 3 as a favor If it you ou was to come along back to East Har liar h bor x on r with me Jenny felt lell her spine cold with f tear ear but Wills Will eyes eye were firm He s SOlid said at 1 last ao t I 1 can see how yore p placed laced sheriff Only Only not not knowing where Zeke is 0 or whether hell he'll come h home lome ome or not Id I'd have to get gel someone t to o do my chores for lor me mel Bart cried Dont worry about t hat that Will VillI Ill I'll tend to things If It the s so blamed dumb But Jenny coming close to Will wm s aid said I If you ou go Will wm Im I'm going t tool oo 1 Im I'm not nol ever going to leave you OU now Then Marm Pierce spoke In her s shrill tones still slut angrily I declare declare de de- de- de dare clare she exclaimed and stamped her foot For fools give me men every time J If you ou ask me Huldy's better etter dead and everybody else is better off with ith her dead too No sense in makin making such a fuss about it il But Will didn't kill her Then who did maam ma'am the sheriff sher sizer- itt ill asked reasonably Why Ill I'll tell you rou said th the old woman J If yore too blind to see seel To be continued tomorrow |