Show c TURNING POINT P h a f Mary r Imlay Taylor s w. w N. N U. U RELEASE TIlE THE STORY THUS FAR FAH The newcomer new comer tells Jane he Is a bookkeeper and the she has him start on the ranch books that e evening after the thc work Is done your name she asked He lie hesitated then said John lie He flushed and stammered and she told him that ho he had not given his right name He lie admitted It it I ask you tomake to tomake tomake make good she told him A bullet through the window wounded Dowsing the lights II he rushed from the room to ro grapple with the assailant It was Jordan Wounded and dazed Haz- Haz left IcU was unable to w prevent Jordans Jordan's escape cs es cape seWn setting fire to the corral and sheds i before departing saves Jims Jim's f life We during the stampede of cattle t r. r lI l- l oM C CHAPTER APTER III I For the second time time her soft soH cool fingers touched his her clear blue blueeyes blueeyes eyes looked into his and he wa wa- vered He reddened to his hair and md felt his purpose growing soft soH at her touch You dont don't like to be thanked and you wont won't tell me your name Cant Can't trust you trust me If It I told you I couldn't stay here and I want to stay His voice oice shook In the shadowed hall she could see that he paled to the lips Ups but his eyes held hers You You will stay she exclaimed and her hands trembled slightly as she pressed them against the thc wallI wall I behind her Dont you realize that you saved my brother Were We're in your debt Theres no debt about It it-it it it was my good luck you owe me nothing nothing noth noth- nothing ing ing he replied gravely If It I should tell you why I came across those mountains you might send me away She was silent for tor a moment and h her r eyes looked at him steadily gravely She seemed to challenge him himI she I haven't told my brother said simply Hes going to do all he can for you hes he's In bed now now now-I I Imade made him go he was worn out out out- but you'll see him later I told him nothing Hazlett was shaken he stood staring staring staring star star- ing at the first rays of sunshine on the threshold of the open door Which makes me your debtor he said at last hoarsely Then he turned and saw her fine face tace and her clear eyes and choked back the words that came carne ending abruptly Why didn't you tell him I didn't tell tell tell- she hesitated and added quickly quickly because because I want you to stay You You you want me to stay he exclaimed his face tace aflame He got no answer Quick as a flash Jane opened the door behind her slipped in and shut it in his face Suddenly a door opened far fardown fardown fardown down the corridor and he heard Stenhart's voice It rang strong and hearty the invalid was getting well It was like an electric shock to Haz- Haz lett He straightened himself turned sharply and went out of the house The sun had risen the wide acres of the ranch were bathed In beauty doves were cooing in the trees Janes Jane's roses filled fined the air with frag fra fra- g grance grance He turned and was going toward the creek He had forgotten that he was hungry until he heard old Mac shouting at him Grubs The old man was beckoning from fromI I 1 the low adobe in the rear Hazlett followed him Into the bunkhouse The had bolted their food tood and returned to the work of hunting up the strays There was no one about but MacDowell Ah Ling and old Teresa the housekeeper The little brown woman chose to wait on the stranger herself You saved the senor she said gazing at the young man with Intent intent intent In in- tent dark eyes He laughed By accident Im I'm not much of a cowpuncher Teresa I Madre de Dios Dlos but you are a brave man senor she replied filling filling fill fill- ing his cup with Ah Lings Ling's strong coffee likes Teresa you a heap she likes Stenhart laughed old Mac lighting his pipe t Hazlett looked around at the little old woman So you dont don't like Stenhart Stenhart Sten Sten- hart bart She shook her head violently crossing herself He has got a devil dev dev- il 11 11 senor The young man laughed loudly thrusting his plate aside Come be he said tell ten me what me-what what sort of a I devil I IT T Teresa resa only shook her head more violently than ever Old Mac taking his pipe out of his mouth laughed outright What you goIn to do Teresa when he het t marries Jane 1 t God t forbid said Teresa rolling roll ing tag her eyes I I heard it ft was comin camIn of off soon as he got well teased Mac The old woman gave him a Ferocious ferocious ferocious fero fero- cious look scowling like a witch Cal Then I will tell her she said bitterly I will tell her what kin kind d of at dreams be he Is having MacDowell chuckled Dreams Nightmare hello reckon hello there h his he heis heis e is now they've got him out under unde er r the trees Jane an th nurse First Firs t time too As he spoke he pointed out of the tin I window and Hazlett saw the three thre e J figures under a group of live oaks Fanny Sewell was Wal seating the convalescent convalescent convalescent con con- in a large wicker armchair armchair armchair arm arm- chair while Jane stood talking t to o them I Teresa crossing herself and mum mum- mumbling mumbling bling being retreated suddenly on AhLing Ah AhLing AhLing Ling and upset a dish of fried tried pota pota- toes The Chinaman began to scold loudly and old Mac laughed at them It gave Hazlett his chance he roseand rose roseand roseand and went out quickly standing still in the shadow of the hou house e and watching the group under the trees The morning light was wonderful he could see every object clearly Stenhart Stenhart Stenhart Sten Sten- hart looked thin and pale Fanny Sewell needing something she had left Indoors turned and went back to the house Jane was alone with Stenhart The man watching them turned white he had no difficulty in seeing that Stenhart was taking advantage advantage advantage ad ad- vantage of his opportunity He was leaning forward now to plead with the girl And Jane The watcher could see that she blushed For one tense moment he meant to intervene intervene intervene inter inter- vene it was more than he could d jr rf t I i iI I came carne a long way Stenhart Look well at me me-I me I came to kill killyon you yon I I bear then she laughed at the man turning away Youre a lot better Max MaxI she teased and her fresh young voice came clearly to Hazletts Hazlett's ears Stenhart answered inaudibly stretching out his hand trying to detain detain detain de de- tain her Jane laughed at him again Meanwhile the trained nurse coming coming com corn ing lag to the door of the house called Teresa Hazlett heard the slap of moccasins moccasins mocca mocca- sl sins on the stone floor behind him He stepped back and caught old Teresa by the arm before she came in sight of the others Dont go yet he said in a low voice If I you go with the nurse nurse- Miss Keller will be left alone with I Stenhart i The little old woman stared up atthe at atthe atthe the big stranger Madre de Dios Dlos I she said below her breath You hate him too eh Hazlett nodded grimly He and andI I are old acquaintances Teresa Come tell Come tell me what he dreams about The old woman shrank I promise promise promise prom prom- i ise the nurse I can not tell senor I He frowned What was it that the fair haired nurse and the little brown woman were hiding from Jane Had Stenhart told things in his bis sleep He pressed his hand hard on the woman's womans womans woman's womans woman's wom wom- ans an's wrist Tell me mel See if H I knew I might keep him from marrying her Teresa looked up at him with shrewd dark eyes I do not know you senor But you like me better than Stenhart Stenhart Stenhart Sten Sten- hart I like a bad tooth better senor But you wont won't betray him You You You- Teresa Oh Teresa called Janes Jane's young voice close at hand She was going up to the house to answer Fanny's summons Teresa broke away and ran after atter her and together the three women went into the house Stenhart sat alone under the trees a paper open in his hand Hazlett stood a moment longer listening to Ah Lings Ling's chatter withold with withold withold old Mac He could smell the strong tobacco in the old mans man's pipe Stenhart's Stenhart's Sten- Sten harts hart's dark head was bent over his newspaper His profile was handsome handsome handsome hand hand- some cut clean-cut as cameo his bis hands looked thin and white Far off of by the corrals some men were building a new gate and the distant sound of at their hammers came on the wind The stranger left the shelter of the low adobe and walked swiftly over to the trees On the turf his footsteps made no sound The paper paper pa pa- per rustled in the Invalids Invalid's long fingers fingers fin fin- gers gets and he stirred uneasily as ashe if it I he felt a D presence and looked up The paper dropped to the ground and he cowered in hIs bis chair I My God Sherwin you I How did you come corne here The young man standing In th the e sunlight looked back at him quite unmoved I So you know me I came a lon long longway way Stenhart Look well at me me-I me I came to kill you youl youlIn In the terrible silence the hammers hammers hammers ham ham- mers seemed to grow clamorous Stenhart tried to rise Ill call help help Im Im I'm still a sick man John Sherwin he babbled wildly Sherwin thrust him back In his chair You coward he said bit bit- terly have your chance I dont don't deal blows in secret secret secret-as as you do dot dol Stenhart groaned Youre crazy I I always said you ou were How did you get here no affair of ot yours I I cameto came carne cameto to kill you Stenhart gripped the arms of his chair with shaking hands he was not a well man but he tried to summon summon sum sum- mon his old courage Ill raise the alarm why alarm why I can settle you In five minutes Sherwin I Sherwin's eyes glinted like steel Can you Try it Stenhart tried again to rise then something in the other mans man's look held him he shrank My God what do you mean to do You You You-you you cant can't kill me out here here in hi cold blood I II I can replied his tormentor but I mean to let you think about it Imagine It wonder how I mean to do it It would be too pleasant if f I finished you now Hope kindled in the others other's eyes he knew a way to end this braggart Im obliged to you for a respite he said I mockingly thank you But it was Sherwin who laughed and the sound of his mirth sent a horrible chill through Stenhart I know your plan Friend Max he said coolly but it t cant can't save you I shall kill you just the same same- only a little more quickly Stenhart's courage began to rise his face reddened not stay here Ill I'll make Las Palomas too hot for tor you You'll see sec I can make any place too hot for lor you Sherwin looked at him steadily for foran foran foran an instant then he spoke as stead stead- fly ily It wouldn't save you Stenhart Stenhart- nothing will save you you but but the sooner sooner soon soon- sooner er you drop that stuff the longer longer- you'll live Get me Stenhart writhed in his chair You cant can't do it You dont don't mean to do it Youre You're threatening me toto to toto toto to to hush me up I I I Sherwin bent down and grasping the arms of his chair he looked deep into his eyes You know stow what Ive I've endured you know what you did do did dId dId- do lo you think that I wouldn't kill you Stenhart staring back into those steel gray eyes wavered and blanched He was still weak from illness his limbs shook You You you fiend he gasped You call me a fiend what fiend what do you call yours yourself ell you liar Sherwin's voice was low but it was terrible He let go the arms of the chair and straightened himself Youre half sick still Ill I'll let you get your strength first but but I I shall kill you presently Stenhart said nothing he was shaking now from head to foot toot Something deeper than his fear tear of Sherwin shook him He set his teeth but they chattered Sherwin watching him laughed Then he looked toward the house and saw Fanny Sewell emerge carrying carrying carrying car car- a tray Your nurse is coming he said to the invalid Get your strength quickly I dont don't care to kill a sick man Stenhart Stenhart leaned back in his chair and shut his eyes He was feigning more weakness than he felt he was trying to plan some way to rid himself himself himself him him- self of this peril perU for tor he knew that Sherwin meant every word he said He would kill him hIml Though his eyes were closed he listened keenly and he heard Sherwin's Shervin's footsteps retreating retreating retreating re re- treating across the grass then came the rustle of a womans woman's skirt and he looked up and saw Fanny Sewell coming corning with her little tray The sun was shining on her fair fab hair and her serene face and he tried to think he had just awakened from a night night- mare I t Sherwin passing the young nurse went to the house The door stood open and he entered going at once to Jims Jim's desk He had had- promised Jane to straighten the a accounts counts mechanically mechanIcally mechanically me me- he sat down to his task but his mind was full of the scene under the trees of Stenhart's aghast face He drew a deep breath and his clenched fist struck the desk sharply sharp sharp- ly rattling Its shabby litter out of the pigeonholes He had no pity for Stenhart's apparent weakness he had evidently been near death and he was glad that he had bad not died I If he had died he would have es- es es es- There was a little rustle of paper a breeze from the window had got among the papers that his hb violence had shaken out of the pigeonholes It lifted a thin tissue covering a flat Oat cardboard and rustled it it As Sherwin Sher- Sher Sherwin win looked down it blew the thin paper completely away and he saw laW what it had covered A phot photograph graph the photograph of a very young girl her hair in braids on her slim shoulders ders her chin lifted her eyes looking looking looking look look- ing up at him a smile on her full tull young lips lips Jane Jane Unconsciously a great change came over him tho the blood rushed to his face his hi eye ya softened TO BE BS CONTINUED |