The evening world. Newspaper, January 30, 1914, Page 23

on ALO Ue et ance Di oe RE Mes mite > , ean? ' a s ’ fi World Daily Ma gazine, Friday, Jenuary 30. 19174 The Eve ning THE TRAIL TO YESTERDAY “Adventures of a Real Man and a Real Girl = Pi in a Real Country” | MAIDS OF la By Charles Alden Seltzer France: and the felen (wo wondacha women i dathor of “The Two-Gun Man,” Bte., PARADISE Robert W. Chamber's bes i. (Coperight, 1018, ty Outing Publishing Co.) By Robert W. Chambers \OEIOE—=10 E10! dow't gheot him. Go—leave the coun- Z in time TS However, the discovery pony try. You have plenty of time. You reform, But I don’t believe you.” told the Sheriff nothing Seyond the have enough to answer for. Please “You forgot to merition ome other fact that Dakota had ridden to the Ont: go!” crime,” he reminded is & low cabin somew! agome time kota ros anwar me exanees Se £7 1S ae not without a {race ef ear- before. Whether he was asleep, or that he was charged shoul: owing! und so Clem wat that she faced Mm—as he had forced “ La ay ag gg ght I wilt it with! ‘outside her to face him that day on the river Bever forget it, T forgtve you, cabin wav not quite cleat, ss for in comparison to your other Therefore Allen, the Sheriff, a mam him. And yet, though he crimes your sin against me was triv- of much experience, advised caution. opportunit Lays Of the Mask. sab—though it ar Tart tecns After another careful recon! h Again his bitter laugh her which settled beyond all reasonable OW EVER,” continued ears. “I thought, Be began, and doubt the fact that Dakota was not, carefully a ri then stopped short. “Weil, I reckom secreted in the timber in the vicinity thing which Langtoré, with ign f it doesn’t make much difference what of the cabin, Allen told his any idea that he of resignation that it it. FT t would have to tell you to remain concealed em the of ba before Zou would under: the clearing, while be oo . Po Rg be] So to the door of the cabiel and rer; oa Fours, Sivan, me some quiet unti—untii the time comes. jow ; pore ind ny, ot oe ybe that won't be so long, and then ‘Gan tells me Doubler, "But I. didn't shoot him— YoU!! understand, I'll be seeing you your father and Duncan have framed “I am leaving this country Doubler sant dead row,” ahe informed him coldly, up on me. and so I'm not running away. ; vee tt i : ra, She éaw him start and hata," laugh aensation of eatistac- pete of “Well,” he said, with a queer note Ber with ¢ regret in his voice, “that’s too bad. \ mients Buel reckon Til be seeing you again an Do you think they will come for you to-night? she asked, suddenly i bone ago, while I was standing at the DE een ie anaweret, 1 window, looking in at your father giv- eee Oar father had told 7 reckon. Onty, ret him coming from there, I ‘was ing a demonstration of his love for for the sherift. “What will they do? {0.6 you, Com! on ti trail—going ' there—and I you, that you intended going over to recko! hoard theshot. I know Dakota killed Doubler’s shack to nurse him. If B end my beaut him.” you're still of mind, we ice ryly ea Langt exclamation take you over there.” castic, “It's too bad you “oh Npaaa a sg Sheila was at the door in an tn- cant arom oot e stant, but halted on the threshold te i, it isn't eo bad, after all. ‘word to can they And very Nsten to Dakota's parting course, my Gear; why shouldn't Langford. 22 Aseuredly you would not allow Dakota. likely Doubler will - ss 7 “Mister man,” he said tie~ Fare Sra, Satins oat eae esis! ae ag thy Ac ratared to the ot = * gette doctor can reach his cabin. "No, D!m as he approached shelf on He caught Bhella’s nod and ques- want to aay to you, ere’s @ day dearer should be punished.’ my dear,” he added, smiling at Sheila, which stood a kerosene iP, lifted tioned coldl; ed coming when you’ Il think thoughte— gon’t reckon that I'm ing to let Fenyhin J ‘nee hall, — prot pn plenty of them.” the chimney and applied a match to tay “fash he had stepped outside the wick. For an instant after re- Placing the chimney he stood full in the glare of light, bis face contorted with rage, his eyes gleaming with venom. “Now you know exactly where I door and closed it after him. oF ee cae te more Kink ether ‘few minutes later, still standing tna Country, Usually they hang @ bee Se ord heard the man and consider the evidence after- Of the corral yard, Faint they be- Wirt, “ip pee etung them Ge that “Who burned it?” “My—Mr, Langford,” returned Shel- a. “You found it and showed it to him, and he burned it,” said Dakota, slow- ly. “Why?” “Don’t. you see?” Sheila's eyes ‘Pwo things were now fixed in her faind as certainties, Dakota had not her father since she hed “tt ten’t so bad, after all.” Bheila arose: Her poignant anger against him was equaled only by her disgust. He expected her to bear wit- nese i Dakota; desired her to ipate in his acheme to fasten the * a A ‘And he's too polite to pokes ‘We'll wait. likely hell c! mind: it." “masquerade sn long before her; why rmitted herself to love a wed, 80 entirely lacking t a thrill of hope swept over her. Perhape ‘Doubler would not die? She Phe viowpslnt of the nester’s tl int of the » but = penta had reall was @ chance his gd ch seemed so imminent would be d into something le vi to amifle quietly at Lang- ed when he continued: ‘ota will be hung, of course; de- dn it, Waen Duncan cam for murder, of her voice. said Langford, ‘7 Lae “BRacause,” returned Shella, enjoy- her word: and he sat looking at Sheila ‘wide, staring, vacuous eyes, “No iv” he repeated hoarsely. “Why, told me he had examined him, 4 been, shot through the ad bled to death before he im! How do you know that he not, dead?” he suddenly demanded, leaning toward her, a wild hope in his eyes. ” é to his cabin before noon, 14 Bheha “I found him lying tn : Bie fet through th ulder, but not ug! Spe ‘was still alive. I dragged the cabin and did what I could fer him, Then I started for the doc- fy "For the doctor?” he said incredu- “Then how does it happen here? You couldn't pos- mbly ride to Lasette and return by Deliewe I seid that I ‘started’ for doetor,” said Sheila with a quiet ¢ that you are enjo; “} met Dakota on the trail, and ‘Langford continued to stare at ber, it seemed that he could not real Th out of his chair and standing over her, his face bloated poisonously, his pl th @ mall, comes of vee business had you ‘aid Mind looked up inte his face SSeajuly and deftantly. upon the latter the entire blame for the commission of a crime in which he himself was the moving factor. “I shall not bear witness against him,” she told Langford coldly. “For T am_golng away—back East—to- morrow. Don't imagine that I have ; been in complete. tgnorance of what has been going on; thet I have unaware of the part you Rave in the shooting o: . have known for quite a lo that you it had decided to have bier mur. dered, and only Rn wagid I learned that you hired Dak te kill him. And this morning, when I met Da- kota on the river trail, he dropped this from a ket of his vest.” She fumbled at her bodice and produced ee eae agreement, holding it out im, As she expected, he repudiated it, though his face paled a little as he is a forgery, my dear,” he @aid, in the old, smooth, even voice that she had grown to despise. ‘No,” she returned calmly, “it ts not a forgery. You forget that only &@ minute ago you practically admitted it to be a true agreement by telling me that I should have allowed Dou- stand, you—you hussy,” he sald, grin- ning satiricallyas she winced under the insult. “I'm your father! Your her—do you hear? And I'll not ave you back East to gab and gossip about me. You'll stay here, and you'll bear witness against kota, and you'll keep quiet about me!” He was trembling horribly as he came his breath wee ‘to her, and coughing in his throat shrilly. “I won't do anything of the kind!” Shella got to her feet, and stood, rigid with anger, her eyes flaming de- fiance, “I am going to Doubler’s cabin this minute, and if you molest me again I shall go to the sheriff with my story!" ‘He seemed about to attack her again, and his hands were raised though to grasp her throat, when there came a sound at the door, it swung open, and Dakota stepped in, closing the door beaind him. Dakota's face was white—white as it had been that other day at the quicksand cross when Sheila had looked up to see him sitting on his pony, watching her. There was an entire absence of excitement in his manner, though; no visible sign to tell that what he had seen enter- ing the cabin disturbed him in the least. Yet the whiteness of his face belied this apparent composure. It seemed to Sheila that his eyes be- trayed the strong emotion that wap gripping him. She retreated to the chair beside the desk and sank into tt. Langford had wheeled and was now facing Da- kota, a shallow smile on his face. There the sftuation ter =, doctor, gone for a that ¢! sertoun spirits rose and she bler to die. You are an accomplice in the shooting of Doubler, and if I am phi It to the paper, smiling rking flames consumed it. bor | an as the was entirely composed through the ring darkni ot the interior oft office she saw a sneer come into his face. “T shall do all I can to assiat you to discontinue the assoctations which are 80 distasteful to you. You will start for the East immediately, I pre- sume?" “To-morrow,” she said. “In the afternoon. I shall have my trunks ru over to Lasette in the morn- ing.” “In the morning?” said Langford, purzied. “Why not ride with them, in the noon, in the buckboard?”’ “T shall ride my pony. The man can return him.” She took a step toward the door, but halted before teaching it, turning to look back at said Sheila keep a quiver of tri- startled. as mile on Dakota's , too; a mysterious, cold, pre- pared grin that fascinated Shella as ashe watched him, The sinile faded ‘a little when he spoke to Lanzford, is voice vibrating, as though be had been running. “When you're fighting @ woman, Langford, you ought to make sure there isn't a man around!” Mingling with Sheila's recognition of the obvious and admirable pbil- osophy of this statement was a@ realization that Dakota must have been riding hard. There was much dust on his clothing, the scarf at his neck was thick with it; streaked his face, his voice was husky, his lips ary. Langford did not answer him, stepping back against the desk and regarding him with a mirthless, forced umile which, Shella was cer- tain, he had assumed in order to con- ceal his fear of the man who stood before him. “So you haven't got any thoughts just at this minute,” said Dakota with cold insinuation, “You are one of those men who can talle bravely enough to women, but who can’ Poubler ts alone. and he needs care. think of anything exactly proper for fam going to him—to stay with him man to hear. Well, you'll do your until the doctor arrives. Ho will “i talking later.” He looked at Shella, LL pen he some: of ignoring Langford completely. | "You are determined to continue ta 5 oxPect, Jou've been, wandering, meddle, are you?” he sald, his voice DAam why Tm ners trying to do quivering with anger, his lips working Something for oubler. But the doc- strangely, “Iam sick of your damned tOmethinn £0 teen ete of him. ‘The interference. Sick of it, I tell you!” tors there, taling care Of fie nd His voice lowered to a harsh, throaty Tring 1 v0 Come oe a He dre ane whisper, ‘You won't leave this omce {his mnler's cama” He Ore Out until to-morrow afternoon! Do you the memoranda whic a hear? What business is it of yours If placed on the shelf in the cabin, hold- Doubler dies?” met up ia that me ralant ee : “You took my vest,” he went on. Fon A gare ted eee] “And I was looking for it. I found terposed, his fingers closing on hee it all right, but something was mina- forPone oping itso tightly that she {08 You're tho only one who has eried out with pain. suddenly been to Doubler’s cabin since I left his fingers were boring into her shoul- ‘she was twisted, helpless, in rutal grasp and flung bodily into chair beside the desk, where she sat, sobbing breathies Bho did not ery out motionless, her lips quivering, her shoulders where his iron fingers ation that was jer’n face, and ttle to further ‘because Doubler isn’t Langford’s jaws im. “T don't think ft is necessary for me to say goodby. But you have not treated me badly in ths past, and I thank you—for that—and wish you well,” by are you going?” fShetia had walked to the door and stood with one hand on the latch. He came and stood beside her, Pressed excitement in his mani eyes gleaming brightly in the which had suddenly fallen, “T think I told you that before. He had been shot de, near the ying his excite- 2 ise juddenly he was ant light. your di there, I expect, and it must have you who opened thig book, It isn't in the same shape was when you pulled it off me when I was talking to you down there on the river trail; something has been taken out of it— @ paper. That's why I rode over here, to if you'd got it. Have you, jain, but wat . Fubbing nt, however, he re- . of himself, leaving ‘had sunk into the flesh, ber soul filled ™a'am x and with a revolting horror for his bru- Shetila pointed mutely to the floor, bs 6 woes it of tie, erin eee ach was rf a moment there was no move- of the signed agree- ment. in darkness maw leave watched Burned!” eaid Dakota, sharply, gis Se nig eas iano mocked Langford as she intercepted his gaze, which had been fixed on Dakota. him,” she concluded, indicating her ather. “I reckon I see.” The smile was entire'y gone out of Dakota's facp now, and as he turned to look Langford there was an expression ‘hts eyes witich Chilled the latter. ~~ “You've flunked.on the agreement. You've burned it—won't recognize it, eh? Well, I'm not any surprised.” Langford had partially recovered from the sbock. foned by Dako- ta’s unexpected appbarance, and ho a hed his head in emphatic, brasen jenial. “There Was flo ‘agreement between us, my friend,” he said. “The paper 1 burned was a forgery.” Dakota's ips hardened. “You called me your friend once before, Lang- ford," he said coldly, , “Don’t do it again or I'll forget that you aro Sheila's father. 1 reckon she has told you about Doubler, That's why [I came over here to get the paper, for I knew that if you got hold of it you'd make short work of it. [know something else.” He took @ step for- ward and tried to bold Langford’ sent Duncan to Lazette for the Sherfit, ‘The doctor told me he'd met him— Duncan—and the doctor says Duncan told him that you'd said that I fixed Doubler, How do you know I did?’ “Duncan saw you," said Langford. ee curled. “Duncan tell OF it's a plant, eb aaid, with a mirthless chuckl are figuring to get two bird: stone—Doubler and me. ready got Doubler, or think you have, and now it's my turn. It does look Rey, bad for me, for a fact, doesn't it? You've burned the agreement you made with me, so that you could slip out of ycur obligation. I reeken you think thi tt Sheriff gets me you'll be able to take the Star with- out any trouble—like you expect to tak» Doubler’s land. “You've got Duncan to swear that he saw me do for Doubler, and you've got your daughter to testify that sho saw me on the trail, coming from Doubler’s cabin right after she heard the shooting. It was a right clever scheme, but it was my fault for let- jog beg got anything on mo—I ought to have. known that you'd try some dog's trick or other.” His voice was coming rapidly, sharp- ly, and waa burdened with a lashing sarcasm. “Yes, it's a right clever scheme, Mister Langford, and tt ought to be successful, But there's one thing you've forgot. I've lived too long in this country to let any one tangle mo up like you'd like to have me. When p) a man gets double crossed in this country, he can't go to the law for redress—ho makes his own laws. I'm making mine. You've double crossed and, damn your hide, I'm going to send you over the divide in a hurry!" One of his heavy revolvers leaped from its holster and showed for an instant in his right hand, Sheila had been watching closely, forewarned by Dakota’s manner, and when she saw his right hapd drop to the holster she sprang upon him, catching the weapon by the muzzle. Langford had covered his face with his hands, stood beside the desk, trembling, and Sheila cried aloud in been protest when she saw Dakota draw the weapon that swung at hia other hip, holding her off with the hand which he had seized. But when Da- kota saw Langford's hands go to his face ho hesitated, smiling scornfully. He turned to Shella, looking down at her face close to his, his smile soft- ening. “I forgot,” he sald gently; Got he is your father,” v7 et that,” she gg pa (ae my father, any more. ° =? + losked at Dakota pleatingly—"please ‘I for- “It was evidence against D: came, and their rhythmic beat faster, il they died away entirely, words still lirgered in Langford's mind, and {t seemed to him that they conveyed a prophecy. CHAPTER XII. The Parting. "LL be leaving you now, ma'am.” There was a good moon, and its mel- low Ught streamed full fato Dakota’ travel-stained face as he halted bis 66 Pony on the crest of @ slope above ¢, the Two Forks and pointed out a light that giimmered weakly through the trees on a level some distance on 7 the other side of the river. “There's Doubler’s you eee that light,” he continued, speaking to Sheila in a low voice. “You've been there before, and you won't get lost going the rest of the way alone. Do what you can ‘for Doubler. shack. I've doné @ héap of riding to-day, and I don't feel exactly like I want to keep going om, unless it's Teal important. Besides, maybe Doubler grim, 4 a cabin—where I'm going down to my gag) me. might look at it not.” lity I suppese I rently, but maybe Shella was silent; he became atlent, too, and loo! goin, but when in his voice, it he had. Shella's ears after she him vanish ty door of formed down at her with grave, qu “T am going to nurse tor ker’ gravely at her. he said a tly, “Tn be je urged yy. forward, had Eis"pon only & few Yooked back at pu mockery long in ~ down Dakota’ into the | mysterious into eo 4 an ean , aNd 80 Doubler’s eabia. btm, ohe in- doot “That's good,” he returned softly; “he needs lots of care—the care that a woman ¢an give him.” ‘Then medical terms and he went off into a mage of Dhragee that left her confused, but out of which she miased a vital a] will get along @ whole lot better if from I don't hang around there, At least, he'll do as well.” Sheila bad turned her head from Bim, He was exhibiting a perfectly natural aversion toward visiting the man he bad nearly killed, she assured herself with a shudder, and she felt no pity for him. He bad done her a service, however, in appearing at the Double R at a most opportune time, and she was grateful. Therefore she lingered, finding it hard to choose words, “1 am sorry,” she finally said, “Thank you.” He manoeuvred his pony until the moonligh’ structions to drope of is contents water if Dou! bandages were to be changed times a day and the wound bathed. ‘The doctor was giad that she had come, for he had a very sick patient in Mra. Moreland, and he must return to her immediately. Jook in in a day or two. Ni in bier became hered the fact that the bullet had that Doubler was m @hock than from He would try to he in answer to her question, not leare Doubler merce e eat go home—if she wanted the patient get well. And so Shella watched him as he went out and even te it to his horse and rode away down the river trail. Then her face, “I reckon you’ with a tigh she returned to t mame, not Hen ree portesthry .s closed the door, and took Se Ber vigil You are willing to take Domde the neater, Duncan's word for it?" “Dunean's word, and the agreement CHAPTER Xill. which 4 found in the pocket of your she returned, without @uppose that is proof adiigh 2” ‘Well,” be sald with @ bitter laugh, ‘1t does look bad for me, for @ fact. I can’t deny that. And I don’t blame you for thinking as you do. But you heard what I told your father about hooting of Doubler being a ‘A plant?” “A scheme, a plot—to make an in- nocent man em guilty. That what has been done with me, I didn't pee Doubler. I wouldn't shoot im.” She looked at him now, unbelief in her eyes. “Of cour waid, “Well,” he said resignedly, “I reckon that's all. I can't say that I expected anything else. I've done some things in my life that I've regretted, but I've neyer told @ lie when the truth would do ag well. There is no reason now why I should lie, and so T want you to the truth when shoot Doubler, he returned, unaffected hy the earnestness in hin voice, “You were at Doubler’s cabin when I heard the shot—I met you on the trail. You killed that man Blanca over in La- zette for nothing, You didn't need to kill him; po shot him in pure wantonness, ut you killed Doubler for money. You would have killed my father had I not been there to » you would deny it,” she Sherif Allen Takes «a Hand. T GE Sheriff's posne—three men whom he had deputized in Lasetts and himself—had ridden haga over the twenty miles of tough trail from Lazette, for Duncan had assured Al- Jen that he would have to get into action before Dakota could discover is that there had been @ witness to his deed, and therefore when they arrived at the edge of the clearing near Da- kota's cabin at midnight, they were glad of an opportunity to dismount and stretch themselves. ‘There was no light in Dakota's cab- in, no sign that-the man the Bheriff was after was anywhere about, and the latter consulted gravely with his {This ain't going to be any picnic, boys," he sald. “We've got to take our time and keep our eyes open. Da- kota ain't no spring chicken, and If he don't want to come with us peacea- ble, he'll make things plumb lively.” A careful examination of the horses fm the corral resulted fn the discov- ery of one which bad evidently been ridden hard ani unsaddied but « few minutes befo.y for ite flanks were to eo lather and steam cee from ite Perha: " Eiicy segs Wer hive ay oe pathy Qooount, and I hepe siden te hetla cayuse ¢ from the day's activities. Doub overnight = ape . “Good orinned tle matter as “It I gs Bheriff"——began EE 5 F if? i for ope the breeze to the Double R for grub. ‘We'll be needing it by the time you get back.” «Just kota’s Duncan had already ridden over the door, sixty miles within the past twenty. swung Some Nemes 80 he tanto 8 CEOs opening, one rejoinder. But in the end he ro hand. one of Dakota's horas, saddled it, “I reckeh I hhow and presently vanished im the 4dark- to be tolerably ness. Allen and men built a fire before leave near the edgw thw clearing and Alien and rolled into their blankete, + folded over his chest as a r ‘At 8 o'clock the following morning Of his present peaceful ‘int ‘But-I want you tq get thie. on the lead! AS eee ot cued win tre atraight before ry visions and cooking utensils the And then you'll be ress nent ont Be eee Dunesa,. - Sys BS. yo8 ford jon wi! Famed ed, Lad sought his Sunk tirea Doubler. his “You're the owner of the ible “You and Dakota diy?” he “We've been quite friendly,” “But you a. pin hy ‘rust have law and ordeg, ries cans mney n aq am at Langford. “ tea pare yee Sta tat ase Seth. Let Shane a inn jendship, m have got friends wouldn't let a little not is Tm fing Wen law and ofder tmterfere be- One ° t them.” kaewn Dakois ee oe ‘course,’ be own ota lon; “4 derended. “Perhaps 1 erred tn ing we were friends. Acquaintances would better describe {t, I think.” Allen's eye narrowed again with an} emotion that Langford could not FIAT: nebo Raitt Rebate nee fa! in Dal Yt a And ‘then, when Langford'’s. feos Pg bree le ini 5 ony gruffly: “You say Doubler’s dead?” with Dakota, : “I don't remember: though he covertly questioned the to 7ci0n't ramamber@o have sald that mor he could discover snapping with rage. ‘was that in quite dead, she reported,’ “Thore can be no doubt of his guilt, if that is what bothers, you,” he con- of events. tinued. “Duncan saw him shoot | And so the hours dragged. The Doubler tn ‘the back with Doubler's lounged in the shade of the own rifle, and my daughter heard the talked; Langford—though bi shot and met Dakota coming from further use for staying — ‘a cabin immediately after, It's concealing his impatience over Allen's: a clear case, it seems to me.’ inaction taking short rides, buf always "Yes, clear,” said Alle: evi- returning. Allen, taciturn, morose dence i» all against him. even, paid no attention to him, 9 Yet it was not all quite ¢ | to ‘The afternoon waned; the san’ Langford. To be sure he ex- scended to the peaks of the moun: pected to receive news that ) ‘kota and there was still inaction on Allen’ had accomplished the destruction of part, still silence from the cabin, Saat Doubler, but, he had not anticipated rt sundown Allen called his) men; fortu Appearance of Duncan him and told them to kuard the Oehin | at tho nesters cabin during the com- closely, not to 8) unless wages mission of the murder, nor had he ex. Dakota, b ain that: hgh § ey might expect him te Hee pected Sheila to be near the scone of the crime, It had turned out hetter than ho turn by dawn of the followme ime had planned, for since he had burned Then, during Langford's ahsenoee 9 the that-he had made with one of his rides, he loped hin 7 amy the latter ra no hold = she river trail toward C ttt! and were Spas y eabin. the he has (Zo Bo Continued y’’