GIFT “TO GET ME?” { SYNOPSIS. —On the isolated eager ranch, on the southern fori Deborah Meredith, trained urse, is in attendance on Mrs, Meager, whose husband has re- cently been killed, Immediately after the death, Bob Meager, Mrs. Meager's stepson, arrives and takes possession. He insults Deborah and resolves to leave, but there seems no possi- bility of her getting away. Mea- ger gloats over Deborah's plight. 5 she CHAPTER I|l—Continued. —D “Very well” she sald, forcing strange calmness into her volce, will listen to what you have to say.” “Listen! I rather guess you will I like your d—n nerve, but you'll find out I've got some myself. Now, here, Miss Deborah Meredith. A week ago I didn't even know you existed, But after we had that little seance together the other day in the old lady's room, I made up my mind that I was going to give you a lesson. You didn't like me, did you?” He stopped, but she did not answer, although her eves met his own, “Come up. I know didn’t: but I want to hear you say so." “It certainly is true” “Sure it's true. Why In h—I shouldn't | it be? The old man had filled you | full—" “Your father you to me.” “Then my precious stepmother did.” | “Only In reply to questions, but nevertheless, I knew. If it Is nec- essary for me to answer, I will—I do | not like Meager.” The man grinned almost cheerfully. “Some fellows might get mad at that, but I don't. 1 rather enjoy it. Why? Because I've got it don't make any d-—n That's why. As long as I I'm going to have you. I what you think me. Likely I'm even worse than that; but the first minute I seen you In that white uniferm, I made up my mind you the girl I wanted; and I made up my mind, too, that It wasn’t any of a “1 See on! talk you never once of spoke some you, Bob you where difference, want you, don’t care o' from was use d—n bit. You'd just laugh at that. So I went to work and fi another way.” “To get me?" In growing horror, get me? For what? “Oh, it's all going to so don't let that worry you Is going to be a d handle the cards thing I had to do was to build tight fence around this ranch, couldn't get out. I ain't been ing you any meanwhile. I hain't ken to you since that first time, There wasn't no use, I saw (lg your at sort o' girl vou was “ind what you thought o’ me. But up my mind what 1 ‘ how 1 was to get I have notion of i again until I had the see?” “And—and now you-—3 to play, and have come?” “Correct. 1 can't lose. do what I say, whether 3 not. Maybe you don't just get this straight? Well, listen In the first place I am Bob Meager, and, I reckon, you never heard nothin’ very soft about me It's pretty generally known around here that I am a he-man, and that I useally get what 1 after, You know that, don't you?” “I—1 have heard of your methods— yes” “I thought most likely you had Well, that's one point he point is, I'm the a sured be honorable now square 206? KM i eve wil thot , 4 » jus 'd made was aiter ening - Mis any + go second real be of this 88 at the calmness with which she You have me completely in your power; you have planned it all out.” “That's the ticket. Now there ain't no use your getting mad. I like you; I like you awfully well, and I'm going to be mighty square with you. But there wasn't any other way for me to get you—was there?” “No,” she sald frankly, “there was no other course possible.” “Which means you don't like at all? me Meager. 1 do not belleve I ever I do you. I disliked you before I ever you walk on. me after that?” “You just bet I grinned. “You're a wildeat, I'l you, D-—n it! I like it in you; you're not the wishy-washy kind, One of us saw * he but have, sure has got to be boss: 1 very first, and means now; I'm going to “In what way do ‘Haven't you got ing to marry the first time $40 what this the one, the hat's " he you mean?” idea yet? I I took tl! HL YO] jut ry in tho you-—gee? tion you're exactly know'd then to do It. How about but to business. to be nice She endeavored age. even “Marry you? know attempting world I you i thot you and volee har have no chance. whether you sas in Nogales gs I got , right he down other thin It's names re n In it Meredith.” sometime writts ria ge ain't ten and Deborah all; . 1. o'clock going you up and She no no atte seemed brace ade mpt at him ness “I ain't go went o through the n every 1 » shadows, ‘he understood ¥. Just ce, Bes his words, or nation He erately, In will wl what she now, clearly, de called not to was bh Meager had left 1 had d this blo« ad h , and, perhaps, the pow it out. At upon anythis imagi- delib- ann wd, cold an ¢ had ically at the fellows threat, It of delirlum. Marry him! Marry that degenerate brute! Why, would rather die a hundred deaths than have him even touch her. He was a foul, she sistent fear she could not conquer. He was ruthless, merciless, If he desired her, nothing would permitted stand In his way. be to the circumstances, And Mrs, Menger would only break down and cry; un- of of her her terror cause slightest service, her stepson was the real nervous breakdown, No, there was absolutely no one to rely upon but herself. And what could she do? The girl stood up in the darkness, her hands gripped, her eyes on the opening through the chaparral leading toward the house the trail along which Bob Meager had disappeared. She must follow him; there was nowhere else for her to go. She must face this thing alone, with all the desperate courage she could muster. If the worst came she must swiftly, decisively—even to kill ing the monster. There was no other cholee left, no other escape. had of thing, about never dreamed yet own; such a enough the ranch. could easily be secured, Impelled by this realizing Surely thought defense, clearly this defilement: that {0 ————" a AOA. HA which Is different: now he long while.” “Me marry of his own race—here?” “Sure; you have seen her; she cares for the old senora.” “The girl In white?" “lin and Madre would it was I who had her, Pedro! Did ever you see such eyes? Sacral [ would ride through h—1 to make her smile on me." “Pah!” indifferently, pale for my taste” “Pale! with those cheeks and lips! My blood bolls at dream of her kisses, I'd give every mald {in Mexico for such as her” “'Tis as your taste runs, senor; but how came she to love this flend of an Americano? “Love him! Sanchea rocked with laughter. “H--1! he has but spoke to her the once, to my knowledge. I marry for de Dios, 1 she; “she Is too i Deborah, the firmly pressed 188lstance, color | ; : 1 er lps advanced her cheeks, h resolut darkness toward would defend herself before would sul to that brute she would shoot The men of the home ranch evidently at lighted, and, as she sli] She all hazards: she to supper, the big hall belng i ¥ t! windows, she had fellows volces unshaded the e withi conversing They were a face down not vicious of Mexl wxhibiting Indian bi nrecfons i } scarcely a that was ype Wl tli praved-—ths sem 1) deed, worthy of crept of away, their try or ¢ . fer} single dim lig house, hnt 48) was at » advanced caut for nny sound, en hiect., Once arn Ooh leg sf dans 3 contadent ; the was blackened i radiance made vizible Without beat were no occupants ; ith heart wildly, she slipped silent] itation, but w ting ithin r eyes swiftly searchis bunks and the wooden pegs which dangled garments, vanced gingerly, satisfied that if any upant had left his belt behind it in one of the bunks entirely fACroas to cant above, h She ad Of be found had gone and moved She down the other heart leaping exultantly gleam the dim light. as she per. of a steel barrel with her; he had spoken soberly and “Now Do You Get the Picture?” rageh ; it’s mine, and I've got the let ters to prove it. Now, do you get the picture?” v It was almost dark, but she could still distinguish his face, as he leaned forward peering at her. There was no doubt as to the real meaning of the man, and she comprehended fully her own helplessness of resistance. All she could hope to do now was to cause delay, to thus win a chance to think and act. : “Yes,” she managed to say, marvel Fiendish he cold as it was, and In had acted de- blood. That it all the more dangerous, for would likely drink now and be- come an utter flend. Within an hour he would be raging drunk, capable of any indignity, any wild act. A brute sober, he became a demon drunk. And she must face it—alone! This the conviction that possession of her mind was not an idle one. contemptuously away there, completely confident that she could not escape. There was no spot of safety to which she could fly, no friend to whom she could appeal, She gazed hopelessly ont into the black vold: not a light gleamed any- where except from those distant stars overhead. There was but one way leading across that expanse, the single trail connecting with the pass through the mountain canyon beyond, There might, of course, be others—known to Indian or outlaw-<but this path was the only one she ever had traveled And 1t never could be traversed alone on foot, Yet, was there any other hope of escape--of postponement even? To appeal to Bob Meager would accom- plish nothing. She knew the base heart of the man now if she never had before; he would only laugh, whether she came to him with reproaches or tears. And there was no one else not a single white man left on the estate to her knowledge ; not officer of the law nearer than Nogales. The Justice of the peace who was coming out to marry them! Bah! Whoever he was, he would assuredly be a crea. ture of Menger's own choosing. N other+kind would be employed under he He could turn and leave her ! i i belt containing a half-dozen cartridges She grasped these in her hands, con- scious, even as she did so, of the of voleces outside. The men were already returning; scarcely a moment remaiged before some of them sufficient girl to ment was frightened to dash permit out of he securely in her hands, waiting oppor- None of entrance, but tection of the ranchhouse the fellows chose that surged in through the a care In the world The who had entered first stretched themselves out In bunks op posite each other, pufliing vigorously on their cigarettes, and conversed in English, evidently proud of the ac- complishment. One she recognized as Juan Sanchez, who had accompanied Bob Meager on his return, and had since been made foreman, a swarthy, evil-eyed half-breed, with a long mus. tache and a livid scar on one cheek. The other was an Indian, a mere boy, but with cruel mouth, and face hid. eous from pockmarks. Sanchez called him Pedro, yet talked to him as he might to a dog. It was the boy who questioned eagerly : “Vat he say, senor—the man? 1 hear eet not all, the fools they make 80 mucha noise. We have flesta?” Sanchez blew a cloud of smoke into the polluted alr, flipping the ash of his cigarette onto the floor, “Plenty drink, Pedro,” he sald indo lently, *an’ no work tomorrow. The boss he marry.” “Marry! the gringo? How that be again, senor? and Pedro sat up, dan- gling his feet over the edge of the bunk, Sanchez laughed grimly. “Ah, Pedro, I forgot you were there. It was a great night, was it not; yet, Santa Anha; It counts for nothing this slide the line, "Tis no senorita of Mex- Ico this time, but one of his own race, two i Sanchez Laughed Grimiy. the happl at I %, he takes she hated He Hl Ls like sleep to tor. the CHAPTER Il of the Judge. the way was The Coming ty par bag Assured th clear, Deborah ma passage across fg) 8 . ¥ v4 HN a0 t gh iv WAY rl and ince at he . the figure of aebis ight ntri the being observed. . pst safely conceal irk = fich was » Weapon gh large stolen, w to Her own room hall, small, neatly furnished, gave the greatest | promise of security, and she felt a de- cided sense of relief when she finally | thrust the weapon under various ar ticles at the drawer h . too and bersome person. end { ried upon her at the the bottom i fully prepared to make use of it | conversation just overheard strengthened her resolve to herself at all hazards Certain that nothing until after the arrival expected guests from Nogales, | stole Inte the room occupied by The had defend occur she her sleeping soundly. Locking the { ously out into the night, the cool eve. ning air of the desert caressing her {| hot cheeks. Another day? What would it bring to her? Married to Beb Meager? | death? or would she be a fugitive, | with the stain of murder on her soul? stop circulating in her velns, as these questions brought home so nakedly the situation. It must be one of the three: there was no alternative. The fellow was fully capable of this In- famy. He was but repeating an old offense. Somewhere, down helow those mountains that marked the boundary line, a girl of another race had met this same fate now confronting her, and was paying the price. Well, she would never pay It, or If she must, then she would choose her. self what that price should be. She felt. at that moment that she could kill the brute as she would a mad dog. It was a duty, a privilege. Again and again her mind swept about the unbroken circle; the chain binding her was complete; she could turn no- where for help; she was absolutely a prisoner, The revolver hidden away in that bureau drawer alone promised protection. There were toars in her eyes, but not tears of weakness or of pity; her lips were firmly set, and her hands clasping the window sill were steady with determination. She had made up her mind “But | refuse to marry him; | do not consent” hind {TO BE CONTINUED.) . { i { { { i ionable as in Past Sea- sons, Writer Says. i“ ness for evening. The simple has ceased to be as fashionable as in former sensons, Materials that marvels of richness, gold and silver lame, colored lame, sumptuous Per- brilllants all are seen in the grande malisons, notes a Paris fashion writer In the New York Tribune, Perhaps the most featured are the white satin and crepe embroldered all over with crystals and brilliants,. These gowns are simple Ir but the ef- fect magnificent. Usually they are length, with tralling panels or give an effect of dignity. of all gowns pearls, very is ankle cut, {9 els and thelr from 00 prices are exorbitant, upward, striking! ns of white satin or taffeta very bouffant skirts or tralling and be entirely covered brililant futuristic broldered She Myrbor makes original y HOW with wlices flowers em- gowned the wool has f Marlborough, CHS ( and urzon Dresses for evening for daytime, many floor, Hemlines necklines, £ her hemlines Dress of White With a Bright Trimming as a Skirt. Sleeveless Evening Crepe de Chine Green Appliqued Decoration on the Chanel with three circles, hemline two semi edges a similar folds of crepe, Evening gowns are, above all, ple borrowing charm from tle of Moyen Age, from turesque, tradition the This charming lightweight summer frock of white crepe de chine printed in black is trimmed with a plastron of pure white, edged with loops of green grosgrain ribbon. Cut of Blouse Makes One's b or Mars Looks ses and t point of the contour ght cut forms ort ui the »t8 the shade hit colors brighten, wrong the coloring {fy the eyes; Bridal Gown of Today Can Have Color Touch Once upon a time, the ing the bridal gown would have been 3 of a shocking departure. But the bride of today gives a more alive note her frock by Introducing a clever touch pastel color slong with the white, It may be a lining of pale blue chif- it may be a touch of ecru or flesh, it may be a panel lined with {pale green. But whatever the mode | of introduction, the color is there, and | while brides have been “beautiful” {from time immemorial, this pastel {touch of the bride's favorite color makes her even more so. white a'Alng to we ‘ding of { fon, or What will next year bring—a plump- wong the designers, The woman who likes unusual things choose an exotic Hindoo choker i Barunduikl, a new summer fur, Is really just old-fashioned chipmunk; scampering about the woods of the Northwest, Hoop earrings are being revived again! They come In jet, silver fili- gree, metal hoops set with Egyptian stones and jade. They are sald to be newer than the pendant earrings for summer wear. Forty is called the dangerous age for women. It certainly is if they de- pend upon thelr girlish charm for hap- piness. But the woman who dresses and acts in accordance with her years knows no dangerous age, for she al ways can be attractive, She puts aside girlish chatter for soft, intelligent con- versation and she lets the younger women bear the responsibility of the bed heads, De de chine makes a beautiful and serviceable dress for the summer days, as it can be fitted In colors and used as a dance frock. The simple crepe de chine gown Is very popular this season and white Is one of the senson’s best sellers. Of course, one could also have a plaited crepe de chine frock and this could be used as a sports frock later on if worn under a colorful jacquette. The matronly woman who attempts to wear the vogulsh attire of the young {girl adds years to her age. There is nothing sadder In the world than a { woman who refuses to grow old. One may see examples of these women | often, women who cling to thelr { youth and dress in ridiculously youth- | ful clothes. Often their hair is bobbed | In the latest cut or frizzed about thelr | sallow faces in dyed shades that drew | immediate attention to thelr withered skins, Invisible corsetry is the alm of the best corset creator——a happy example is In the “wrap around” model. It is very quickly adjusted; merely “wrap it” and “snap it” round the figure, the elastic sections alternating with coutil, only stretching sufficiently for this purpose. For this reason it is an im- provement on the “pull-on™ corset, as there is not a trace of lacing any. where, and not a line shows through the gown, a precaution rendered doubly necessary by the sheathlike draperies. old Cottage Dinner Sets Some of the wenithy and all of rest of us use open sets of table These open sets belong in general the cheaper grades of china and have become so popular that and more attention has been given making the decorative designs coloring more attractive. A high gree of perfection has been rea in this direction. of replacing your old set with a new one your only difficulty will be In choosing from among the large assort- 55% Bess i ment that stores are carrying at pres. Li
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