“I'M YOUR HUSBAND" msi. SYNOPSIS —On the isolated Meager ranch, on the southern border. Deborah Meradith, trained nurse, is in attendance on Mrs, Meager. whose husband has re- cently been killed, Immediately after the death, Bob Meager, Mrs. Meagers stepson, arrives and takes possession He insults Deborah and she resolves to leave, but there seems no possi- bility of her getting away. Mea- rer gloats over Deborah's plight. He tells her he has sent for a By Randall Parrish Coovright by A. C. McClurg & Co. “Only this; don’t you come another step toward me." He burst into a gruff laugh, slapping his knee, “The h--l you think I am, anyhow? of a woman? Say, listen, that's no way for a wife to welcome her hus band. I got a right here, and you het I'm going to stay. Got an idea you Whe do you Some kid afrald say! justice of the peace, who will marry them tomorrow Horri- fled. the girl secures a revolver. The justice, Cornelius Garrity, scoundrel and bosom friend of Meager, arrives with a party, among them the "Frisco Kid, notorious desperado Despite Deborah's protests the justice performs the marriage ceremony. She escapes and reaches her room CHAPTER V sobre The Blow in the Dark. Debor-h, the revolver held tightly in her fingers, moved silently back into the darkest corner of the room, and crouched there listening. If those men entered that door she meant to shoot, and shoot to kill. This one deadly purpose was all she was conscious of, or cared for, Perhaps in some vague way, Meager may have realized her desperation. He drunkenness, had learned of her temper, and hesi- tated face her immediately, Why should he run the risk? He already had attained his principal object; they were married, and he could wait until anger subsided somewhat asserting his legal rights, Meanwhile the boys were waiting for their drinks, and he ‘felt more Inclined to celebrate the vietory along with them and let take care of if. Some faint conception of this situa even in his something to her tomorrow itse tion occurred to her, as she crouched waiting, The ten there in the dark watehfully undisturbed. and she felt her remained relaxed, again weakness, questioning and despair. She laid the revolver be side her on the floor and buckled the belt with its load of cartridges about her waist: then picked the weapon up once again and rested it on her knee She was no lenger crazed, but able to think clearly and decide what to at- tempt next, yet sion womanly her that she power, confidence in she thing-—-his utter already securely could not waiting there for him when he ready to possess her, What difference did an hour make: she was his wife; when he drunk enough, reckless enough. he would come to claim Well, let him would tinue to wait, and he should welcome His his w before dawn, Nhe his would Was She escape, was was her come; she con have his wife! She might be idow no 1%. long rom the grip on tireless, hatred it But nothing hap- little, began for a le not take her eyes her did not eiid door, move ' time ; f closed the revolver. actuated only by a relentless She w he would come so that might be aver with, pened, and, little by changed. The strain hegan break left her doubtful and afraid. She ven- tured to open the door a slight erack release felt or Oh 1.1 She COG, shed mood tell her io * to and peep cautiously out into the hall: it was deserted, not even a guard had heen stationed there, bur the door at the farther end, leading into the liv- ing room, had been left open, and she hear the men in there making merry. It was a babel of voices at first © then someone began to sing =a ribald song in English, and at the first line she drew back, shutting hateful sound with a feeling preme disgust, could of s0- Trembling from head to foot, crossed to the window and looked out into the cool mists of the night No guard had been posted here either. Evidently she had been left perfectly free to go or come as she pleased, yet she fully understood how limited that freedom was. She might flee from the house, but that was all; the bor ders of the ranch were still her prison walle, the efficient guard those sand deserts stretching in every direction, trackiess and impassable on foot, vast, waterless leagues, where she would perish miserably. A light still burned in the bunkhouse, but the building seemed deserted. Once two men passed down the hill, leaning heavily upon each other, staggering and sing- ing. disappearing finally through the gpen door. She wag still staring after them, when a sound from behind sud- denly caused her to face about. A fumbling hand was lifting the fron latch: the door was being pressed open with an effort at silence. Mo- tionless, breathless with apprehension, the girl watched the entering heam of light broaden until Bob Meager stood swaying In the doorway, clutching at the knob to steady himself; He did not see her at first, his bloodshot eyes blindly searching the apartment; then he must have perceived her outline against the window, for he lurched for- ward, giving vent to an exclamation of relief, “H--1, so you are here, waiting for me? D--d if 1 didn't think maybe you'd taken a chance outside. Too blame sensible, ain't you? 1 thought Hkely you'd come to your senses if I left you here alone awhile. Going to be good to me now, you little cat? Say! what you got to say for your- self, anyhow?" can bluff me. I reckon, Well, I ain't i it now as later. This Is our wedding ! night. Here's where I ought to be, | ain't It? Say, why don't you say some thing? What you going to do?” “1 am going to kill you, Bob Mea- | ger,” she sald coldly, “unless you leave i this room.” “Kill me! Why, vou blame little fool, 1 could crush the life out o' yon with one hand-—-see, just like that, And by G—d, I got the right if you got too gay. I'm your husband, ain't 1? That's what the law says, and I'm going to be your husband, you can bet : your life on that, Think you'll scare i me, do you?" he burst into an ugly laugh. “Not this time, you won't. He turned and closed the door; then crossed the room toward her, reeling drunkenly, yet quite able to retain his feet. The starlight rendered his features visible. Her motionless sl lence caused him to pause. “Pretty d-—n still, ain't you?" he ex | claimed, peering at her suspiciously; “why don't you tsk? When I speak to a woman I want her to say some thing.” “There Is nothing say.” “Only that you're going to kill me if T touch you, hey? All right, then; here's your thance” He took two steps toward her, i hands eagerly, his face thrust forward. Then he stopped sud denly, with sts " more for me to reaching out irtled eves staring giving suppressed ejaculation, “It be d—a'™ “Put your hands up the words were icy cold Don't fool with me now i and go out that : ing; this means your li i Bob around net plas Tarn I am Or mine. door (o!" drunken was, cunning there was hesitation in i action. Dimly he grasped the truth ! that she shrank from the necessity of | shooting: that { the trigger only ! took the chance “Sure,” he muttered, “you got drop and 1 cave. So long, honey” He half turned away, reeling drunk. then suddenly, flung his body her Desperate as she would actus as a last resort, enly, directly at her, crush ing against both falling together, the undis charged beneath her body t. sur yet back the wall Weapo™ prising as the assault was. she had i escaped the and on her move, gris 1i% hands, was hefore could only lost knees he The 1» but in he stock in olver © her had grip of t It lay there glitter ing in the starlight desperate, maddened by the danger, obeying the | first wild instinct the instant, snatched It up the barrel struck with all her force The fellow i no monn, his limbs twitched, was weapon, the fall she and, of by head. gave floor. Deborah slowly lifted her body, shrinking back from darkly out { lined form, beginning to comprehend . with horror what she had done, | still held tight to the { which she had dealt the blow, although { realizing that she no longer required | its protection. The silence was terri fying; her nerves tingled painfully, | she found difficulty In breathing. Was the him with that one hasty blow? could scarcely She realize the possibility, foree, driven to it by terror uncontrol { lable. She shrank now from even | touching him; nurse as she was, hay. | ing witnessed death in every form of horror, and ministered to wounds of every degree, she would not place hand on this man, whether he lived or died, He represented to her mind all that was base and evil; she was glad she had struck him down. But what now? This question over shadowed all else. The thing she had been imagining for so long had at last come to pass. He had come to her, come claiming her with insult and out rage, and she had actually dealt the blow of which she had dreamed. Her courage had not failed her, and he was lying there now in the darkness at her feet, sorely wounded, perhaps dead It was her act; she had done it-—what now? She had never faced this situ ation before, the aftermath. Whether Meager was dead or alive, she must get away. Better to face any danger of the great desert than remain where she was, with not a friend to counsel or protect her, not a white man to whom she could appeal. The girl thrust the \revolver back into its holster at h walst, and glanced out through thd window into the quiet night. Of two evils, the des ert, or these lawless men, she chose the less cruel, the desert. If she was to die, it would be, at least, in honor, Once decided, her mind worked rap idly. In all probability not a man re mained sober about the home ranch: if any horses had been left in the stable, she therefore ought to get sev eral hours the start of m pursuing party. She believed Menger was dead, | | | i i 1 { i ind If so. his followers would be slow to discover what had happened, and would possess no leadership, This, Inevitabdy would mean delay, While, even ir the fellow should live, hours surely must elapse before he could take the tall, With a good horse under her, she would be beyond sight out on the desert, riding straight for those two peaks old Tom Meager had pointed out to her as marking the No- gales trail. With such a start in the race there was surely a chance to win. Her pulses throbbed exultantly ut this sudden awakening of hope, and, without much as another glance at the body prostrate on the floor, she hurried to curry ont her plans, An unrecognized Mexican lay 80 in on the floor of the passage, but she found mo difficulty In passing the fel- low, She neither heard nor saw any of the others, as she made her way through few feet of open space dividing main house from the detached kitchen, There was a lamp burning in the Int ter, and the remains of fire In the stove, but no occupant. Deborah knew the place well, and lost no time In gathering together what required, fortunate enough to discover a small sack In which it could be con veniently transported. The effort had proven easy and safe far. and her heart beat hopefully as she emerged from the kitchen, thus equipped. Now If she could only pro cure a horse, escape actually appeared possible Doubtless the ranch horses BO corral. She had no means of catching these half-broken animals, but it might be that the horses ridden by the party arriving during the evening for Imraediate use, from their These were w eRry desert trip was hours ago; friust have heen fed and, with fit hy this They they the rest, would timse for anoth Journe ible t Were hronros of wiry » endure any smount It was then she horse the "Frisco Kid” Even iu the the fine blooded the far he appeared to be, hands on him, “Frisco Kid!" What of the fellow? wondered as she slowly made her way down the slope, keeping ax far from house had 5 f hare 11 ship. had been lines of condition If she could animal, hetter which only iay had She ever the as possible, She neither wo — - he Hurried to Carry Out Her Plans. seen mor heard of him since that first Perhaps he was among those drunken dogs in the Hv. ing room, sleeping off their carousal ; yet somehow she did not believe it. Someway his volce and manner had strangely impressed her as different; he did not belong with that crew, Out- law, tf man with a price on his head, yet brute. He had not even gone into the house ; she was sure of that now, re. membering clearly. He had led the horses away, while the other two en- tered with Meager. Nor had he re turned later; not at least while she was mt the window, and he was not in attendance at the wedding. Then the truth suddenly occurred to her—the man was hiding out. He dare mot risk drinking, or being sit up in a house. He was a hunted creature, watchful of treachery In every human being. He could trust to no one, not even his companions in crime ; there was a reward for him, dead or alive. He would be out yont der in the dark somewhere, alone, he and his horse, wakening at the slight. eat sound. Perhaps he would be the one she needed to fear the most, when the pursuit started. These thoughts flashed swiftly through her mind, al most unconsciously, as she stole for ward silently through the shadows, She passed a figure lying In the trail, too «drunk even to reach the bunk house, but ns she crept past the open door she sw no sigas of any oc cupants within, Except for the few line- riders, and that outinw hiding in some thicket of chaparral, the whole per: A bit reckless now, because of this knowledge, the girl ventured through the great open door of the stable, and began groping her way forward gearching the stalls, The first was empty, and, as she started to advance’ toward the second, she came to a sud- den pause, with heart leaping into her throat-—-there had been a sound at her left, a rustling of straw, as though something had made a quick move ment. She listened intently, drawing n breath of rellef at the succeeding silence, No doubt It was a horse stir ring, or possibly a rat. Then a volce spoke sternly not three feet away, “Put up your hands! Who are vou? What are you doing in here?” She obeyed instinctively, too fright- ened to even speak, dropping the bag to the floor, forgetting completely the revolver buckled about her waist, A hand reached forward out of the darkness and gripped her upraised arm: she was conscious retained no power of movement “Why don’t you speak?" sald game voice, gered at her silence, sneaking about in here for? dd!” his tone don't believe it's a “It Is &# woman" she reply falteringly., “But make any difference?” He a certain sound “What are you Well, I'l} changing, “if I woman.” managed but to does that laughed, in the not in any relax his “Well, T confess it might.” mitted, “for you are a8 most digcovery in this section ing for almost anything else this outfit?” Meager ranch, is, 1 have been you relief evil he did vigilance, although Way he “To the that You are you?" mean? Sou here are not a Mexican, “1 should say not If that's any more, if vou I'l play that 7™ relief And what's want with You “I shall good t “1 reckon with; who to he square me, fair on believe have to; it lie not ; are Oo RO it yon “Deborah Meredit) eagerly nurse ; 1 8 in profes sional Chicago. | YCUNG COUPLE NEEDS HOME Means Much for Their Prospect of Happiness In the Years Stretch. ing Before Them, Mrs. Fred Drelver, head of the wom- an's division In prominent Detroit real estate firm, thinks the home own er hos all the of It. “Of are i best course there men with in nontaxable stocks is. better than home owning, when you take into con- sideration high rate of taxation and i i i i here and take of hig wife you a friend of Bob Men The man chuckled, had put away held in hand “Well, care Are Rel and weapon ® she knew he he had the his he's got iden together an shout mit: which confession m ommendation to “No, it is not “Tu ght likely it wouldn't he aybhe voll thou are not good and hate hi " friends? “ drunken we we despise mn; brute “Granted freely: but if you feel that why did you remain here on the “Because IT have had no chance to died I ms tient, and ¥et away since Lis father could not desert glides he had He nerely from the an “n- ant fn ] ® i I =» to derstand sifuatio already have what thi means: you are deavoring “It to escape alone? my only “But 1 am stranger: perhaps | much. You “No: 1 seemed chance,” she talking trast are not employed just blew in last night” “What your name? “Daniel Kelleen™ “You are not a cow.puncher surely? You-—you have education.’ He laughed good-humoredls, “Nevertheless, I am tomed to cow-punching with a too here 7 You in " quite accuse Perhaps I've of the boys. Now let straight of this affair, and then we'll Tell it to me from the first” Deborah stared at the man's outline through the darkness. could only see the expression of his face, And there was no choice loft jut the woman's side of it isn't con sidered in sneh a view. A woman home. The family are hap- more united In interests, and ‘here is a feeling of responsibility to- the community and each pler, longs to the family who lives in 1.” houses filled,” sald Mrs Drelver, “is many a man's disinclination for home work. He is often downright about the house, wives are looking for an easy time, too, 80 they tuck themselves up In a stuffy breathe any, bad alr. If they were willing to take a little extra trou have a small home of course, they wouldn't be near movies, and there to do the would be more “It's the only thing for the ¥ starting in life should try to get a home of their own.” out No Possession More Desirable. the Great Majority of People Recognize the Fact and old days dnys not so old when you come to think of it of activities, the place where all family pleasures And y head was to wes the center social were en joved pride of every fami! his the own home: to at his own will situation she scarcely hesitated “You killed him? Say, | like you. some girl” You did? You are sure {TO BE CONTINUED.) irish Opera by German, It is strange that one of the most “Irish” of Irish operas should come from a German musician, but it is nevertheless a fact that the typical Irish opera, “The Lily of Killarney” was composed by a German, Julius Benedict. But Benedict, says the Morning Post, was a clever man, and the Irish idiom in Its broad aspect is ensy to assume. While speaking with an Irish accent he sald many beautiful things, and the airs “Eileen Mavour neen” and “I'm lone” would give dis tinction to any opera that dealt In melody, and sixty years have not dimmed the charm of Benedict's melo- dies, Wanted to Be There. or great banker lay on his death , Many of his friends were goth ered about his bedside to be with him at the last, The attending physician whispered to the group: “I fear he is nearing the Great Divide” “Tell insuring to them a ’ ter of in stance, In ¢ that the event untoward circum these days It sometimes seems we are Life entertainment drifting is away from home more complex; social and features are pro vided ited and varied af in such unlim tions tim we Ff se 5 ove are templed av the roo during most The old-fashio Of of recreation of entertainin his there has come to a feeling that there are than owning them. pPOssessior The fo have g more desiral degire je for home seems been stifled in But this is but a transient phase in the lives of a home owning relatively few people, instinct true one and one that is not supplanted by any ans Exchange is a other for length of time. Capitalizing Barber Shop Talk. All the barbers of Lebanon. Penn. were recently Invited a given the chamber of commerce. The invitations were extended in belief that the barbers # continuous opportunity to give vis. itors a favorable impression city, that many barber shops ums public discussion municipal questions are freely and that the barbers should 10 bs are for. of where ment with an merce in the general progress. The in. was not in any way a scheme to pro- mote the chamber’s membership or in. on their oppor- them not to divide until T get there” ‘whispered dying banker. —~Forbes Magazine, “‘Co-operating™ the Sales Managers. The St. Louis Chamber of Com. merte has an active sales managers’ bureau, the purposes of which are to build up the city by Increasing its sales and to serve the city's trade ter ritory efficiently, These purposes are effected through goodwill tour, by educating sales managers in better methods of merchandising their prod ucts and of serving their trade, by publishing a weekly bulletin contain. ing items of benefit to sales managers, by entertaining visiting buyers and delegates attending important conveh- tions, and through the preparation of motion pletares, Cities Adopt Manager Plan, Berkeley, Chico, Modesto, Stockton, San Mateo, Santa Rosa and Visalia, Cal.: Brookville, Kissimmee, Fort Pierce, Leesburg and Orlando, Fla; Albany, Ga; Maywood, Il, and St Johnsbury, Vt, have adopted the city manager plan during the last two months, . Keep the Lawn Beautiful, The lawn Is the most important fea. tare of beautiful home surroundings. Don't chop it up with beds or shrubs, but keep these at the sides. ® HAD PLENTY BUT COULDNOTEATIT ———————————————— Jerome A, Weeks, popular club man, owner of the “Why” restaurant, 7. 9 and 11 Guilford Ave, Baltimore, MA, is another man of prominence to give an unqualified endorsement to Tanlac, “I heartily endorse Tanisce” sald Mr. Weeks, “because I have found it to be a medicine of exceptional merit, While T was not to say sick when 1 started taking Tanlae, still I did not feel all In fact, my appetite wag go poor and I was so nervous and night that 1 never felt en or and just could get through a day at business, “Finally I got me some Tanlae, and in a little while it brought my appetite back, steadied my nerves so that I be gan to sleep fine, and today I feel so well I can after with I can speak from experi suy Tanlac is great” Tanlac Is for sale by all good drug Accept bottles nt well ergetic rested look business no substitute, Over 87 sold, mniition Tanlane Vegetable Pills are Nature's own remedy for constipation, For sale Advertisement Seemed Like Hand of Fate. My father was in charge of the en- gine house of a mining company. His duty was to go down every day to see with alr was working. A small cage, down in the shaft. One day as my father started on his dally trip to the behind in the engine house. He the operator that he would go down the trip. On the trip the cable on the cage broke and everyone Journal, next was killed. Chicago There never nan OF woman feel pride in keepl i ping other people's secrets RECORD IN CROPS Western Canada Fammers As- sured of Bountiful Yields. sonditions Reported From All Parts of the Provinces Satisfactory in the Highest Degree—Pass Expectations. From as early as April 17, when seeding became general throughout the Western Canadian Provinces, there anything but optirism In the feelings of the farmers of that coun- try. An uninterrupted chain of favor. able conditions early seeding data of crop 8 Ther a hail or two with effects of but portions o small was the have ith the TLere may have some the took bound w conditions the oday. were no backs storm * thro been il ugh country, thre that most imperceptible compared with the Rains fell when needed shone as If regulated by farmer himself, the ground, generally, was in perfect condition and fully re sponsive. It is now a quest. en of rival ry between districts and which produce the greatest sults in crop yields and averages track they the percentage of Was 80 * logs was al- whole just the sun the provinces re Ont will the south, that which gave ns in a well-prepared seed bed of an excellent crop is passing expec tation, and experts say there wil be prodaced a away greater than ever befo.e in the his‘ory of the prov ince, and Alberta has had some big yields. Then, In Saskatchewan there exist the same conditions The ex- treme north and extreme south will vie with the east and west in the story at harvest and threshing time. Manitoba, while no? boastful, com- placently watches fields of wheat, crop The fact Is apparent that Western Canada will have a crop yield In all United States, who have friends and relatives farming In that country. It should not be forgotten that these crops will be raised on land that in many cases cost less than $40 an acre and some of it was procured by mere Iy homesteading. "It Is possible today to secure improved farms at very low figures, as well as raw or virgin prairie. Any Canadian government agent will gladly give Information as to the condition of the crops, and dates when special rates may be had by those who wish to look over what ix probably one of the greatest grain fields ou the continent Advertise ment. It is likely that people who conquer and dominate don’t worry much, It's a gift. There is always enough butter in the world until! the green corn season arrives, ’ To Have a Clear, Sweet Skin or itching, if any, with Cuticura Olat ment, then bathe with Cuticura Soap dust on'a little Cuticura Talcum te
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