Part 27 (1/2)

”An' ther' ain't no question o' the dollars She hain't no near folk 'cep'

an uncle, Stephen Raynor, an' he don't figger anyways, 'cause the dollars are left to her by will He only coal was to die, or--or get killed”

Seth had become quite reflective; he seeirl he loved with a man he at no time had any use for

Nevil stared uneasily A quick, furtive glance at Seth, who at thatof his passing thought

If a look could kill Seth would certainly have been a dead 's a dead cinch for her?”

”Yup Now”

Nevil gave a short laugh

”You ht it on herself She encouraged hi

”Maybe he was encouraged--but not by her”

”Who then?”

There was uned

A shadowy smile played round his lips, but his eyes were quite serious

”That's it,” he said, relapsing into his reflective hty curious Them law fellers in your country are smartish

They've located a deal Don't jest kno They figger that uncle feller is around either this State or Minnesota--likely this one, seein' the Colonel was coot yarnin', an' he was sayin' he thought o' huntin' out this uncle I guessed ther' wa'an't ht set hiet 'eal was dead We kind o' left it at that Y' see the whole thing for the uncle hung around that gal--bein'

dead”

”And you think he ----” Nevil's words ca too uess Theuess she ain't never seen hih escaped Nevil

”That's so,” he said deliberately

”Howsuoin' to look around for this feller Y' see Rosebud's li'ble to like him Mebbe he ain't well heeled for dollars, an'

she's that tender-hearted she ot his pictur' Mebbe I'll show it around--eh, what's up?” Seth inquired in his blandest tone

Nevil suddenly sat up and there was a desperate look in his eyes But he controlled himself, and, with an effort, spoke indifferently

”Nothing I want another pipe”

”Ah” Seth fu the while ”The pictur'