She had not meant to tell him so soon, in the first shock of the death,
about what she had found. But he was going away, and he ought to know,
it was his right to know.
"Will you wait here for me a moment, Wayne?" she asked looking
pitifully up into the face of the man whose grave eyes were fixed upon
her. "Until I run to the house and get something?"
She was glad then that the other men were able to eat, and that her
mother and Julia were waiting on them. Hastening back to her room, she
took the revolver from its hiding place in her trunk, slipped it into
her blouse and ran back to the orchard.
"Wayne," she whispered coming close to him, suspicious of every little
sound in the orchard, fearful of an approaching footstep. "I found
something near Arthur. I did not tell any one. As you are going away
I had better tell you."
She held out the revolver. The sunlight fell on it, glinting brightly
from the polished silver. Wayne Shandon stared at it frowning, as
though he could not or would not believe his eyes. Slowly a deeper
pallor crept into his white face. Then a terrible look which the girl
could not read came into his eyes.
"Good God!" he whispered hoarsely. "You found that near him?"
Suddenly he put his hand out and took it. His fingers touched hers.
They were as cold as ice.
"Wanda," he said, his voice frightening her, it was so hard and
unfamiliar, "you were good to give it to me."
That was all. She felt vaguely that his mind was groping for other
words which it could not find. He slipped the revolver into his
pocket, turned and left her.
From the orchard she watched him ride away. Jim was driving the two
big greys, while Shandon followed close behind the wagon, sitting very
straight in the saddle, his face telling her nothing. . . . She sank
back upon the grass under the apple tree and lay still, staring up at
the patches of blue seen through the green and white of the branches
and blossoms.
When at last she went back to the house she heard her father's voice
lifted angrily. He was talking to her mother and the name flung
furiously from his lips was the name of Wayne Shandon.
"Hush, Martin," protested Mrs. Leland. "You mustn't . . ."
Martin Leland, his face red, his mouth working wordlessly, swept up his
hat and went away to the corrals by the stable. Wanda saw his eyes as
he brushed by her and she shivered, drawing away from him.
Garth Conway had already gone, riding the half dozen miles to the Bar
L-M to carry word of the death of its owner, and to assume entire
charge there until Wayne should return. Sledge Hume was loitering down
by the stable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account