Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1919)

ittcr tcr mix with this crowd is a low-lived skunk, " at which La fund gave a sinister smile. "I know what Im doing,"' he said. "Vou let her alone!" The evening had well a d V a n c e il when Tim Murphy came in with a from the Chicago firm saying the order had not been received. Buckley called on Lafond as a witness. "Sure, I Photoplay Mat;A€i«>£f;;V C^ ^fl-X u, ^ "• ' t. ' < » « C. w 79 Tvick i-iil out hiding MirMffM ':, I r e m e m ber your mailing something, but how do I know a check was in it?' he replied. Then Jim Buck!e>' knew that Lafond bad plotted agains' him and that he would have to get prrjof of his innocence, but before he could turn to leave someone hit him. In a flash he was fighting madly. He was conscious that someone had comtto his rescue, but who it was he didn't know until he found Harry bending over him and helping him to his feet while M'llly, a gun in her hand, was herding the crowd of men and girls into a comer. "I'm going to M|ipiih€tty somebody's goinfir'll)i tni.xii The next niorhmj Dl-htlQii^ hi» w get her to go hunting, saw men buildings with guns drawn. "There ain't no man can get away with my money, Buckley or no. Shoot to kill!" Dennis overheard. His little mind did some rapid thinking. Casually he sauntered out into the middle of the street anil then broke into a hippety-hop, Petci his faithful follower. The boy, his gun and dog, were a familiar sight to the men and no suspicion lurked in their mintls of his intention. Once out of sii;lit, the lad glanced cautiously behind him and then startetl on a fast run. Stopping Jim in his buckboard, he told what h<; had seen and heard. 'Take my gun, you'll need it, Jim," he generously offered. ''Thanks, kid. "\'ou're a white man," saiti Jim, rcfusinj; the offer. Then he lashed his horses into a run. Turning the corner brought him within range of the guns. Bullets Hew about him and the buckboard careened madly, safely passing the danger zone. Realizing he would have to pull up that side of the great bend, the men followed. Lafond about to mount and join the chase, was reminded of another wicked plan at the sight of Molly in her doorway. "Get back to the dance hall where you belong," he ordered. 'That's what I raised you for and it's time you knew it." Molly never remembered seeing him before without his beard. The scar on his cheek was hideous and repulsive. .■Ml his evilncss stood revealed. It was as though a mask had been removed, as indeed it had. for Mike Lafond had arrived at the moment of revenge he had long planned. Molly was not a coward, and she would not be bullied. What do you mean? How dare you?" she defied him. He struck her with his riding whip and was about to strike again when Professor Welch entered. He had found a photograph in his trunk — memory was struggling for release. Lafond's lone;, strong fingers buried themselves in the old man's soft neck. Lookiu!:; into the face of his tormentor memory returned with a rush. Once upon a time he had looked into that same scarred face, those sam.strong fingers choked the breath from him. Only then that man was an Indian and under one arm was a screaming child, his little daughter. The gun Lafond pulled on the professor suddenly dropped from h's hand and blood spurted from a wound in his wrist. It was Dennis. Infuriated, Lafond brutally kicked the ^ boy and threw Pe t e r , who hail jumped at his throat, to the ground. Harn' heard the shot. Stepping over Dennis and the dog lying in the doorway, he rushed into the room. The enraged Lafond fought madly. He must be avenged. He hurled a chair at Harr>'. It missed, crashing into the wall, bringing down a shelf — revenge! Ah, if he could only reach that gun — he strained — he had it — his hand was held in a vise — twisted — twisted — the gun dropped! On the other side of the room was the knife — nearer, slowly, slyly nearer, and then he had it. A flash of pain .shot through Harry's shoulder, he grew dizzy, toppled and fell into the arms of Molly, who was watchinfj. Lafond rushed from the house, mounted his horse and took a short cut through a gulch, cutting off Buckley. Leaving his horse, he hid in the brush and jumped onto the back of the buckboan' •••*—n Buckley came by.