The Trail to Yesterday

epily. She sighed and twisted to a more comfortable position. The effort awakened her and she opened her eyes, her gaze resting immediately on Dakota. He still sa

resence; the sound that she had made

knocking on the door-loud, unmistakable. Some one

o ins

's voice came with a tru

the voice from without. "Mebbe y

r back from the table and she saw a saturnine smile on his face, yet in his

questioned, his

es

are

llite p

of his face puzzled her. "A parson!" he sneered in a low voice. "I reckon we'll have some prayi

drew out his two guns, examined them minutely, returned one to his holster, retaining the other in his right hand. With a cold grin at Sheila he snuffed

me

arkness; there came a step on the threshold. Watching, Sheila saw

ble darkness of the interior, and Sheila wondered at the hospitality tha

cratching on the wall, and a light flared up, showing Sheila the fa

otten-in her desire to see the face of the visitor-t

parson, all right

the table!" came the order from Dakota. "I'm not t

"Don't pay to take no chances-on anything," he agreed. He stood erect, a tall man, rugged and active for his sixty years, and threw o

s mighty queer that you'd have a light goin' so--" He stopped short, seeing Sheila sitting on the bunk. "Shucks, ma'am," he apologized, "I didn't know

your husband had told me you was here I'

low, amused gleam filled Dakota's eyes. But plainly he did not intend to set the parson right-he was enjoying Sheila's

nstantly to the parson; "this

nd looked quickly at Dakota, but the latter was watching

ay in this country,

her intently. She met his gaze steadily and he smiled. "I recko

la n

' it ain't no night to be galivantin' a

Double R

Double R?" as

swered for Sheila

shortly. "I'm askin' your pardon, ma'am, for takin' you to be married; yo

the steam from his clothing as the latter dried. Dakota supplied him with soda biscuit and cold bacon, and these he munched in contentment, talking meanwhile of his travels. Several times while h

e looked quickly at him to catch him smiling. Once she met his gaze fairly and was certain that she saw a crafty, calculating gleam in hi

ght. She wondered much at the parson's wakefulness and her own weariness. But she could safely go to sleep now, she t

d by the drowsiness that was stealing over her, it appeared that the parson was a foe to Science. His volubility filled the cabin; he contended sonorously

ners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the w

n, and he took issue with the parson. Between them they managed to prevent her fa

deeper into her doze. How long she had been unconscious of them she did not know, but presently she was awake again and listening. Dakota's laugh had awakened her

to Lazette, tak

married he'll not care much about the arrangements-ho

," Dakota observed. H

situation, he agreed. Never, in all his e

in Lazette, not even a justice of the peace. But Baldy wanted to be married, and his bride-to-be objected to making the trip to Dry Bottom, where there were both a parson and a justice of the

to some distant town for a visit. Luckily for Baldy's matrimonial plans, the parson had been in Dry Bottom when the rider arrived

arked the parson, af

kota. "You got the license?" he inq

in a pocket, drawing out a folded

it?" came Dakota's voice. Sheila saw him

you'll be usin' one you

h as strange as his smile a moment before. "Ye

and Dakota bent their heads over it. After reading the lic

ame on it," he s

called 'Baldy.' Didn't know the bride's name at all. But it don't make any difference; they wouldn't have had to have a license at all in this Territory. But it makes it look mo

s things more regular to have a lice

not thinking of what he was saying at all; the words had come involuntarily, automatically almos

usly. Some idea had formed in his brain, he meditated some surprising action. That she was concerned in his thoughts Sheila did not doubt

o going out, Sheila restrained an impulse to call to him to remain. She succeeded in quieting her fears, however, by assuring herself th

smile Dakota stepped to the door and barred it. Turning, he stood with his back a

ze and held it; she t

ocking voice that he had used when usin

wer that she had used before, too-sh

ndicated the door through which the parson had disappea

there was a subtle undercurrent in his speech, and she felt aga

game. But it's a little world and a little game when Fate takes a hand in it. I told you a while ago that Fate had a queer way of shuffling us around. That's a fact. And Fate is running this game." His mocking laugh had a note of grimness in it, which brought a chill over Sheila. "Just n

on her feet, trembling, her f

and she noted with a qualm that there was no mirth in

empting a lightness that she did not feel; "a crude o

fe," he said slowly. "We are to be

. "The parson certainly will not perform a marriage

ent of Fate. Maybe that sounds mysterious to you, but some day you will be able to see just how logical it all seems to me now, that F

he dog bark, heard t

ila, her joy over the impending

his heavy pistols and examined it minutely, paying no attention to Sheila. Her eyes widene

emanded, watching these forbiddin

onsent to marry me you will see the parson die. I have decided to give you the choice, ma'am," he went on in a quiet, determined voice, ent

of insincerity-for the slightest sign that would tell her that he was merely trying to scar

is? Fate is shuffling us three in this game. You have your choic

nexorable glitter in his eyes she cringed away from him and s

ntly they had formed a friendship. The sounds came nearer; Sheila heard the parson try the door. She became aw

e door," he said. "Is

nding before him, rigid with anger, h

suddenly for the butt of the weapon that swung at his left hip, but with

air of finality. He started for the door, hesitated, and came back

door. If you want the parson to die, don't look at me when he steps in.

ack, his gaze on Sheila. Then the door opened slo

ome wet outs

inder of his revolver, his g

, seeing the attitudes of Dakota an

nt she stood, looking at Dakota with a scornful, loathing gaze. Then with a dry sob, which caught in