The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
TIE THREE PARTNERS;
Or.
The Big Strike on Heavy Tree Hill.
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyright. 1897. Jy Bret N0rie.
CHAPTER v1I.-Coxriyurp.

not only open to deceit. 5ut seemed 10 invite u.
Instead IL making others frnnkcr. people wcrc
Inclined 20 rcbukc his crolulity by restraint and
cduivocatiou on their own part. hut the evasion
2hus offered 10 hcr, although only temporary.
was n temptation sho could not resist. Aad It
prolonged an interview ihNt n rHthlc5s rcvcla-
ton Of tho truth might have shortened.
"Shc did not tell mo why she was going there"
shc replied, still cvnsivcly, "Rnd. !ndcci," siio
addei, with n burst OF cundor still more danger
Qua, II only learned IL from the hotel clork after
she was gone. But / want to talk TO you about
her relations 10 Van Loo" she said. with a re-
turn Of her former intensity OF gaze, land !
thought wc would be less subject to interruption
hero than Mt the hotel. Only I suppose every
body knows this place. md my OF those
flirting couples are likely 10 como here. Be.
sides" she added. with n little half.hysterlcal
laugh and n slight shivcr. ns she looked mp at
the high intcrlacins OF tho bourhs above her
head. e tie as public MS the nlslcs OF n church.
md really one fcois as II one was speaking out
IN meeting. Isn't there some other spot n little
moro secluded where wo could sit down. she
went on, rs she pokcd her parasol into tho usual
black gunpowdcry deposit of Garth which
mingled with the carpet of pine needles beneath
her feet. and not got MI sticky and dirty"
Bankers eyes sparkled. II know every foot
OF this hill. Mrs. Horncastle." he sail. and IL
you VIII follow me ! III take YOU 10 on" OF inc
lovelicst hooks you over dreamed o.. It's nm old
Indian spring now forgotten. md I think known
only to me and tho birds. It's no, moro than
ten minutes from hero: only he bcsitatod rs
he caught sight of the smart French bronze
bucklci shoe and silken ankle which Mrs. Horn
castles gathering up OF her dainty skirts around
her had disclosed-"it may be a little rough and
dusty going to your feet"
But Mrs. Horncastle pointed out that she had
already irretrievably ruined her shoes and
stockings in climbing up to him-although Bar.
ker could really distinguish no diminution OF
their freshness-and that she might as well go
on. whereat they both passed down the
long aisle OF slope 10 n little hollow OF man.
sanito. which again opened 10 n view OF Black
Spur. but let the hotel hidden.
what time did Kitty 20 y began Barker.
eagerly. when they were half down the slope.
But here Mrs. Horncastle's foot slipped upon
the glossy pine needles. and not only stopped an
answer but Obliged Barker to give all his atten-
tion to keep his companion from falling again
until they reached the open. Then came the
plunge through the manzanito thicket, then n
e cool wade through waist-deep ferns. and then
they emerged, holding each others hand, breath.
less and painting before the spring.
II did not belle his enthusiastic description. A
triangular hollow. niched in n shelf OF the noun.
tain side. narrowed to a point from which the
overflow of the spring percolated through n
fringe Of alder, to fall in what seemed from the
valley to bc a green furrow down the whole
= length OF the mountain side. Overriding by pines
Above. which met and mingled with the willows
that everywhere fringed 1t. 1t made the one cool
ing shade in the whole basking expanse Of the
mountain. and yet was penetrated throughout
ty the intoxicating spice of the heated pines.
" Floworing reeds and long lush grasses drew a
magic circle round an open bowl-like pool in the
centre that was always replenished to the slow
murmur of an unseen rivulet that trickled from,
Swhite quartz cavern in the mountain side like
- a vein opened In its flank. Shadows of timid
! wings crossed 1t, quick r~ustlings disturbed the
reeds. hut nothing more. It was silent, bu,
breathing: it was hidden to everything but the
the sky and the illimitable distance.
They threaded their way around it. on the
sponRy carpet. covered by delicate lace-like
vines that seemed to caress rather than tram
mel their moving feet, until they reached ar
open space before the pool. 1t was cushioned
and matted with disintcgrated pine bark. and
here they sat down. Mrs. Horncastle furled
her parasol and laid it aside. raised both hand,
to the back OF her head and took two hairpin,
out, which she placed in her smiling mouth, re
moved, her hat. stuck the hairpins in it. and
top of a tall reed, where during The rest Of thai
a flower, removed her gloves slowly. drank still
smilingly and gratefully nearly n wincglass fml
green twisted chalice Of n lily leaf, looked Tho
picture OF happiness, and then burst into tears
stricken. Mrs. Morncastie. crying! MIS-. Horn
castle, the imperions, the collected, the coldl,
critical the cynical, smiling woman of 10
cry.,Kitty. had cried often-but Mrs. Horn
castle .o XSSt; there Tier , she was; sqb6inS; e
1 rrIef; 'n sTyins un a1slns fHS thhi15"s T her lo me-
chief which She had hnrriedlyy o produ nsnpa ant
shaken from behind, her Ikea conjurer's trick
t sihS,ns m nS5Ssf %ias a t SsA1 qor The sy spsrs { asog besa,
that brimmed her lashes and welled over like thu
"4cn,t mind me" she muEEmnrsd behind he,
WAS : m neTUous' T Dsp!s Id ! SUPPOSE PIP e. III be b better
But Barker bad drawn beside her and was try
Ing. after the fashion Of his sex 70 take hel
action w you'd M1s STEP her tssrS' But ten me w5sI
Only say the word; only tell me somsthine.
But he had succeeded in partially removing
her wet eyes in which a faint smile struggle,
out like sunshine through rain. But the,
S SsssaS c ssntn; a 9lds1 %sat s ssS wi Sian,' s s5S' AMID and he he
hands still remained against her flushed face.
,so obi S Sst i 0s sapp ssinf r.. no W tSle t. iso BpS and Of ,a kit;
my own sorrows when i ought 10 Be thinking
oiAy VI oh anu Y
Never mind Kitty" said Barker impulsively
Tell me about yourself-your own sorrows.
am a brute to have bothered you about her n
such a moment; and now, till yon have told NJ!
what Is paining you 30 / shall not let you speal
Of her" He was perfectly sincere. What wer
Kitty's possible and easy tears over the loss o
her money to the unknown agony that coul,
wrench a sob from n woman Ike this ! "Dea
Mrs, Horncastlc," he went on as breathlessly
think OF me now not as Kitty's husband. bu
trueft friend, and speak to me as you woui'
speak to him.
You will be my friend sho said passion
etely, ~grasping his hand, my best and truos
friend And II ! tell you all everything
will not cast me from you and hate me 7"
Barker felt the thrill from her warm han,
slowly possess his whole being as II had the even
ing before, but this time he was prepared, an
said breathIessiy. " viii bel am your friend.
She withdrew her hand and passed 1t over he
eyes. After a moment she caught his han
asain. and, holding 4 tightly as II she feared b
without looking at MIN, said. II lied 10 yo
about myself md Kitty; l did not come Wit
her. ! came alone and secretly to Boomvill
TO see-to, see the man who is my husband" :,
"Iour husband!' said Barker in surprise. IL
had believed, with tho rest OF tho world, tina