Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-22

makes one a stranger. Remington felt
tempted to go to the Canadian Pacific
office instead of the opera, and return
west to the familiar alkali and sage
brush. He sat out one act of Carmen,
then muttered a profane word in his
mustache and went out to the street.
There was no particular reason why he
should feel irritated at the strange faces.
There were men-and womer-who would
have gladly welcomed him home again to
civilization, had he hunted them up.
But there was one woman Who well
come he wanted, and she had lone for
him.
So he strobe modify down the bril-
liantly lighted street, scowled at the
cheerfully noisy throng, swallowed
some more profanity as a Salvation
Army gathering blocked his way, and
swung into a quieter street that led to
his hotel Half way to that refuge for
homeless bachelors he paused before
a h~aberdasher's window and stood
staring drearily at an elaborate n
thoroughly correct display of the new
est things inl linen and neckties. With
his hands thrust deep in his trousers
pockets, his head bent forward and his
eyes fixed upon a group of four-in-
hands. his thoughts Travelled back to
the time when he last listened to Car
men, seeing the toreador and mis- f1e-fiy
sweetheart, but only conscious, keenly
conscious of the woman beside him in
the box. her white shoulder touching his
sleeve as he leaned against her chair,
her perfumed hair near his check.
And he loved her then, that fair,
gracious woman with her delicate face,
and dusky eyes filled with vague
dreams. And he loved her still. He
loved her and his life had been empty,
~hideously empty, and hopelessly pur-
poseless since. He had sent her a lot
of jasmine that night-she had always
made him think of jasmine herself
and it was her favorite flower. And
she had not worn any. after all, and an
impalpable wall had risen between
them. He did not know or why
it was. But it was there. And against
the chill of it, the words that burned
on his lips died unsaid Then he had
zone west and worked ~savagely to
numb the dull ache in his breast But
it had all been of no use and he
brought the ache back with him. The
crimson and purple and black in the
window ran into each other strangely
for a and his eyelids stung.
hen he set his teeth and stared hard
at a dark muller.
The stare was unseeing at first, but
soon it changed to a gaze vaguely
curious. him and the muffler
on the glass there floated a ghostly
hand, shadoWy, indistinct. He watched
it fntently and his face hardened. Then
he drew his left hand from his pocket
and his fingers closed around a wrist.
Taking his watch fob from the slim
fingers he looked down INTO the wom-
ans face. She twisted her wrist, then
stood still.
Let me go, for God's sake! 1 was
hungry" . s@ .
The voice was sullen and he laughed
"Old story, my dear. If you-Minnie!'
The hard painted face lifted to his
and she grinned. Then she pulled her
wrist from his loosened crap and jerked
down her torn red satin sleeve.
We'll, what of it? 1 was Minnie I'm
Pearl now-Pearl Meredith. It's fame
Ter. eh?'
She grinned again, then shivered as
a chill wind swept down the street.
You've been away a long time and
things have happened. Three years
1911 - buy HE Il uIIIlh, JdCh--lOI
old sake's sake. I'm not hungry, but
I'm thirsty-and cold"
She shivered again and pulled d
tawdy beaded cape closer over hel
shoulders. Remington turned without
speaking and led the way down into
a basement cafe, to a private room
She swallowed Il strong drink, Their
leaned back and laughed heartily.
so it was your ticker / tried to pinch
That was rich. The world is a small,
place. When did you come back, Jack:
And-have you seen any Of the folks?'
Remington's teeth closed suddenly
on his cigar, and the woman laughed
again.
Don't get ruffled, Johnny-Jack! 1
won't soil Helen's plumage to mentior
her in my presence. We are of thu
same mother. if her father was a par.
son and her step-papa-my sire;
rounder | could not choose my par
entage could 1? Is it my fault that
loved the flowing bowl instead of tn,
five O'Clock tea? Did the hand of tn,
pater shake? Have you seen her?"
No."
Remington leaned forward on tn
table and looked at her. His face wa
grey in the gas light. Minnie, in God
name, what has done this?"
ITS a long story, Jack" She reache,
out and took his glass. you don
want it. eh? And talking's thirst,
work. You remember when the mothe
died and ! was living on Helen's bounty
You came to see her in those days an,
/ fell in love with you. Oh, no, 70,
didn't know it. You big Westerner
never can see farther than your nose
And you could only see Helen, anyhow
Do you remember hat night you foun
me drinking and took me home? Wei
I was reckless and there was a pal
where the heart is supposed to be
knew you did not care and the drin,
curse was In me and II lied to Heller
Jack"
And what?" asked Remington.
She drained the glass and then locke
at him.
Il told her it was you I was wit
that night. She saw you bring IN
an.