The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-12-14

yOu-O moAS myself T1cu, anu 10 Oe
able to offer you home and take you
away from Laurel Run. It was all for
you-it was all for love of you, Betsy,
my darling. Listen to me-"
In the fury, outraged sensibility, in.
dignation and infinite disgust that filed
her little body at that moment, she
should have been large, imperious, god
dess-like, and commanding. But God
is at times ironical with suffering
womanhood. She could only writhe
her hand from his grasp with childish
contortions; she could only glare at
him with eyes that were prettily and
piquantly Brilliant she could only slap
at his OBTAINING hand with plump and
velvety palm, and when she found her
voice it was high falsetto. And all she
could say was: Leave me be, looney,
or I'll scream!''
He rose, with weak, confused laugh,
half Of miserable affectation and half
of real anger and shame.
''What did you come riding over here
for, then? What did you take all this
risk for? Why did you rush over here
to share my disgrace, for you are as
much mixed up with this now as am
If you didn't calculate to share every
thing else with me? What did you
come here for, then, if not for me?"
"What-did-I-come here for? Well!
I came here for John Bakers sake!
John Baker, who stood between you
and death at Burnt Ridge, as l stand
between you and damnation at Laurel
Run, Mr.. Green! Yes, John Baker, ly-
ing under half of Burnt Ridge, but more
to me this day than any living man
crawling over it-in-in-". Oh, fatal
climax! IA month of Sundays! What
did I come here for? l came here as
John Bakers livin' wife to carry on
dead John Bakers work. Yes, dirty
work this time, maybe, Mr.. Green; but
his work, and for him only-precious!
That's what I came here for; that's
what live for! that's what I'm wait
ing for-to be up to him and his work
always. That's me-Betsy Baker"
She walked up and down rapidly, ty-
ing her chip hat under her chin again.
Then she stopped, and, taking her
chamois purse from her pocket, laid it
sharply on the desk.
stanton Green, don't be fool! Rise
up out of this, and be man again.
Take enough out O. that bag to pay
what you owe the kov'ment, send in
your resignation, and keep the rest to
start you in an honest life elsewhere.
But light out o. Hickory Hill afore this
time tomorrow.
She pulled her mantle from the wall
and opened the door,
'You are going?" he said, bitterly.
'Yes." Either she could not hold
seriousness long in her capricious little
fancy, or, with feminine tact, she
sought to make the parting less diff
cult for him, for she broke into daz-
cling smile. "Yes, I'm goin' to run
Blue Lightning agin Charley and that
way-bag back to Laurel Run, and break
the record"
It is said that she did! Perhaps ow-
ing to the fact that the grade OF the
return journey to Laurel Hill was in
her favor, and that she could avoid the
long, circuitous ascent to the summit
taken by the stage, or that owing to the
extraordinary difficulties in the car
riage of the way-bag-which had to be
twice rescued from under the wheels OF
the stage-she entered the Laurel Run
post Office as the coach leaders came
trotting up the hill. Mr.. Home was al
ready on the platform.
you'll have to ballast your next way
bag, boss" said Charley, gravely, as II
escaped his clutches once more in the
dust of the road, "or you'll have to
make q new contract with the company
We've lost ten minutes in five miles ove1
that bucking thing"
Mr.. Home did not reply, but quickly
dragged his prize into the office, scarce
ly noticing Mrs. Baker, who stood be
side him pale and breathless. AS tn
bolt of the bag was drawn, revealing
it's chaotic interior, Mrs. Baker gave I
little sigh. Home glanced quickly a
her, emptied the bag upon the floor AM
picked up the broken and half-fille'
money parcel. Then he collected tn
scattered coins and counted them. ut
all right, Mrs. Baker," he said, gravely
ssHe's safe this timer
I'm 80 glad!" said little Mrs. Baker
with hypocritical gasp.
$50 am l." returned Home, with in
creasing gravity as he took the coir
'for, from all have gathered this al
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