Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28

over "a clear title to the land, don't you
see?''
Bradley saw He had made special trip
| down to Florence on purpose TO look at
| rhe records. More clearly than ever, he
| saw tonight. with the figure of Dora be-
| fore him in the doorway of the little shack,
and the sadness in her gray eyes.
| II don't see how you have stood 1t for
/ FIVE years. he went on THE nearest wo-
man is thirty miles away, except for the
| sIuaws over at Lost Moon. You have been
| without society, books, friends, every
| thing"
II had Jim"
Bradley smoked quietly.
us Jim enough?'
| She did not answer for moment. but
! gazed steadily at the purple hills Suddenly
she turned her head, and looked at him, her
| face flushing. her eyes and voice full of pas
sionate protest.
"Why do you ask me such things? /
never asked them of myself 1t does no
| good. 1t only makes me think And don't
want to think
You will ask them of yourself some
time. This sort of thing cannot go on"
What do you mean? She held her
breath. waiting for his answer.
Your living here in this way. Jim is
satisfied to do 1t. He has no foresight. He
does not care. TO tell the truth. There is a
fortune in these properties, and he will not
let me start development for him. He says
1t can walt And he will walt too long,
, idling away his time, and dreaming as he
Is now And what Of yourself? Are you
satisfied? Do you wish to live out your life
| here, prisoner? Jim comes and goes as
he pleases. You never leave the place. And
you mean to say that you are contented!
But | am she said, desperately, her
hands pressed closely to her breast. Il
am contented. Why should l not be?''
Bradley threw away his cigarette and
leaned suddenly toward her
Look in your mirror. Dora" he said.
She caught his meaning instantly, and
never stirred. With his eyes forcing hers
r.,yl N..lls arr NAM
she understood the whole business intuition
of Bradley and the meaning of his stay In
Eden Valley. And she was silent, the red
knotted handkerchief on her breast rising
and falling with her deep breathing.
Bradley spoke quickly. his voice low and
lnsistent above all, strictly businesslike.
'"There Is a fortune In the properties and
| they rest entirely In your hands, to dispose
| of as you see fit. If you would go up to
Chicago or on to New York, where you
| could make the proper sort of deal with
| the right parties, that is what ought to be
done Jim viii never do anything, but you
| can see the way, can you notP You would
be rich, Dora, with your life before you,
1 and you are young and beautiful. | could
| manage the sale for you If you did not
| want 10 mix in 1T. We could leave here
"Jim would not let me CO." She spoke
| falteringly. HE loves me.
| Loves your" Bradley laughed shortly.
! Loves you and puts you here to grub
| and work like an Indian squaw for the
| rest OF your life? Loves you. and leaves a
1 woman of your caliber alone here on this
/ bit of wilderness night after night while
| he spends his time socially with a pack of
1 drunken cronies over at Lost Moon? I love
| YOU but l want the world TO lie at the
| feet of the woman love. Dora, Dora look
| at IaeP
| He caught her hands in a close grip. She
| struggled to free them, her face white and
| tense with pain, her teeth pressing hor
lip until the blood showed rediy on the
skin.
LET me CO." she gasped. Let me go.
| viii call Tim.'
HE can't hear you
She wrenched her hands away from him
and backed into the little shack with a
| haif-choked cry. Bradley hesitated. Every
pulse in his body was throbbing. His hand
| trembled as he took out his watch and
| glanced at the time Seven forty-five. He
| could take Dora on the blackboard and
| reach Lost Moon IN time to catch the 1876
train north. And Jim Was asleep. al
| usual.
Dora" he called under his breath, into
the still dimness of the shack. Dora. come
| to me-
out of the dffnness she came tall and
| beautiful, and as she stepped out of this
| doorway she leveled revolver at the spoi
between Bradieys eyes. 1t was Jim's re