The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-05-15
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s sE 50 81 by A. Barnes q, a


She tried to snatch her hand away
but he held it fast and, leaning across
the gate, threw his arm about her
waist and drew her toward him.
.There." he cried exultantly. This
Is more like it. This is more like
friends. Give us kiss You're too
high and mighty to be the prettiest
girl on the Cape"
She struggled from his grasp and
stood painting. "Ch,' she whispered,
with a shudder, as she realized the
truth-"oh, you've been drinking!"
He laughed foolishly and shrugged
his shoulders "Oh, what's one glass
between friends?" he said. II stopped
into Webs a minute. and he set 'em
up. First drink I've had since / left
New York. Thought you was too SEN
sible to have blue ribbon notions.
Come; be- more sociable. that's good
girl"
She was afraid of him now-not
afraid Of physical violence, but as she
would have feared the contact with
something loathsome and unclean. a
sense of utter loneliness came over her.
She longed for protection and help.
She thought of Bradley. He would
have helped her. She could have trust
ed him. But she had driven him out
Of her life, and this fellow
Cor she cried. "Go!"
Sam ceased to smile Other girls
had told him to go, but never in that
way or with such quivering scorn. He
of his game. He had lost the prize
But he made one more effort.
'Oh. say" he cried, don't get mad,
Gus. was only fooling Don't be
such an old maid. Come here"
She turned on her heel and, without
replying. walked toward the house.
Hammond swore between his teeth
opened the gate, took one step in her
direction and then stopped. He laugh
ed short, ugly laugh and nodded.
You mean it, do your he asked
want me to clear out. hey? Well.
don't you fool yourself that l don't
know what .ails you. You can't come
the high moral game on me, my lady.
You're whining after that sneaking
Sunday school kid. Brad Nickerson.
the fellow that didn't care enough
about you to lift his hand. but stood
still and let me walk off with his girl
as if she was as common as dish
water. The whole town thinks you're
going to marry me. What'll they say
when show Fem I'm done with your
He laughed again and put his hands in
his packets.
I'm going he said. I'm going all
right. You go to bed and dream about
Brad. Dreams come true sometimes.
they say. Maybe I'll dream about him
TO-"
He pulled his hat over his eyes and
walked rapidly away Gus watched
him go. Then she went into the house.
threw herself into chair beside the
table and laid her head upon her arms.
Sam plunged straight on through the
mud and wet grass until he reached
the back door of the billiard room
Web Saunders came hurrying to see
who it was that had knocked; only the
tried and true We're admitted at that
door,
Hello. Sam he exclaimed, with a
look of relief. why, what's the mat
ter?''
Nothing" replied Hammond gruff1y.
where's that jug of yours, Web? I'm
dying for another drink
After cautioning his visitor against
speaking SO loud Mr. Saunders indicat-
ed the whereabouts of the jug. Sam
poured out a liberal dose of the vii
famous cheap whisky and drank it
forthwith. Then he poured out an
other.
He refused to go home that night.
and Web put him to bed upon one of
the settees in the little back room.
And in that back room he stayed
throughout the next day. drinking fire.
quently, in spite of his friends pro-
tests. and growing more ugly with ev-
cry drink.
That next day, Friday, was wet and
foggy. with occasional cold showers
but there was no wind worth men