The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-21

THURSDAY, JANUl
I'D lady allowed we'd have to be here.
Amt seen you since the weddin'. Got
hines lookin' fine here" Allen slowly
surveyed the room.
Jack agreed with him with ges-
ure Of assent A more important
topic to him than the furnishing OF
room was what had become of Dick
r.are. After the wedding ceremony
10 chance had come TO him to speak
privately to Allen.
The festivities of the wedding had
been shortened. Slim had gathered a
nosse and taken up the trail OF the
slayers. Jim Allen had joined them.
The hazing of Jack and the hasty de-
narture Of the bridal pair on horse
back in shower Of corn. shelled and
on the cob. prevented the two men
from meeting.
The older man had volunteered no
explanation. Jack knew that In his
heart Allen did not approve of his ac-
tiers. but was keeping silent because
If bis daughter
Jack could restrain himself no long
pr Him. what happened that night"
he asked brokenly.
Allen showed his embarrassment.
Meanin' v Then he nesitated.
Dick" was all Jack could say.
II seed him. If hadn't he busted
up the weddin' some" was his laconic
answer.
''Where is hep
Allen relighted his pipe. When he
got the smoke drawing freely he
gazed at Jack thoughtfully and an
swered. He's gone. back where the
come from-into the desert Jim
pulled slowly and then added. Looks
like you didn't give Dick a square
deal"
Allen liked his son-in-law and was
going to stand by him. but in Arizona
the saying "Alls fair in love and
war" is not accepted at its face value.
81 didn't" acknowledged Jack. 81
was desperate at the thought Of losing
her. She loved me and had forgotten
him. She's happy with me now"
Il reckon that's right" was Jim's
consoling reply.
his troublesome conscience Jack con-
tinucd. "She never would have been
happy with him."
That's what l told him." declared
Allen. He knew it. an that's why
he went away, an Echo. no matter
what comes. she must never know.
She'd never FORGIVE you-an'. fer that
matter. me neither"
Jack looked long out of the window
toward the distant mountains. the
barrier behind which Dick was wan
iering in the great desert. cut off
from the woman he loved by n false
friend.
''IIow I have suffered for that lier'
uttered Jack in tones full of anguish.
That's what hurts me most - the
thought that | lied to her I might
have killed him that night" pondered
that he had been on the point Of add
ng murder to the lie He had faced
The same temptation which Dick had
set to overcome.
"Mebbe you did. There's more'n one
way Of KILN man." suggested Allen.
Jack swung around and faced him.
The observation had struck home. He
realized how poignantly Dick must
have endured the loss of Echo and the
thought of his betrayal by Jack. AS
ne had suffered mentally so Dick must
De suffering in the desert In self jus-
tification he returned to his old argu-
ment.
Il vSlited until | was sure he was
dead. Six months | waited after we
heard the news. After had told Echo
loved her and found that was loved
in return-then came this letter. God.
what a fight | had with myself when
| found that he still lived-was think
ing of returning home to claim her for
his own. | rede out into the hills and
fought it out all alone. like an Indian.
Then | resolved to hurry the wedding
to lie to her-and | have been living
that lie every minute, every hour"
Jack leaned heavily on the table.
His head sank. His voice dropped al
most to a whisper.
Allen slapped him on the back to
cheer him up. Philosophically he an
nounced: "Well. it's got to be as it is.
You'll mebbe never hear from him
again. You mustn't never tell her.
amt a-goin' to say nothin' about it.
Her happiness means everything to
me-"
Jack grasped his hand in silent
thankfulness.
The two men walked slowly out OF
the room to the corral.