The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-30
BY LOUISE MERRnTEI,D.
Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.)

Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.)
"She can't stay here"
Jets eyes flashed ominousIy. Stand
ing In the low doorway OF the l.tlA;
.ox snack, half way up sawtootn
mountain. she stared out at the
snabLy yellow carIyall. with It's team
vi lean. snaxsy hoises.
linen wne.e Is she goin' ter stay,
I'D Ike TO Know" CIRCULATED the
dr4ver, hoarseiy. She's bound for
i.ere. ana sne pai1 ner way mere.
ana ghe q silk. too. ana sne tells me
sim sent for ner. You lend a NAM
aere, Like a good fellow. ana help me
get her out ,
"Nobouy . home but me-
Then you're boss. amt you? And
what you say goes lie grtnned up
at her comfortably. Jets temper was
lam. liar 10 nm. She's got to RESI-
up some place. and its thirty miles
bark to Double Forks"
why. diant she come before7"
ASK her." said wilkins.
Most begruogingly Jet did the
honois OF her home to the half
unconscious stranger. She helped
carry her into<the kitchen, and loos-
ened her many wraps. She made
strong coffee, lind WINGED little from
her own bitterness wneh she saw how
young and sick sne -wds. 1t IS not
me game to hight an enemy who Is
already down.
After the man from Double Forks
had driven aaay, she went silently
about her work, while the other wo-
man lay on the bed and watched her.
The warmth. and food had brought
a little color back TO her face. She
seemed weary and drowsy. Fever
snowed In the bright DARK eyes that
took In every detail OF the rough
calm. Most OF all. her gaze fingered
on a man coat that hung in a cor
aer. with several old hats grouped
around it. but she said nothing.
inally Jet spoke.
well. you got here. didn't your"
Il came as soon as ever l could.
Yes. you did"
Il ain. l started the day after
baby came.
set turned around. What baby?"
~ ny, ours; mine and Jim
A pause. Jet looked as IL some
body had most swiftly and surely
slapped ner in her pretty. aggressive
face.
You knew had baby. didn't
you? l wrote to Jim. He might
nave told you that much. i guess ne
! u1uut care. anyhow.
NO, he didn't tell me" Jet rat
down opposite the bed, and leaned
her elbows comfortably on the Ia BILE.
He never said anything TO me about
there being a baby. He told me he
had a wife down in New Jersey that
he'd married sort of sudden, and he
guessed by now she'd be tired walt
Ing for luck to come his way because
he hadn't written or sent her any
money"
That's right enough" put in the
girl on the bed. But / understood.
fle always did hate TO write bad
news. l didn't get tired waiting one
Bit. Just knew hJi win some day."
When did you tell him about the
other-the baby?' asked Jet slowly
Not right away. He wrote back
he'd try to send for US both, and to
name 1t after him II It was boy"
Maybe he meant to-" Jet walked
to the open cabin door and leaned
her back against the casing. A year
and half she aad lived down at
Double Forks. running miners
boarding house. She was thirty, and
amply able to look after herself. Her
pies and cornbread had followed gold
strikes In Nevada for years. And she
trod her way heartwhole until Jim
Barclay showed up. She had meant
to be his wife from the frst time She
saw INN until one Gay he had told
her of the girl back In Ncw Jersey.
She went on speaking deliberately:
He got hurt last month. Tney had
to take MIN up to Trent, where the
companys doctor IL. He works for
the kay-Allan outfit, foreman. Your
letter came here while he was gone.
so l opened and read 1t. They said
he might. die. and sent you the
money to come on quick to get mere
and see him. So long as you was MS
wife YOU had n right to be in at the
finish"
The other woman was off the bed
before the words were fairly out OF
Jets mouth, swaying slightly, she
caught Jets willing hand for sup
port.
But he isn't dead. IL he?"
What do you care?' Jet looked
at her curiosity. You were married
to him about two months. wasn't
you? And then he left you. al
WAYS liked Jim. and l hoped all along
! something might happen so we could
get married. and swing up furtner
north Into some of the provinces. ana
Start all FRESH again. I've got money
saved up. I've boarded lot OF the
boys from the Kay-Ailan works
wac willing to do anything to make
him happy, and a winner. But wneh
your letter came, anu ~ 1VuhN w. -
was Just waiting and waiting down
there for him to turn up. why +
let faitered and set her teeth. Even
she realized that she had been guilty
Of a sentimental weakness. II sent
Won the money to come out West De-
fore he died. And II he got well. l
Thought you'd make trouble for him.
and II would serve him right.
..Id-. never make any trouble Tor
him. hid he die 2" said the girl eager
~, WHY don't you tell me =! -
~ want YOU ID know seveftrhfns
FIRST. Jet rose slowly. and crossed
tho floor OF the two-room shack.
Hes in wonder. They brought him
M here because It's his place. Hes
alive, but he'll never get well again.
The company's given him pension.
40 he won't starve. They brought
him UP yesterday. I've been looking
efter bi~, s'rre Sn-rA ~ the men
were coming today to stay" .
She took . hat from q nail. put u
on fer head With yank forward.
go on In and say hello. I'm going
awav now. Where's the baby?
with my mother--home. IT'S a