Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1913-07-04
CHAPTER vII-(contlnued.)

CHAPTER vII.-(contlnued.)
Didn't the people at the Rocky Bar
Hotel try to dissuade you from start
lng?" said Buford. They must have
known 1t was dangerous. They must
have been worried about you or they
wouldn't have telegraphed up"
"Oh. believe they did" The young
man tried to hide the annoyance the
questions gave him under a dry brew
ity of speech. They did all that they
ought to have done. I'll see them
again on my way down"
And yet you persisted" The ac-
tor turned to Rose with whom, as he
sat beside her at table, he had be
come quite friendly. THE blind con-
ndence of youth. Miss Cannon. isn't
It a grand. inspiring thing?"
Dominick shifted his aching feet
under the rug. He was becoming ex-
oeedingly irritated and impatient, and
wondered how much longer he would
be able to respond politely to the con-
versational assiduities Of the stranger.
Now" continued Buford, kindly
satisfy my curiosity on one point.
Why. when you were told of the dan
ger of the enterprise. did you start?"
Perhaps liked the danger, wanted
II to tone me up. I'm bank clerk,
Mr.. Buford. and my life's monotonous.
Dangers a change"
He raised his voice and spoke with
sudden, rude defiance. Buford looked
quickly at him, while his eyebrows
went up nearly to his hair.
hopk clark - ha aotd u,ith
a falling infection OF disappointment,
much chagrined to discover that the
child of millions occupied such a hum
BILE niche. "I-I-was not aware of
that"
AN assistant cashier" continued
Dominick in the same key of exas-
peration, land l managed to get hol-
iday at this season because my father
was one OF the founders of the bank
and they allow me certain privileges.
II you would like to know anything
else ask me and I'll answer as well
as l know how"
His manner and tone so plainly in
dicated his resentment of the others
curiosity that the actor flushed and
shrank. He was evidently well-mean-
ing and sensitive. and the young mans
rudeness hurt rather than angered
him. For moment nothing was said,
BufoTd making no response other
than TO clear his throat. while he
stretched out one arm and pulled
down his cum with a jerking move
ment There was constraint in the
air. and Rose, feeling that he had
been treated with unnecessary harsh
ness, sought to palliate ii by lifting
the book on her lap and saying to
him:
This is the book we were talking
about when you came in, Mr.. Buford,
Wife in Name Only Have you read
IT."
She handed him the ragged volume,
and holding II OF he eyed 1t with a
scrutiny all the more marked by the
way he drew his brows down till they
hung like bushy caves over his eyes.
NO, my dear young lady. have
not. Nor do feel disposed to do so.
Wife in Name Only That tells IA
whole story without reading a word.
We're you going to read it,"
mo; Mr.. Ryan and were Just
looking over them. We were think.
ing about reading one OF them aloud.
This one happened to be on the pile "
ITO me-" continued Buford, the
name is repelling because it suggests
sorrows OF my own"
There was a pause. He evidently
expected a question which undoubt-
eddy was not going to come from Dom
mick. who sat fallen together in the
armchair looking at him with moody
ill-humor There was more hope from
Rose, who gazed at the floor but said
nothing. Buford was forced to repeat
with an unctuous depth of tone, "Sug-
gests sorrows of my own" and fasten
his glance on her, so that, as she
raised her eyes. they encountered the
commanding encouragement of his.
Sorrows OF your own?" she re}sat.
ed timidly. but with the expected
questioning infection.
Yes, my dear Miss Cannon" re
turned the actor with a melancholy
which was full OF a rich. dark enjoy.
ment. My wife is one in name only
There was another pause. and mel.
Their showing any intention of break.
ing 1t, Buford remarked:
That sorrow is mine"
What sorrow?' said Domiuick
lbuskly.
THE sorrow OF a deserted man" re-
turned rhc actor with now, for the