Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-04-08
cHAPrER vlI.-fcontlnued.l

fellow snowbound prisoners in hotel par
CHAPTER Vll.-(Continued.)
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 dry brew
tty 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 coil
hdence of youth, Miss Cannon, isn't
It a grand, inspiring thing?"
Dominick shifted hts aching feet
1nder the rug. He was becoming ex-
seedingly irritated and impatient. and
wondered how much longer he would
oe able to respond politely to the con-
gersational 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 l liked the danger, wanted
Il to tone me up. I'm a bank clerk
Mr.. Buford, and my LIES 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
"A bank clerk OH" he said with
4 falling infection OF disappointment,
much chagrined to discover that the
child of millions occupied such hum
ole 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-
day 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
iicated 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
aim. For moment nothing was said.
Buford making no response other
than to clear his throat, while he
stretched out one arm and pulled
down his cuff with a jerking move
nent There was constraint in the
air. and Rose, feeling that he had
been treated with unnecessary harsh.
ness. sought TO pailiate it 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
lt?"
She handed him the ragged volume,
and holding it Off he eyed it with a
scrutiny all the more marked by the
way he drew his brows down till they
hung like bushy caves over his eyes.
mo, my dear young lady. have
not. Nor do l feel disposed to do so.
Wife in Name 0nlyl' That tells
whole story without reading a word.
Were you going to read it?"
mo; Mr.. Ryan and / were lust
looking over them. We were think.
ing about reading one of them aloud.
This one happened to be on the pile :"
TO me-" continued Buford, the
name is repelling because 1t suggests
SORROWS of my own"
There was pause. He evidently
expected = question which undoubt-
edly 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, whD gazed at the floor but said
nothing. Buford was forced to repeat
with an unctuous depth of tone. 'Sug-
gests Sol rows of my own" and fasten
his glance on her, so that, as she
Saised her eyes. they encountered the
commanding encouragement OF his.
Sorrows of your own?" she repeat
ed timidly, but with the expected
questioning infection.
Yes. my dear Miss Cannon" re-
turned the actor with melancholy
which was fun Of rich. dark njoy-
ment. My wife is one in name only"
There was another pause. and nei-
Their showing any intention of break
ing it. Buford remarked:
THAT sorrow is mine"
What sorrow?" said Dominick
bruSkly.
The sorrow OF a deserted man." re-
turned the actor with now, for the
arst time. something of the dignity
of real feeling In his manner.
oh" the monosyllable was extreme
~ noncommittal. but il had the air OF
snality as though Dominick intended
10 say no more.
Has she-er-left your" said the
girl in low and rather awe-strieken
voice.
The actor inclined his head in an
seouiescent bow
she has"
Again there was a pause. Unless
Buford chose to be more biograph-
ieal, the conversation appeared to
have come to deadlock. Neither
of the listeners could at this stage
break into his reserve with questions
hS THE piIPEI M VIEWS III