Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-08-13

him.
Don't be hard on me, Joyce" he
begged conciliatingly Il own hadn't
ought to have left you when l did, but
what else could l do? Under the cir
Cunstances thought folks would do
more for you If was gone than
under the circumstances / accept
ee. charity until i was able to work.
The child was buried by charity. 1
afterward repaid the money, but it
was none the less taking charity"
He picked at the edge of the board
h front of him.
"I'm going to turn over new leaf,
Joyce" he whined
mot in this shack" she retorted de-
cisively She was gathering compo-
sure after her shaken moment. 81 wish
lightning had struck you before you
found out where was. l was a fool
not to get a legal separation at the
time, but learned you'd been sent to
prison, and l knew you were out of
the way, and came off up here with
out doing it. You were given ten
year term, heard. What you're doing
out in four years l don't know"
He stared at her, and she read his
covering fear with hard eyes.
This country's big, and 1 want you
to move on. This is my place. It's
not big enough for US both. You un-
derstand? If you'll keep in mind we're
perfect strangers and get out of here
on the next boat
The fear oozed out of his face. A
sort of whimpering hope took it's place.
You are hard, Joyce" he sniveled.
God knows, I've always loved your
l never thought of anybody but you"
Leave God out of it," ordered the
woman contemptuously. You never
thought of anybody but yourself in.
your life."
II knew you'd be mad at me, Joyce,
as soon as came in. I'm going right
up to the mine and get job. III
show you l can work. 1 won't ever
leave you again.
"Oh, yes, you WILL" she said grimly,
"and that right away. Just look at my
handsr' she cried suddenly. throwing
them out before her with fierce ges-
ture. They were calloused and rough
and stiff. 81 suppose you remember
what they looked like oncev
The man blinked and licked his lips.
Il remember, Joyce" he said hum
bly,. 81 thought maybe you'd teach.
music. You could play right we'll"
81 tried it for year and starved"
are r,ir7
chance
You can have all the chance In.
the world-away from this place. l
shall not molest you. though l suspect
you've got no right to your freedom
But you just get this once for all: You
are to move on at once. And mean
while we are strangers. l don't now
you. You are
McGehee entered. and she turned alb
ruptly and poured a cup of coffee,
which with food she placed before the
man already seated. naming as she did
so the price of the meal.
As he passed, McGehee bestowed
upon the presence a glance of curiosi-
ty and dislike, then sauntered on to hiss
accustomed place. With deliberation.
that savored of malice Mrs. Taylor
filed cup and plate and set them be-
fore him.
He looked at the food with mingled
amusement and protest
'Do have to eat every hour?'
Folks don't come in here except to-
eat,' she pointed out.
"Oh, very well.'' drawled McGehee
and began to stir in his cup.
He stirred slowly and slipped the cof-
fee and nibbled the sandwich. but he
did not attempt conversation until the
presence at the far end Of the room
was gone.
As the man went out Valor gave him.
another scrutiny and looked inquiring
ly at Mrs Taylor. 1t struck him when
he came in that she and the man were
having words. and the thought came
back to him.
But the morning was now growing
late, and she was getting ready for the
noon rush, and somehow, though he
could not have told why, the atmos-
phere seemed subtly against any more
half earnest jesting.
So he moodily formed big interro-
CATION point in the center Of his place
with breadcrumbs. put a coin. the
price of the meal, under his cup. swung
his legs over the bench and went out
He did not come back the next hour,
nor the next, as he had promised. The
camp was suddenly in a turmoil over
the disaster at the Crown mine Nc
Gehee, with others, gave the rest of the,
day to caring for the five men wound
ed by the explosion and h,rying the
three who were killed.
HE claimed he was an expert pow
der man. just what they were looking
for. He lied He hadn't been there
twenty minutes before-oh. we'll, ne
got his too. But that didn't make It
any easier for the rest of 'em. 1t was
that fellow who was eating here yes
terday morning when came In for my
- r<v,anr 1fa<al. I'M