The evening world., 1915-03-18

step to her very deliberately.
You WILL" She set her teeth on It.
Look here. did you never wonder
why father went away?"
II don't know. / wondered, at first,
II the wolf thing could have got on
his nerves"
HE never heard Of It," hardly. but
you're right, in a way. He went
away because he was afraid to stay
here. and l was afraid to have him
stay. But l lied to you when l said
1 expected him back by Christmas.
don't expect him at ailI' r-. -.
II knew that" said Hazard placidly.
You wbuldn't ftbeen so, angry
with me IL you hadn't been trying to
make out case for him. I wouldn't
let a miserable failure like that OF a
lie worry you" His gray eyes soft
ened as he looked at her. -
~ wonder If you'd always--under-
stand" Sophy hesitated.
things. 'T'd try!".. .. - Pc. -
well, you'll. have to try pnetty
hard. then, now" she returned reck-
lessly. "for l want to tell you things
1 don't understand myself, I mean
my part of them. 1 suppose you think
I've always been looked after and
cared for, like any other glrl7 Well,
] haven't! I've been used to living on
fathers wits, and helping him out
with mine in tight places. And one
day I helped him wrong"
How"
about Lastluck-or ! mightn't tell
you; and you ought to know. There
was a mani thought he was In love
father had of this place: l thought
he'd haIn na ont With ~ ~
Did you"-the stove sputtered In
tho pause-'like him?"
II don't know" said the girl pain
fully. when was with him I
thought everything he did was right:
/ used to feel as II hadn't any will
Of my own. that I had to do every
thing he said. II he were here now
IL believe I'd have to. oven II 1t was
about the mine"
~ haven't observed him in the
neighborhood." drawled Hazard.
Sophy went white. That's why
told you: he might come! He knows
about Lastluck; he knows something
horrid. too. about father; he made
him swear he'd never dare come here.
that he'd leave 1t for him. or he'd put
him In Jail At least, father said so;
didn't believe him till knew he
was afraid to stay here and meet him.
Then I thought II We could only got
out the gold, quick. and go. I'd save
father. II he came. do you think !
could buy him Off"
Buy nething!" said Hazard slowly.
II he were furious that Ridgeway had
cleared out because he was afraid to
stay, and left the girl to face things.
he did not air 1t. THE colds ours;
we found It," And suddenly he
smiled do you, think l couldn't do
any better than buy you off?" be
demanded.
I'm afraid" said sophy slowly.
"of what l might do"
yet you stayed here7"
81 felt safe" simply. II never felt
safe anywhere before" Hazards
blood leaped in him. but lately I've
got worried. He-the man-said tho
map was his before II was father's,
and perhaps-thats true!"
Hazard faced her. very tall in the
dim light. Suppose It was" he said
simply. Don't you see there's MOTH
Ing to all you've told me. except your
own worry about II? No matter what
kind of a row any ones had with
Ridgeway. there are better ways of
settling II than buying of; and he
won't be here to wrestle with. no
matter who comes. There's nothing
to II: none of It's half az important
AZ that all we've got to eat is half OF
the last caribou Olsen got. Don't you