Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-01-22
CHAPTER vI-continued.

learned of your-er-domestic dltf1cul-
ties for the first time tonight" Strick-
land continued. Merritt has thrown
the bombshell.'
Why, l thought" Slade began to
protest.
Hes all right" came the senator's
reessuring tones. 1T had to come
out. He's got his coat off in there
for you now. He maintains that the
opposition papers are bound to take
1t up al any moment. Now, what do
o adviser"
THE truth" Numbered Slade. my
wife is preparing to desert me-. 1t
viii happen"-Hayes jumped up and
flung himself out of the room-'to-
morrow-the next day-any hour"
Il see," and the senator looked
grave. rs this ~irrevocable, Slade?"
~"Irrevocable," declared Slade, posi-
lively. "As l have told you several
times, senator, it is i~rrevocable. I'll
stand by that
Convinced that Slade knew his own
mind in this matter as we'll as he had
the reputation for knowing it in all
other matters, Strickland returned to
the waiting politicians.
Slade had been alone but a few
minutes when Katherine returned.
well Mr.. Slade," the girl ex-
claimed, things seem to be- coming
our way
Slade was in no mood for mere con-
versation. He was annoyed at Hayes
attitude, and incensed because his
private affairs were being publicly
discussed in the next room. Mentally
he consigned Hayes to the devil, his
wife to the far East of the country,
and registered a vow with himself that
he would have that divorce and the
roman he wanted in spite of every
body and everything.
He resolved to sound Katherine out
then and there. He turned over In
his mind the most cold-blooded prop
osition that a man ever made to a
woman. He was planning to ask her
to marry him, when he should be
free, to decorate his home, preside at
his table, share his wealth and the
honors of the chief executive of the
state. There would be no warmth
In his tone, no love in his heart, no
hunger Of his lips for hers, no yearn-
ing of his arms for her yielding figure,
there would be none of the fire OF
youth, nothing of the love of little
children. nothing of the spirit that
makes of marriage a sacrament rather
than a thing of convenience.
AS Katherine walked across the
room, moving toward him with the
quiet grace and dignity Of the well.
trained, well-gowned woman, he had
a feeting memory of the slight, badly
dressed little woman, whose d~ifidence
In strange surroundings had always
fretted him. She a governors wife?
Impossible! He rose and stood be-
side the woman whom he roposed to
use as another living stepping stone.
Miss Strickland" his mind fully
made up, you've done a lot for me
In the last few weeks while you've
been making that bust. l think / IN
derstand you in a way. The more !
see OF you the more l think lid
like to make a-well, a bargain with
you. That doesn't seem to be quite
the word" he hesitated as the girl
averted her eyes. yet I think that's
what we call it."
"A bargain?" echoed Katherine.
Yes, a bargain" he repeated. 81
icy knew but one m well-that
was Mrs. Slade. She's a good m
"a mighty good woman, but we can't
II " had q home-not a home
like Strickland's. When / have another
house-thatn be what I'll want, I'll
want my friends. my acquaintances,
to come there. / want-well-head-
quarters. And ! want a woman at
the head Of my house that / can be
proud of-like Strickland"
Katherine was not surprised. She
had anticipated some such move as
this on his part, but now that she
was face to face with the u~nvarnished
suggestion, she found herself more
shocked than she would have be-
lieved.
I'm a couple Of months I'll stand
Free" he went IN. Perhaps sooner.
don't expect any woman's going to
love me-she isn't. Got to do that
when you're young. But I'd do all /
could for the woman. Shed have ev-
erything-money and-the power that
goes with 1t. / want to say right
here that / Wouldn't speak If / thought
young Hayes had q chance. l saw
he didn't"
At the mention of Hayes name
Katherine had an instant's vision OF
Bob's tender face-his eyes burning
with love looking into hers-of his
youth--his strength-his fine honor,
and her heart cried out desperately,
pitifully. for the shelter of his arms.