Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-01-15

You did care" positively. You
did care. l could tell. When you went
away the first time you did. Why,
it was only a question of my luck
turning. You were going to wait for
me. l always knew that. Then l
met Slade. Even the senator's got o
good word for me now. But you"
his voice broke and he leaned forward
and laid his hand ove hers as 1t
rested idly on the table.
"Heavensi" he exclaimed, as he
snatched his hand away. What /
| ought to have done was to have rid
| den up here, taken you over my shout
der and galloped off with you on q
| broncho."
"Oh, Rob-" she breathed, really
pleased at his domineering tone.
That's the sort of a man to get
on with a like you" he ac-
cused. "a brute! A man could do
anything with you If he once con-
quered you. There's nothing in these
long understandings" he broke on,
disgustedly. I've lost you and don't
know how, or why. l do know you
liked me better than anyone else, and
l adore you yet" he finished, impul-
siyely clasping her hand with both
Of his. Katherine patted his strong
fingers with her free hand.
please, Rob, l know you do" and
she left him to pass back and forth
the length of the room. Il can't"
she sighed. Then hurriedly: "f
only had the courage. Oh, Rob!" and
she turned on him with a helpless
little gesture.
What do you mean by courageH'
he demanded.
in this little hole in the West" she
burst forth, vehemently. Mono. l
can't face it-always!"
well suppose it did mean to stay
here?" Bob stood with folded arms.
TITS q home. Everyone vegetables
more or less at home. Katherine!"
his voice became more tender. do
you really mean that?" And he put
his arms around her shoulders and
looked long and earnestly into her
appraised face.
81 couldn't-Oh, Rob, l couldn't
she protested. "All this month I've
been weakening-but l."
"Ah," he interrupted, his face close
to hers. You're wearing my flowers
tool saw that when I came in
And my picture-you are still keeping
that"
But IL can't quite" she began
I'm %dreadfu1ly troubled, Rob-" she
finally managed to say. She turned
from his embrace. Wed be poor
and then we'd be like the Merritts,'
with a tragic spread of her arms. "Im
used to the world. l want to live
eyerywhere-to see things. I'd die
here, v%egetatingi"
ooh, no you wouldn't" Hayes start
ed to demonstrate, when the door o.
the smoking room opened and Slade
appeared.
81 was just going to look you up
Robert. l thought o wouldn't 81
without seeing me, but"
mo, of course not" Hayes did no
attempt to conceal his annoyance a
the interruption. Katherine moved
slowly toward the door.
! "Im not driving you away, am !
. Miss Katherine?"
Before she could answer Fanni,
Merritt came sweeping in. She wa
radiant. Her beaming face and Mel
, ritt's sullen one made the situation
!, plain to all in the room.
MY DEAR" she exclaimed, turning
: to Katherine. You we're quite right
> Mr.. Slade is a great man. I'm leavini
my Wesley here to work for him. In
: off for Europe next week." she gushe
as Hayes helped her into her evenin
Q wrap, leaving my poor, dear boy a
alone. You will be good to him, won
you? Good night, Mr.. Slade; than
you," and, closely followed by Katl
crime, she hurried out to her waitin
motor.
a SHADES face was a study in amuse
complacency as he realized that b
need fear nothing more from Wesle
Merritt or his "tin-horn footing sheet
The self-esteem that was slowly bl
completely ~obscuring clear vision
prevented him from seeing that b!
money, not himself, had brought abo,
a the change. The money he had mad
was his-was he-himself. He CO
;. fused its vast power to bend the Me
II ritts and their world with his oW
trenath