Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-02
Closing tba door behind him. Belden


as his words.
'Tve heard about you taking him
over TO Meeker's and lending him your
only slicker." he went on, "but didn't
expect to find him sittin' here like he
owned you and the place. You're TAX
ing altogether too much pains with
him. Can't he put his own horse out?
Do you have to go to the stable with
him? You never did have any sense
about your actions with men. You've
all along been too free Of your reputa-
tion, and now I'm going to take care
of it for you. I won't have you nursin'
this runt any longerP'
She perceived now the full measure
of his base rage, and her face grew
pale and set you're making per-
feet fool of yourself, Cliff" she said,
with portentous calmness.
cam II" he asked.
"You sure are, and you'll see it your
self by and by. You've no call to get
wire edged about Mr. Norcross. He's
not very strong. He's just getting well
of a long sickness. l knew a chill
would finish him, that's why | gave
him my slicker. 1t didn't hurt me,
and maybe 1t saved his life. I'd do 1t
again If necessary"
"Since when did you start a hospital
for eastern tenderfeetT' he sneered,
then his tone changed to one of down
right command. you want to cut this
all out, tell you! won't have any
more Of 1t! The boys up at the mill are
all talkin about your interest in this
little whelp. and I'm getting the brand
ing iron from every one meet. Sam
saw you go into the barn with that
dude, and that would have been all
over the country tomorrow, IL hadn't
told him Id sew his mouth up If he
said word about 1t. OF course don't
think you mean anything by this cod
dim"
"Oh, thank you," she interrupted,
with flaming, quick, indignant fury.
That's mighy nice of you. went to
the barn to show Mr.. Norcross where
to stall his horse. l didn't know Sam
was here"
He sneered: mo, bet you didn't"
She fred at this. "Come now! Some
thing nasty is In your mind. Go on!
What have | done? What makes you
so hotT
He began to weaken. II don't accuse
you of anything. I-but T.
Yes, you do-in your heart you dis.
trust me--you just as much as said so!''
He was losing his high air of com.
mand. Never mind what / said. Ber-
rle. IT,
She was blazing now. But l do
mmd-l mind whole lott didn't
think 1t Of YOU" she added as she re-
alized his cheapness, his coarseness.
L didn't suppose you could even think
such things Of me. | don't like IT,"
she repeated, and her tone hardened.
"and | guess you'd better pull out of
here-for good. If you've no more
faith In me than that want you to 90
and never come back"
You don't mean that"
Yes, | do! You've shown this vel.
low streak before, and I'm tired of II.
Ihis is the limit. I'm done with YOU"
she stood between tears and benumb.
ing anger now, and he was scared.
Don't say that, Berriel" he pleaded,
trying to put his arm about her.
Keep away from me-" She dashed
MS hands aside. 81 hate you. never
want to see you againg' She ran into
her own room and slammed the door
behind her.
belden stood for a long time with
MS back against the wall, the heat Of
MS resentment utterly gone, an empty.
acnlng place in his heart. He called
her twice, but she made no answer
and so at last he mounted his horse
and rode away.
ioung Norcross, much as he admired
berrie, was not seeking to exchange
ner favor for her lovers enmitv and
ne rode away with an uneasy feeling
OF having innocently made trouble for
himself as well as for fine, true heart.
ed girl.
what a good friendly talk we were
having" he said regretfully. "And to
think she is to marry that big, scowl.
ing brute! How could she turn Ian.
uon down for savage like thatr
lie was Just leaving the outer gate
wnen Belden came Gathering up and
refined his horse across the path and
called OUT "See here, you young skunk
you're poor, white llyered tender.
root and 1 can't bust you as would
Iull grown man, but reckon Won
better not ride this trail any moreS
why not? inquired waylapd
belden glared. Because / tell Won
So Your sympathy hunting game has
just about run into the ground. You've
WORKED this baby. dodge about long
enough You're not so almighty sick
as you put up to be, and you'd better
nunt some other cure for lonesomeness
or III Just about cave your chest in"
All this was shockingIy plain tall, for
a slender young scholar to listen "a.
OUT Norcross remained calm. 81 think
you're unnecessarily excited" he re.
II