Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-10-19

her. Out of the chaotic wreck of
things but one driving motive had sur
vived, and it had grown TO the stature
of an obsession: the determination to
wiring victory out of defeat for Timan-
yoni High Line; to fall if he must fall,
fighting to the last gasp and with his
face to the enemy.
Il know" he said, replying after the
reflective pause, to the charge passed
on by Colonel Dexter. There is a
friend of mine here from the East, and
l have been obliged 10 show her some
attention, so they say l am neglecting
my job. They are also talking it
around that am your Jonah, and say
ing that your only hope is to pitch me
overheard"
That's Dave Kinzle," growled the
Missourian. HE seems to have it in
for you, some way"
Nevertheless. ne was right" Smith
returned gloomily. Then: Il am about
at the end of my rope. cOlonel--the
rope I warned you about when you
brought me here and put me into the
saddle; and Tn trying desperately to
hang on until my jobs done When it
is done, when Timanyom High Line
can stand fairly on It's own feet and
fight its own battles, I'm gone"
"Oh, no, you're not" denied the
neutrality-suspicious. in generous pro-
test. you come On out home with me
tonight-and get away from this muddle
for a few minutes. It'll do you a heap
Of good; you know it always does"
Smith shook his head reluctantly but
firmly.
"Never again, colonel. 1t can only be
a matter of a few days now, and Tn
not going to pull you and your wife
and daughter into the limelight if 1 can
help it,"
Colonel Dexter got out of his chair
and walked to the nnice window. When
he came back it was to say: Are they
sure-enough chasing you, John?-for
something that you have done? Is that
what you're trying to tell me?"
"That is it-and they are nearly here.
Now you know at least one of the rea-
sons why can't go with you tonight"
''Tll be shot if 1 do" stormed the
generous one. II promised the missus
I'd bring you"
you must make my excuses to her;
and to Corona you may say that 1 am
once more carrying a gun. She will un-
derstand."
(which means, take It, that you've
been telling Cory more than you've
told the rest OF US. That brings on
more talk, John. l haven't said a word
before, have II"
mo"
swell, I'm going to say it now: I've
got only just one daughter in the wide,
wide world, John"
Smith stood up aud put his hands
behind him. facing the older man
squarely.
Colonel, I'd give ten years of my
life, this minute, If might go with you
to Hillcrest this evening and tell Co
roma what have been wanting to tell
her ever since I have come to know
what her love might make of me. The
fact that / can't do it is the bitterest
thing I have ever had to face, or can
ever be made to face"
Colonel Baldwin fell back into his
swing-chair and thrust his hands into
his pockets.
at beats the Dutch how things
tangle themselves up for us poor NOR
tails every little so-while," he com
mented, after frowning pause And
then: ''You haven't said anything like
that to Cory, have you?"
mo"
'That was white. anyway. And now
omething-or-other over at the ho-
teI--has come and dug you up and got
you on the end of her trailing rope.
That's the way it goes when a man
mixes and mingIes too much. You
never can tell"
''Hold on" Smith interposed. "What-
ever else l may be, I'm not that kind
Of scoundreI. don't owe Miss
HIGHLANDER anything that l can't pay
without doing injustice to the woman
love. But in another way / am
scoundrel. colonel. For the past two
days I have been contemplate enough
to play upon woman's vanity merely
for the sake of keeping her from talk
ing too much"
The grizzled old ranchman shook his
head soTsowfully.
II didn't think that of you, John; ]
suro didn't. Why, that's what you
might call a Iow-down, tin-horn sort of
a game"
1T Is just that and l know it as
well as you do. But it's the price l
have to pay f,r my few days of grace.
Miss HIGHLANDER knows the Stantons;
they re made 1t their business to get
acquainted with her. One word from