The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-05-31

exclaimed, resllly. 'Whar are you LOOK
ing at?'
II wondered what you'd say"
@Ehf Can't / fire q man without
long-winded explanatory Just becaus'
I've let you run things to suit your
self"
swat! We had our understanding.
Alaire's voice vas low and vibrant
1T was my payment for living with
you, and you know 1t. You gave me
the reIns to Las Palmas so that II
have something to do, something tt
live for and think about, except-youl
actions. The ranch has doubled In
value, every penny Is accounted for
and you have more money to spend
on yourself than ever before. You have
no reason to complain"
Austin crushed his napkin into q bal
and flung 1t from him; with a scowl
he showed himself back from the table.
ut was an idiotic arrangement, just
the anne. / agreed because I was sick.
Dad thought / was all shot to pieces.
But I'm all right now and able to run
my own business"
Nevertheless, 1t vas a bargain, and
1t viii stand. If your father were alive
he'd make you live up to It."
You talk as If 1 were a child"
shouted her husband; and his plump
face was apoplectic with rage. "The
title is In my name. How could he
make me do anythingT'
Nobody could force you," his wife
said, quietly. "You are still enough Of
a nan to keep your word, 1 believe, so
long as / observe my part of our bar
gainf"
Ed, slightly Modified, agreed. "Of
course l am; / never WEIGHED. But
l won't be treated as an incompetent,
and I'm tired Of these eternal wrangles
and jangles."
"You have WEIGHED"
"Eh?" Austin frowned belligerently.
"You agreed to so away when you
felt your appetite coming on, and you
promised to live clean, at least around
home.'
"Well?"
Alaire went on in a lifeless tone that
covered the seething emotions within
her. II new inquire into your actions
at San Antonio or other large cities,
although of course I have ears and l
can't help hearing about them; but
these border towns are home to us,
and people know me. I won't be humil-
lated more than I am; public pity is
hard enough to bear. I've about
reached the breaking point"
"Indeed?" Austin leaned forward,
his eyes infamed. His tone was raised,
needless of possible eavesdroppers.
"Then why don't you end 1t? Why
don't you divorce me? / never see
anything of you. You have your part
of the house and I have mine; all we
share in common is meal hours, and
and a mail address,"
Alaire turned upon him eyes dark
with misery. "You know why / don't
divorce you. No, Ed, we're going to
live out u agreement, and these
Brownsville episodes are going to
cease" Her lips whitened. $50 are
your visits to the pumping station"
What do you NEAR by that!"
"You transferred Panilo because he
was growing Jealous Of you and Rosa"
Ed burst into sudden laughter.
There's no harm In a little Irritation.
Rosa's q pretty girl"
His wife uttered a b~reathless,
smothered exclamation; her hands, as
they lay on the table cloth, were tight
ly clenched. "She's your tenant-al-
most your servant. What kind of a
man r you? Haven't you any de-
cency left?"
"Say! Go easyl / guess I'm no diff
ferent to most men," Austin's unpleas-
ant laughter had been succeeded by a
still more unpleasant scowl. 81 have
to do something. It's dead enough
around here"
"You must stop going there"
"Humphl I notice you go where
you please. Rosa and I never spent a
night together in the chaparral-"
ed" Alaire's exclamation was like
the snap of a whip. She rose and
faced her husband, quivering as IL the
lash had stung her flesh.
THAT went home, ehf Wen, I'm no
fooll I've seen something Of the world.
and. I've found that women are about
like men. I'd like to have a look ut this
David Law, this gunman. this Hand
some Harry who waits at water holes
for ladies In distress" Ed ignored his
wife's outfiung hand. and continued,
mockingiy: "I1i bet he's all that's
manly and splendid, everything that
I'm not"
"You'd-better STOP" gasped the
woman. II can't stand everything"
$50? Wen. neither can l."
"After-this, / think you'd better
go-to San Antonio. Maybe I'll forget
before you ome back"
To this Young ed" agreed quickly
enough. "Goodi" said he. "That suits
me. I'll at least get a little peace at
my club Flo glowered after his wife
as she left the room. Then, still scowl-
ing. he lurched out to the gallery
where the breeze was blowing. and
nuifg himself into a chair.