Gunnison news-champion. [volume] (Gunnison, Colo.) 1905-1932, 1917-02-09

thousand ysars -. svtnkling baes
non the sAosSUttona q nuch 30
the inanfDass. CEaWfned. erect. psaS'
and defiant: the girl poised On ne
threshold. with the winged eaeernsss
Of Victory: FORBES. tviriins his hat.
dimdent and ahashed. An these
things Hasgssty skv iron behind his
curtain.
In life - in faisysales. 'tis woman
who breaks the enchantment The
picture dissolved - she ran toward
Crawford. whose glance went past her
to Foebes-
Ny lettsss!"
They are mine!"
And IT.
Crawford did mot understAna.
Forbes. did you tell heef II you id.
God forgive you. mover will!-
Forbes flung his hat on . chair.
All I've done y TO bring her TO you"
He came and told me you were
sailing and never coming hack. I've
been . miserable fool" She held out
her arms, round and arm and white.
To Forbes she was ~ lovely a. the
Madonna he had once dreamed Of
painting. Il don't care Who the other
woman d. Whatever she has been 70
| you.
Janet. you are hysterical!"
mo. Do you want me, Jimr
Crawford leaned with his hands
upon the desk. He was ~ white -
she was. Forbes turned his back and
began Idly to pluck 1t the frayed brit
Tie wrapping Of . mummy. Lord! he
thought. even this gruesome thing had
loved something once.
Janet" he heard Crawford Say.
will you 20 With me to Italy In the
morningi"
Yea"
without question. past or futursr'
As I am" The fever was gone
from her voice.
You will give up the life you have
known and share the hardships Of
mine?-for they are hard and - much
pan OF me - the air"
Yes, ~ ! am now"
The mummy 1t which Forbes Vas
staring strangely wavered. Forbes
blinked hard and caught the tears b.
fore they fell. II wasn't Crawford's
story he was thinking Of: II was bis
own. his own idle. drifting. innocuous
story. His head stole round in spite
Of his effort to keep Il from doing %.
There they stood. faes 70 face. tense.
The girls sables had fallen apast, a.
closing her psignoir. She had come
out like that! Why the devil didn't
the man take her. take herr His
heart swelled with rage. But the rage
died - quickly - II had come Craw.
ford swung the girl into his arms: I'll
the WEAKNESS gone nom his scholarly
face. which was now transngursd with
something Forbes had never sssn On
any mans face before.
"0irl." said Crawford. I'm . brute.
but I wanted 70 b sure. Hivs ysafsi
Well. this moment 10 worth It."
Tell her the truth" cried Forbes
hoarsely.
why should II In her heart Of
hearts she knows Il, knows that there
never WAS and never viii b another
woman! Oh. Morti"-With . hand
outstfetched over the girls shoulders
when I saw you come In ! could
have cursed you. for believed you
must have told her: and ] wanted
NO other love than this. absolute, with
out reservation. am IN odd man. but
am - God made me. You wonder
Why I did not explain long ago. She
accused me Of bringing her . second
hand love. deny that l evinced fool.
ish pride when I left her. She had
listened to idle gossip without FIRST
hearing my side before she Judged.
Had she come to mo 1t any time -
she has como tonight What's
the use Of going over all thatf She 10
miro now. even II you did bring her
to me-"
ION the contrary" said Forbes. II
believe she brought me-"
The girls arm wound about Craw.
ford's neck tightly.
Whats the matter?' asked Craw.
ford suddenly. a. he marked the e.
preston Of astonishment ON bis
friends face.
The answer care from behind.
Sorry. sir. & interrupt" said Hag.
gerty. pushing the valet before him:
''hut Auty's duty, an time don't wait"
For Haggerty. familiar - he was
with battle. murder and sudden death.
had never witnessed scene Ike this
ono. and It had outlasted his patience
And who the devil are your de-
manded Crawford. swinging about and
facing the detective.
cTo BE coNrrNuEDJ
War Fatal to ostriehss.