The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1918-10-11
Barrow shrugged his shoulders In .
way that made Hazel bring her TEEN

Grinell by then was hurrying up
with long strides. Hat In hand. he
bowed to her. Miss Hazel Weir.
believer" he Intercepted.
"Yes," she confirmed.
TIN on the Times, Miss Weir"
Grinell went straight to the business In
hand. "You are aware, I presume,
that Mr.. Andrew Bush willed you
sum of money under rather peculiar
condltlons-that is, the beQuest was
worded in a peculiar way. Probably
you have seen reference to 1t in the
papers. It has caused a great deal of
interest. The Times would be pleased
to have n statement from you which
will tend to set at rest the curiosity OF
the public. Some of the other papers
have INDUCED in unpleasant innuendo.
We would be pleased to publish your
side of the matter"
81 have no statement to make" Ha-
eel said coolly. II nm not In the least
concerned with what the papers print
or what the people say. I absolutely
refuse to discuss the matter"
Grinell continued to point out-with
the persistence and persuasive logic of
n good newspaper man bent on learn
Ing what his paper wants to know
the deslrabllity OF her giving forth a
statement. And in the midst of his
argument Hazel babe him curt good
evening" and walked on. Barrow kept
step with her. Grinell gave It up for
bad job, evidently, for he turned
back.
They walked FIVE blocks without a
word. Hazel glanced ut Barrow now
and then, and observed with an uncom-
Portable sinking of the heart that he
was sullen, openly resentful, suspi-
cious.
"Johnnie-boy." she said suddenly,
don't look so cross. Surely you don't
blame me because Mr.. Bush Wills me n
sum Of money in a way that makes
people wonder?"
II can't understand 1t at ALL" he
said slowly. ITS very peculiar-and
deucedly unpleasant. Why should he
leave you money at all? And why
should he word the will as he dld1
What wrong did he ever do you?"
None" Hazel answered shortly. His
tone wounded her, cut her deep, so
eloquent was It Of dlstrust. 1.-THE only
wrong he has done me lies in willing
me that money as he did"
but there's an explanation for
that Barrow declared modify.
There's key to the mystery, and II
anybody has 1t you have. What is it?"
Jack" Hazel pleaded, don't take
that tone with me. l can't stand i'll
won't. I'm not little child to be
scolded and browbeaten. This morn
Ing when you telephoned you were al
most insulting, and it hurt me dread
fully. You're angry now, and suspl-
cIous. You seem to think must have
done some dreadful thing. / know
what you're thinking. The Gazette
limited at some affair between me and
MIR. Bush; that possibly that was
sort of left-handed reparation for ru-
lining me. If that didn't make me an
cry. 1t would nmuse me-its so absurd,
haven't you any faith in me at all? I
haven't done anything to be ashamed
OF. I've got nothing to conceal"
Don't conceal it, then" Barrow
muttered sulklly. I've got q right to
know whatever there Is to know II
I'm going to marry you. You don't
seem to have any idea what this sort
OF talk that's, going around means to
a man."
Hazel stopped short and faced him.
Her heart pounded sickeningly, and
hurt pride and rising anger choked her
for an instant. But she managed to
speak calmly, perhaps with added
calmness by reason of the struggle
she was compelled to make for self
control.
III you are going to marry me-" she
repeated, you have got a right to
know all there is to know. Have T
refused to explain? I haven't had
much chance to explain yet. Have I
refused to tell you anything? Would
any reasonable explanation make m
impression on you In your present
frame of mind. l don't want to marry
you II you can't trust me. Why. 7
coulcnt-l wouldn't-marry you any
time, or any place, under those con-
ditlons, no matter how much l NAV
ioolishly care for you"
There's just one thing, Hazel" Bar
row persisted stubbornly "There must
nave been something between you and
Bush. You're not helping yourself bv
getting on your dignity and talking
about my not trusting you, instead Of
explaining these things"
"A short time ago." Hazel told him
quietly, "Mr. Bush asked me to marry
MIN. l refused, Of course. He"
You refused" Barrow interrpnted
cynically. Most girls would have
jumped at the chance"
Jack" she protested.
well" Barrow defended, "be wns
almost millionaire, and I've got moth
ing but my hands and my brain. But
suppose you did refuse him. How does
lars7n wv