Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-04-05
CHAPTER XIV.
q Rusiness Journey

81 have to go to the Klappan," Bill
appraised his wife one evening. Want
to com along?"
Hazel hesitated. Her first instinc-
tive feeling was one of reluctance to
retrace the nerve-trying trail. But
neither did she wish to be separated
from him.
Il see you don't" he observed dry
Iy. well, 7 can't say that blame
you. It's a stiff trip"
Pm sorry l can't feel any enthusi-
assn for such a Journey" she remarked
candidly. Il could go as far as the
coast with you, and meet you there
when you come out. How long do you
expect to be in there?"
Il don't know exactly" he replied.
I'm not going in from the coast,
though. I'm taking the Ashcroft-Fort
George Trail. have to take in a pack
train and more men and get work
started on u decent scale"
But you won't have to stay there
all summer and oversee the work, will
your she inquired anxiously.
Il should" he said.
For a second or two he drummed
on the table top.
But is there any real necessity for
you to stay on the ground?' She pur-
sued her own line of thought. 81
should think an undertaking of this
size would justify hiring an expert to
take charge of the actual mining Oper-
ations. Won't you have this end of it
TO look after?"
"Lorimer and Brooks are eminently
capable of unfolding the dignity and
Importance of that sign they've got
smeared across the windows down
town. he observed CURLY. The chief
labor of the office they've set up will
be to divide the proceeds. The work
will be done and the money made in
the Klappan Range. You sabe that
don't your"
I'm not stupid" she pouted.
I'm going tomorrow" he said. "
think, on the whole, it'll be Just as
well if you don't go. Stay here and
enjoy yourself. I'll transfer some
more money to your account. l think
I'll drop down to the club"
She followed him out into the hall,
had an impulse to throw her arms
around his neck and declare, in all
sincerity, that she would go to the
Klappan or to the north pole or any
place on earth with him, if he wanted
her. But by some peculiar feminine
reasoning she reflected in the same in
slant that if Bill were away from her
in a few weeks he would be all the
more glad to get back. That closed
her mouth. 1t was not wise to be too
meek or obedient where a husband
was concerned. That was another mite
of wisdom she had garnered from the
wives of her circle.
So she kissed Bill good-by at the
station next day with perfect good hui
NOR and no parting emotion of any
particular keenness. And if he were
a tritle sober he showed no sign of
resentment, nor uttered any futile
wishes that she could accompany him
$50 long" he said from the car
steps. III keep in touch-all l can
Then he was gone.
Somehow, his absence made less diff
ference than Hazel had anticipated
She had secretly expected to be very
lonely at first. And she was not. Even
when in her hand she held a telegram
dated at "a point five hundred or 8
thousand miles or double that distance
away she did not experience the feel
ing of complete bodily absence. She
always felt as if he were near. Only
at night, when there was no long arm
to pillow her head. no goodnight kis:
as she doZed into slumber, she missed
him, realized that he was far away
Early in June came a brief wire
from Station Six. Three weeks late
the Free Gold Mining company Sc
up a mild ripple of excitement alons
Broad street by exhibiting in theil
Office window u forty-pOund heap o
coarse gold raw, yellow gold, just a:
it had come from the sluice. Ever,
day knots of 'men stood gazing at tn,
treasure. Bill had forwarded the frs
cleanup.
And close on the heels of this-teI
days later, to be exact-he came home
"You great bear" Hazel laughed, il
the shelter of his encircling arms
my, it's good to see you again"
: She pushed herself back a little an,