The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-07-04

"Yes," he said deliberately. 81 have
Pride in my word as man. A sort
of pride that won't allow any bunch
of lily-flngered crooks to make me q
party TO any dirty deal. don't pro.
pose to get the worst Of 1t in that way
/ won't allow myself to be tarred with
their stick"
"But they're not trying to give you
the worst of It," she burst out. Visions
of utter humiliation arose to confront
and madden her. you've insulted and
abused our best friends-to say moth.
Ing of giving us all the benefit of news.
paper scandal. Wen be notorious!"
BEST friends? God save the mark -
he snorted contemptuousy. "Our best
friends, as you please to call them, are
crooks, thieves and liars. They're rot
ten. They stink with their moral rot
tenness. And they have the gall TO
call 1t good business"
"Just because their business meth
DDS don't agree with your peculiar
Ideas is no reason why you should call
Names" she fared. "Alr. Brooks called
just after you left at noon. He told
me something about this, and assured
me that you would find yourself mis-
taken If you'd only take pains to think
1t over. l don't believe such men as
they are would stoop to anything
crooked"
$50 Brooks came around TO talk 1t
over with you, eh?" Bill sneered. "Told
you it was all on the square, did he?
Explained it all very plausibly, l sup
pose. Probably suggested that you try
smoothing me down, too. 1t would
be like EN-"
"He did explain about this stock
selling business" Hazel replied defen-
sively. "And / can't see why you find
1t necessary to make fuss. l don't
see where the cheating and crooked
ness comes in. Everybody who buys
stock gets their moneys worth, don't
they? But don't care anything about
your old mining deal. It's this fighting
and quarreling with people who are
not used to that sort of brute action
and the horrld things they'll say and
think about u.s."
about you, yG1 mean-as the wife
of such a bOOr-hqt' what's rubbing
you raw,' Bill flung out passionately.
You're acquiring the class psychology
good and fast. Did you ever think of
anybody but yourself? The petty
larceny incident of my knocking down
two or three men and being under ar
rest as much as thirty minutes looms
up before you as the utter depths of
disgrace. Disgrace to you! It's all
you-youl How do you suppose 1t
strikes me to have my wife take sides
against me on snap judgment like
that? 1t shows heap of faith and
trust and loyalty, doesn't it? Oh, it
makes me real proud and glad Of my
mate. 1t does"
"If you'd explain" Hazel began hes
itatingly. She was thoroughly startled
at the smoldering wrath that flared out
in this speech Of his.
"Tll explain nothing" Bill flashed
stormily. "Not at this stage of the
game. I'm through explaining. I'm
going to act. refuse to be raked over
the Goals like a naughty child, and
then asked to tell why / did II. I'm
right, and when l know I'm right I'll
go the limit. I'm going to take tie
kinks out of this Free Gold deal inside
Of forty-eight hours. Then I'm through
with Granville. Hereafter l intend to
fight shy of breed Of dogs who lose
every sense of square dealing when
there is bunch Of money in sight.
shall be ready to leave here within a
week. And l want you to be ready,
too"
81 won't" she cried, on the verge of
Mysteries. 81 won't go back to that
cursed silence and loneliness. You
made this trouble here, not l. won't
90 back to Pine river, or the Klappan.
l won't, l tell you"
Bill stared at her moodily for a Sec
ond.
Just MS you please" he said quietly.
He walked into the spare bedroom.
Hazel heard the door close gently be-
hind him, heard the soft click of a
well-oiled lock. Then she slumped,