Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-10-10

$50 AN "ooAu US ACuoOu
to have a 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"
II have no statement to make" Ha-
eel said coolly. II am 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
a good newspaper man bent N learn
ing what his paper wants to know
the ~desirability Of her giving forth a
statement. And in the midst of his
argument Hazel babe him a curt "good |
evening" and walked on. Barrow kept |
step with her. Grinell gave it up for |
a bad job, evidently, for he turned
back.
They walked five blocks without q
word. Hazel glanced at 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 a
sun Of money in a way that makes
people wonder?'
II can't understand 1t at ALL" he
said slowly. tits very peculiar-and
d%eucedly unpleasant. Why should he
leave you money at all? And why
should he word the will as he di.?
What wrong did he ever do you?"
"None," Hazel answered shortly. His
tone wounded her, cut her deep, so
eloquent was it of distrust. "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 moodily.
There's a key to the mystery, and if
anybody has it you have. What is it?''
"Jack," Hazel pleaded, "don't take
that tone with me. I can't Stand it
won't. I'm not a 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 ,suspi-
cious. You seem to think I must have
done some dreadful thing. 1 know
what you're thinking. The Gazette
limited at some affair between me and
Mr.. Bush; that possibly that was a
sort Of l%eft-handed reparation for ru.
lining me. If that didn't make me an
CRY, it would amuse me-it's 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, them" Barrow
muttered sulkily. give got a right to
know whatever there is to know If
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
q 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.
IF you are going to marry me-" she
repeated, "you have got a right to
know all there is to know. Have I
refused to explain? I haven't had
much chance to explain vet. Have I
refused to tell you anything? Would
any reasonable explanation make an
impression on you in your present
frame Of mind. I don't want to marry
you if you can't trust me. Why, 1
couldn't wouldn't-marry you any
time, or any place, under those con-
ditions, no matter how much I may
foolishly care for you"
There's just one thing, Hazel" Bar
row persisted stubbornly. "There must
have been something between you and
Bush. You're not helping yourself by
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
him. I refused, of course. He"
"You refused!" Barrow interrupted
cynically. "Most girls would have
jumped at the chance"
"Jack!" she protested.
"Well," Barrow defended, "he was
almost a millionaire, and I've got moth
Ing but my hands and my brain. But
suppose you did refuse him. How does
that account for the five thousand dol
lars?"
II think" Hazel flung back passion
ately, It'll let you find that out for
yourself. You've said enough now to
make me hate you almost. Your very
manners an insult"
IF you don't like my manner"
Barrow retorted stormily. Then he
cut his sentence in two, and glared at
her. The twin devils Of jealousy and
distrust were riding him hard. and it
flashed over Hazel that in his mind
she was prejudged, and that her ex-
PLANTATION, IF she made II. would only