The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1918-08-22

particular keenness. And II he were
tribe sober he showed no sign Of
resentment. nor uttered any futile
wishes that she could accompany him.
80 long" he said from the car
steps. I'LL keep in touch-au can"
Then he was gone.
Somehow, his absence made les 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 telegram
dated at q point i've hundred or a
thousand miles or double that distance
away she did not experience the feel
Ing Of complete bodily absence. She
always felt a. II he were near. Only
at night, when there was no long arm
to pillow her head. no goodnight kiss
az she dozed Int slumber. she missed
him, realised that he was far away.
Early In June came . brief wire
from Station Six. Three weeks later
the Free Gold Mining company set
up q mild ripple Of excitement along
Broad street BY exhibiting in their
office window . forty-pound heap Of
coarse gold; raw. yellow gold. just a
It had come from the sluice. Every
day knots of men stood gazing at the
treasure. Bill had forwarded the first
cleanup.
And close on the heels Of this-ten
days later. to b exact-he came home.
you great bear" Hazel laughed. In
the shelter Of his encircling arms.
my, its good to see you again"
She pushed herself back little and
surveyed him admiringly. with q graft
fed sense Of proprietorship. The
cheeks Of him were tanned to healthy
brown, his eyes clear and shining. The
offending flesh had fallen away on the
strenuous paths Of the Klappan. he
radiated boundless vitality, strength,
alertness, that perfect coordination OF
mind and body that IL bred Of farins
resourcefully along rude ways. She
thrilled at the touch Of his hand. was
content to lay her head on his shout
der and forget everything In the Joy
of his physical nearness.
They elected to spend the evening
quietly at home. a. they used to do.
To Hazel It seemed quite like old
times. Bill told her Of the Klappan
country, and their prospects at the
mine.
ITS going to be q mighty big thing. "
he declared.
TIN 20 glad" said Hasel.
"We've got group Of ten claims.
Whitley Lewis and the original stakera
hold an interest In their claims. l,
acting a. agent for these other fel.
lows In the company. staked i've more.
I took In eight more men-and. be-
lieve me. things were humming when
left. And, say. I went in BY Tho
ranch. Old Jake has Q ilne garden.
He's still begging away with the mule
'und Gretchen, der cow offered him
a chance to make q fat little stake al
the mine. but he didn't want to leave
the ranch. Great old Teller. Jake,
Something Of philosopher In his way
Pretty wise old head. He'll make
good. all right"
In the morning. Bill ate his break
fast and started downtown.
That's the dickens Of being bust
ness man." he complained to Ha1el
In the hallway. 1T Rides . man. once
1t gets hold Of him. Adios, little per
son. Ill get out for lunch. business
or no business"
Eleven.thirty brought him home
preoccupied and frowning. And b
carried his frown and his preoccupa
ton to the table.
"Whatever Is the matter. Billf' IA
eel anxiously inquired.
"Oh. I've got . nasty bunch tina
there's . niger In the woodpile." b
replied.
And that was all b, vouchsafed
He finished his luncheon and left tn
house. He was scarcely out Of sigh
when Jimmie Brooks runabout drew
up at the curb. A half minute late
he vas ushered into the living room.
"Bill int" was his frst query.
mo. be left just . few minutes
ago." Hasel told him.
Mr.. Brooks, short. heavy-set, neat
ly dressed gentleman. whose rathe
weak blue eyes loomsd preternaturallI
large and protubernnt behind pince
nee that straddled an insignincant snul
nose. took of his glasses and twiddlet
them 10 his white. wsll.kept fingers.
"Ah. too badi" be murmursd
Thought I'd catch him.
by the way" be continued. ate
. pause. 'yoa-ah-wsll. frankly.
have reason to believe that you hav
q good deal Of influence with your hua
baud Ia business matters, ArA VIZ
STAFF"
swell. I 6oat know: perhaps
have. wAyr
"wsll-ah-5oa 49," be began rath
q iamely. ~TAs fact Isl hope you'll
regard this - st1ictiy confidential. Mr.,
Wagsta6. wouldn't want Bill 4