Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-04-20


made this trouble here. not 1. won't
go back to Pine river, or the Klappan.
| won't tell your
Bill stared at her modify for sec
ond
Just as 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,
gaSpng, in the wide-armed chair by
the window. and the hot tears came in
a binding flood.
They exchanged only bare Clvilities
at the breakfast table, and Bill ut once
went downtown. When he was gone,
Hazel fdgeted uneasily about the
rooms.
When six O'Clock brought Blu home.
she was coldly disappearing of him
and his affairs in their entirety, and at
no pains TO hide her feelings. He fol-
lowed her into the living room when
the uncomfortable meal-uncOmfort-
able by reason of the surcharged at
mOsphere-waS at an end.
Lets get down to bed rock, Hazel"
he SGid gently. Doesn't 1t seem rather
foolish to let a bundle of outside
troubles set up so much friction be-
tween us two? / don't want to stir
anything up; don't want to quarrel.
But l can't stand this coldness and re-
proach from you"
II don't care to discuss it at ALL"
she fiared up. Eve heard nothing
else all day but this miserable mining
business and your rufiianly method of
settling a dispute. I'd rather not talk
about it."
But we must talk about it," he per-
sisted patiently. You can't get TO the
bottom of anything without more or
less talk"
Talk to Yourself, then" she retort-
ed ungraciously. And with that she
ran out Of the room.
But she had forgotten or underesti-
mated the catlike quickness of her
man. He caught her in the doorway,
and the grip of his fingers on her arm
brought a cry of pain.
Forgive me. l didn't mean to
hurt" he said contritely. BE a good
girl, Hazel, and let's get our feet on
earth again. Sit down and put your
arm around my neck and be my pal.
like you used to be. We've got no
business nursing any crime. I've only
stood for a square deal. Come on
bury the Ratchet, little person"
let me GO" she sobbed, struggling
to be free. Il h-hate you"
"Please, little person. l can't eat
humble pie more than once or twice"
Let me 60" she painted. 81 don't
want you to touch me"
Listen TO me-" he said sternly.
i've stood about all of your nonsense
I'm able to stand. I've had to fight a
pack of business wolves to keep them
from picking my carcass, and, what's
more important to me. to keep them
from handing a raw deal to five men
who wallOwed through snow and frost
and all kinds OF hardship to make
these sharks a fortune. I've got down
TO their level and fought them with
their own weapOns-and the thing is
through here inside week. I'm
through now-through here. / have
business in the Kappa, to complete
this thing I've set my hand to. Then
I'm going to the ranch and try to get
the bad taste out of my mouth. I'm
going tomorrow. I've no desire or in
tenti0n to cOerce YOU You're my wife.
and your place is with me, If you care
anything about ne. And | want you.
You know that, don't you? / wouldn.
be begging you like this If didn't.
[ haven't changed nor had my eyes
dazzled by any false gods. But it's
up to you. l don't bluff I'm Coins.
and If have TO go without you /
won't come back, Think it over. and
just ask yourself honestly if it's worth
while"
He drew her up close to him and
kissed her on one anger-fiushed cheek.
and then, as he had done the night be-
fore, walked straight, away TO the bed
room and closed the door behind him.
Hazel slept little that night. A hor-
rid weight seemed to rest sufrocating.
~ upon HEE. more INau once she laN
an impulse to creep in there whore
Bill lay and forget it all Ia the sweep
Of that strong arm. But she chokcd
back the impulse angriIy. She would
not forgive him. He had made her
suffer. For his high-handcdness she
would make him suffer In kind AT
least, she would not crawl TO him beg
ging forgiveness.
When sunrise laid a yellow beam,
all fun Of dancing notes. across her
bed. she heard BIZ stir. heard him
moving abodt the apartment with r-.i-
less steps. After time she also
heard the unmistakab sound Of
trunk lid thrown back, and the move
ments Of him as he gathered his
clothes-so she surmlsed But she did
not rise till the maid raped On her
door with the eight o'clock salutation:
Breakfast. maam.
They made a pretense Of eating
HfGel sought a chair in the living
room. A book lay open In her lap
But the print ran into blurred liucs