The Prescott daily news., 1918-04-24

Bin stared at her moodily for a 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, gasping, in the wide-armed chair by the window, and the hot tears came In a blinding flood.
 They exchanged only bare civilities at the breakfast table, and Bill at once went downtown. When he was gone, Hazel fidgeted uneasily about the rooms.
 When six o'clock brought Bill home, she was coldly disapproving 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 said gently. Doesn't 1t seem rather foolish to let a bundle of outside troubles set up so much friction be- tween us two? I don't want to stir anything up; don't want to quarrel. But can't stand this coldness and re- proach from you"
 T don't care to discuss 1t at all," she fiared up. i've heard nothing else all day but this miserable mining business and your ruffianly method of settling 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 cry of pain.
 Forgive me. I 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 hatchet, little person."
 Let me go," she sobbed, struggling to be free. 'I h-hate you!"
 "Please, little person. I can't eat humble pie more than once or twice."
 Let me go," she panted. T 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 raw deal to five men who widowed through snow and frost and all kinds of hardship to make these sharks fortune. I've got down to their level and fought them with their own weapons-and the thing is settled. l said last night I'd be through here inside week. I'm through nOw-through here. I have business in the Klappan; 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- tention to coerce you. You're my wife, and your place is with me, if you care anything about me. And I want you. You know that, don't you? I wouldn't be begging you like this if l didn't. I haven't changed, nor had my eyes dazzled by any false gods. But it's up to you. I don't bluff. I'm going, and If I have to go without you I won't come back. Think 1t over, and just ask yourself honestly if it's worth while"
 He drew her up close to him and kissed her on one anger-fushed 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 suffocating- ly upon her. More than once she had an impulse to creep in there where Bill lay and forget 1t all in the sweep of that strong arm. But she choked back the impulse angrily. She would not forgive him. He had made her suffer. For his high-handedness she would make him suffer in kind. At least, she would not crawl to him beg ging forgiveness.
 When sunrise laid yellow beam. all full of dancing notes, across her bed. she heard Bill stir, heard him moving about the apartment with rest hn nIon