The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1918-09-05


roll. didn't care n I broke the Free
Gold Mining company and myself IKE.
wiss. A dollar Doesn't terrify nor yet
mel hope It never will. And
while. perhaps, II WAS not what they
would call good form for me 10 lose
my temper and 60 at them with my
nsts. I was fighting mad when I thor
oushly seased their dirty project Any
way. Il helped bring them to time.
When you take . man Of that typs and
cuff him around with your two hands
he's apt to listen serious 70 what you
say. And thsy listened when ! told
them In dead earnest next day that
Whitsy Lswis and his partners must
have what was due them, OF I'd wreck
the bunch Of them II 1t took tsn years
and every dollar had to do It And
l could have put them on the tramp.
too-they'd already dipped their nm
gers In where they couldn't stand liu-
cation. I'm sure Of that-or they
would never have come through; which
thsy did.
But I'm sorry I ever got mixed up
with them. I'm going to sell my stock
and advise Lswis and the others to do
the same while W can get full value
for It. Lorimsr and that bunch will
manipulate the outfit to death. NO mat
ter how the mine produces.
That's all Of that. don't care two
whoops about the money. There 10
still gold In the Klappan Range and
other corners Of the North. whenever
I need It. But It nauseated me. I
can't stand that cut-throAt game. And
Granville. like most other cities Of its
kind. lives By and for that sort Of
thrins. The pressure Of modern LIE
makes II inevitable. Anyway. Q town
10 no place foe me. I can stomach It
about % long. and no longer. It's too
cramped. too Eirded about with petty
larcsny conventions. II once you slip
and got down. every one walks on you.
Everything's restricted, priced. tn-
kered with. There u no real freedom
Of body or spirit. I wouldn't trade .
comfy log cabin In the woods with Q
big fireplace and . shelf Of books for
the finest homo on Maple drive-not II
I had to stay there and slide In the
dust and smoke and smells. That
would bs Q sordld and impovssishsd
existence. I cannot live BY the dog
eat-dog code that seems to prevail
wherever folk get jammed together In
an unwieldy social mass. I have said
the IKE to you before.
by nature and training I'm united
10 i've In these crowded places. love
you. little person. ! don't think you
realize how much. but I can't make
you happy BY making myself utterly
miserable. That would only produce
the inevitable reaction. But still
think you are essentially enough IKE
me 70 mest me o. common ground.
You loved me and you found content
ment and Joy at our little cabin oocs.
Don't you think 1t might be waiting
there againf
III you really caro-. II I and the old
North still mean anything to you. .
few days or weeks, or even months Of
separation won't matter. An affection
that can't survive six months u too
fragile to 20 through life ON. don't
ask you to jump the next train and
follow me. I don't ask you to wire me.
Como back. Bill Though I would
come quick enough II you called me. !
merely want you to think II over %
berry and let your heart decide. You
know where I stand. don't you. Hasel.
deari haven't changed . BIT
Tn the same old Bill. But I'd rather
hit the trail alone than with an IN.
willing partner. Don't founder about
In any Quicksand Of duty. There 70
no 7 ought to- between ~.
80 II 10 up to you once more. little
person. II my way 10 not your way I
will abide BY your decision without
whining. And whenever you want to
reach me. . message to Felix Cour.
voiseur. Fort George. will eventually
nnd me. III AZ Il that way.
80 long. little person. like you .
heap. for all your cantankerous ways.
BILL"
She laid aside the letter. with Q
lung In her throat. For brief instant
she was minded to telegraph the word
that would bring him hurryins back.
But-soms Of the truths he had set
down In cold black and white cut her
deep. OF . surety she had drawn her
weapon On the wrong side In the min.
Ing trouble. Overhasty yes. And
shamefully disloyal. Perhaps there was
something In II. after all: that u to
ray. II might be they had made mis-.
take. She saw plainiy enough that
unless she could get back some Of the
old enthusiasm for that wilderness life.
unless the fascinatioa Of magnificent
distances, Of silent. breathlsss forests,
Of cootented quiet days o. trail and
stream. coald lay fast hold Of her
again. they would only deter the Day
Of rsckoaing. % Bill had said.
No, he would not attempt to cali
him tack. 0hs doubted n be woald
come. And he would not eo-not ~
She must have dine "a think.
Altogsthse. - ~ afse inpeeslea q
Rilrs letter grew lsss vivid b ~ ~
considered hss grievances noes. And