Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-25


lihood. And stenographers seemed to
be in demand. Wherefore, she rea-
Soned that wages would be high. With
the list in her purse, she went down on
Hastings-which runs like a huge ar
terry through the heart of the city,
with lesser streets crossing and diverg-
ing
But she made no application for en-
ployment. For on the corner of Has
tings and Seymour, as she gathered
her skirt in her hands to cross the
street, someone caught her by the arm
and cried:
''Well, forevermore, if it isn't Hazel
Weirl''
And she turned to find herself facing
Lorraine Marsha Granville school
chum-and Loraine's mother. Back of
them, with wide and startled eyes,
doomed Jack Barrow.
He pressed forward while the two
women overwhelmed Hazel with
flood of EXPLANATIONS and questions,
and extended his hand. Hazel accept
ed the overture. She had long since
gotten over her resentment against
him. She was furthermore amazed to
find that she could meet his eye and
take his hand without a single fiutter
she was glad of it.
They stood a few minutes on the
corner; then Mrs. Marsh proposed that
they go to the hotel, where they could
talk at their leisure and in comfort.
Lorraine and her mother took the lead.
Barrow naturally fell into step with
Hazel
1--WE been wearing sackcloth and
q no Said hr1n
~ after you left, somebody on one of
the papers ferreted out the truth of
that Bush affair, and the vindictive old
hounds reasons for that compromising
legacy were set forth. Bush appears
to have kept diary-and kept it post
ed up to the day of his death-poured
out all his feelings on paper, and re-
peatedly asserted that he would win
YOU or ruin you. And it seems that
that night. after you refused to come
to him when he was hurt, he called in
his lawyer and made that codicil-and
spent the rest of the time till he died
gloating over the chances of it be
smirching your character"
I've grown rather Indifferent about
it," Hazel replied impersonally. "But
he succeeded rather easily. Even you,
who should have known me better,
were ready to believe the very worst"
I've paid for it," Barrow pleaded.
"You don't know how I've hated myself
for being such cad. But it taught
me a lesson-if you'll not hold
grudge against me. I've wondered and
worried about you. disappearing the
way you did. Where have you been,
and how have you been getting on?
You surely look WELL" He bent an
admiring glance on her.
"Oh, I've been every place. and
can't complain about not getting on"
she answered carelessly.
For the life of her, she could not
help making comparisons between the
man beside her and another who she
guessed would by now be bearing up
the crest of the divide that overlooked
the green and peaceful vista of forest
and lake, with the Babine range lying
purple beyond. She wondered if Roar
ing Bill Wagstaff would ever, under
any circumstances, have looked on her
with the scornful. angry distrust that
Barrow had once betrayed. Barrow's
attitude was that of little boy who
had broken some plaything in fit of
anger and was now woefully trying to
put the pieces together again 1t
amused her. Indeed. it afforded her
distinctly un-Christian satisfaction.
since she was not by nature of a meek
or forgiving spirit
Hazel visited with the three of them
in the hotel parlor for matter of two
hours, went to luncheon with them.
and at luncheon Lorraine Marsh
brought up the subject of her coming
home to Granville with them. The
Bush incident was discussed and dis
missed. On the question of returning,
Hazel was noncommittal.
'-Of course you'll comet We won't
hear of leaving you behind. So you
can consider that settled" Lorraine
Marsh declared at last Were going
day after tomorrow. So is Mr.. Bar
row."
Jack walked with her out to the
Ladysmith. and. among other things,
told her how he happened to be In the
coast city.