The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1918-08-29
BY BERTRAND W. sNu. AIR

cursed silence and loneliness. You
made this trouble here, not L Iwont
60 back to Pine river. or the Klappah.
won't, tell you'll"
Bill stared at her moodily for sec-
ond.
aust a. you please" hs said quietly.
he walked into the spare bedroom.
Hazel heard the door close gently be-
hind him, heard the soft click Of Q
well-oiled lock. Then she slumped,
gasping. in the wide-aFmed chair BY
the window. and the hot tears came In
. binding flood.
They exchanged only bare civilities
Ut the breakfast table. and Bill at once
went downtown. When he was gone.
HAZEL ndgeted 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-uncomfoFt.
able BY reason Of the surcharged at.
mosphere- at an end. b
Lets get down to bed rock. Hasa"
he said gently. Doesn't 1t seem rather
foolish to let q bundle Of Outside
troubles set up % much friction BE-
tween us two1 don't want to stir
anything up; I don't want to quarrel.
But can't stand this coldness and r.
proach from you"
II don't care to discuss Il at al"
she Jared up. I've heard nothing
else all day but this miserable mining
business and your rufianly method Of
settling q dispute. I'd rather not talk
about it"
But We must talk about It" hs per
sisted patiently. You can't st to the
bottom Of anything without more or
less talk"
talk to yourself. then" he rstort.
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.
"ForEive me-. I didn't mean 10
hurt" he said contritely. BE q good
girl, Hazel. and let's get our feet On
earth again. Sit down and put yonr
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 Q square deal. Come On:
bury the Ratchet. little person."
Let me Co." she 1obbed. struggling
to be free. II h-hats your
'"Please. little person. can't eat
humble pie more than once or twice.
LET me co." she painted. Il don't
want you to touch me-"
listen to me-" he said sternly.
''Ive stood about all Of your nonsense
I'm able to stand. I've had to fight q
pack Of business wolves to keep them
from picking my carcass. and. what's
more important to me. to keep them
from handing q raw deal to I'VE 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 IL
settled. said last night I'd be
through here inside . week. I'm
through now-through here. 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
guong tomorrow. I've no desire or In.
tcntion to coerce you. You're my wife,
and your place IL with me. II you care
anything about me. And l want You.
You know that. don't your I wouldn't
be begging you like this II I didn't.
! haven't changed. nor had my eyes
dazzled by any false gods. But It's
up to you. I don't huff. I'm going,
and II ! have to 60 without you I
won't come back. Think It over. and
just ask yourself honestly II it's worth
WHILE"
He drew her up close to him and
kissed her on one anger. flushed cheek,
and then. NJ he had done the night be-
fore. walked straight away to the bed.
room and closed the door behind him.
Hascl slept little that night. A hor.
rid weight seemed to rest auffocnting.
~ upon her. More than once she had
an impulse to creep IN there where
Bill lay and forget II all In the sweep
Of that strong arm. But she choked
back the impulse angrily. She would
not forgive him. He lind made her
suffer. For his high.hnndedness she
would make him suffer In kind. At
least. she would not crawl to him beg.
gine forgiveness.
when sunrise laid a yellow beam.
all full Of dancing notes. across her
he'd. she heard Bill stir. heard him
moving about the apartment with rest.
less steps. After q time she also
heard the unmistaknbie sound Of
trunk lid thrown back. and the move
meats Of him a. he gathered his
clothes-so she surmised. But she did
not rise Till the maid raped on her
door with the eight o'clock salutat don
breakfast. ma am"
They mnde \ pretense Of eating.
I q