Connecticut western news., 1918-03-28
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IN Bertrand " Sinclair
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cgy7sat H LITTLE. B9OMT Z Co

and his QffalrS In tnelr enIlreCy, anu 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 GOODNESS and re-
prOach from YOU"
~ don't care to discuss 1t at al"
she flared up. "Pve 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 ungracfously. 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 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 square deal. Come on /;
bury the Ratchet little person"
'Let me co." she sobbed, struggling
to be free. 81 h-hate YOU"
"Please, little person. I can't eat
humble pie more than once or twice."
'Let me CO." she painted. II don't
want you to touch me-"
"Listen to me-" he said sternly.
give 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 five men
who wallOwed through snow and frost
and all kinds of hardship to make
these sharks q fortune. I've got down
to their level and fought them with
their own weapons-and the thing is
settled. I said last night I'd be
through here inside a week. I'm
through now-through here. l 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
about me. And I want you.
You know that, don't you? 1 wouldn't
be begging you like this if 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
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 suffocating- !
ly upon her. More than once she had |
an impulse to creep in there where !
Bill lay and forget it 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 observation-disclosures 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 full of dancing notes, across her
bed, she heard Bill stir, heard him
moving about the apartment with rest
less steps. After a time she also
heard the unmistakable sound of a
trunk lid thrown back, and the move
| ments of him as he gathered his
| clothes-so she surrised. But she did
not rise till the maid raped on her
door with the eight o'clock salutation !:
breakfast, ma'am."
They made pretense of eating.
Hazel sought a chair in the living
room. A book lay open in her lap.
But the print ran into blurred lines.
She could not follow the sense of the
words. An incessant turmoil of
thought harassed her. Bill passed
through the room once or twice. De-
terminedly she ignored him. The final
snap of the lock on his trunk came
to her at last, the humping sounds of
it's passage to the hall. Then q burly
expressman shouldered it into his
wagon and drove away.
A few minutes after that Bill came
in and took a seat facing her.
"What are you going to do, Hazel?
he asked soberly.
Nothing" she CURLY replied.
"Are you going to sit down and fold