Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1919-01-23
prOach from

kIappan.> I Won't, ! Tell You'll"
H"I don't care to discuss it at ALL
she flared up. "Tve heard nothing
else all day but this miserable mining
business and your ruffianly method OF
settling a dispute. I'd rather not tall
about it,"
but we must talk about it," he per
sisted patiently. "You can't get to the
bottom Of anything without more OF
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 a cry of pain.
"Forgive me. I didn't mean to
hurt" he said contritely. BE a good
girl, Hazel, and let's get u 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 Ratchet, little person."
"I."t me CO." she sobbed, struggling
to be sree. 81 h-hate you'll"
"Please, little person. 1 can't eat
humble pie more than once or twice."
"Let me CO." she painted. 81 don't
want you to touch me-"
"Listen to me-" he said sternly.
1--WE 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 a raw deal to five 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 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
anything about me. And I want you.
You know that, don't you? l wouldn't
be begging YOU like this if l didn't.
I haven't changed, nor had my eyes
dazzlcd by any false gods. But it's
up to you. l don't bluff. I'm going,
and if I have to go without you I
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 n anger-flushed cheek,
and then, as he had lone 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 s%uffocating-
ly upon her. More than Once she had
an impulse to creep in there where
Bill l:,y and forget it all in the sweep
OF that strong arm. But she choked
pack 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 10 him beg
g1ng forgiveness.
When sunrise laid a yellow beam,
all full of dancing notes. acros 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 surmiSed. But she did
not rise till the maid raped on her
door with the eight o'clock Snlutati"n:
breakfast. ma'nm."
They made II pr"trnsr of eating.
Hazel sought II chair In the living
room, A book lay olcn In her lap.
4 Rut the print ran into blurred line