The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-12-03

boy returned with another young man.
The stranger ate ravenous supper,
bur was not too occupied 60 essay con-
versation with Irene. He chose 70 call
her cook.
"Swell pancakes. cook" was his
opening remark. ''Can You find an
other for yours trulyl"
She renlled his plate without an
swer.
used 10 know a girl mighty like
you.e he went ON. "WaltreSs In the
Royal Edward. Gee, hut she was
swelli A plppini CLASSY Say. she
had 'em all guessing. Had me guessing
myself for while. But just for a
while" lie voiced these remarks with
an air OF intense self-approval more
offensive than the words.
Irene felt the color rise about her
neck and cheeks and run like an over
flowing stream into her ears and about
her hair. IL was evident that for n
second time. Dave had chosen 60 say
nothing 20 strangers about her pres
enee az the ranch. Her father and Mr..
Elden were In Dawes room. Dave had
stopped eating. and she saw the veins
rising In his elenched fists. But the
challenge was % her. and she would
accept it. she felt no need OF his pro-
lection.
~Fin your stomach she said. pass
ing more pancakes: your head Is
hopeless
He attempted a laugh. but the meal
was finished In silence. The stranger
liz cigarette and Irene went 60. the
door with Dave.
Come for walk he whispered.
The horses are tired. 50 let's walk.
It's our last chance
She ran for her sweater and rejoincd
him In q moment. They walked in
silence down a path through the fra
grant trees, bur Dave turned from time
TO time Go catch a glimpse Of her face.
white and fne as ivory In the soft
light. he had much 60 say. hut he was
tongue-tied under the spell OF her
beauty.
You sQue,ched him. all right" he
broke out. AZ length.
Just In time. too, think" she re
piled. Il was watching your hands"
He smiled quiet but very confident
smile. "Reenie.~ he said. that fellow
makes me sick. All the way out he
talked about girls He's city chap
an wears a white collar. but he Amt
az 70 SPEAK your name, Another min
ute an ia n had I'm by the neck"
lie setred spruce limb that stuck
across their path. II was the size Of a
stout stick. but he snapped II with a
turn 81 his wrist. II was very tough
II oosed sticky stun where he broke Il.
~HiS neck. he said. between his teeth,
~jns' like that
They reached an open space. Some
thing hlack-er vas it reds-lay on
the Ercaai. Dave bent over n q mo-
meat. rAen lsssst W 60 her white
clear face waite asd clearer than ever
sanes vtas@aas The strength Of his
hate
-lrs Q ealf.- - sasi. as calmly 40 he
SS1r n&k - - WIVES u 8~0,.
I've pscr. pscr tAlng~ she breath
ed -n< per. tnsecens thing, Why
did N have 70 Ger
-lx's always cAe innocent things 'as
suffers ne answered
Always ne innocent things" she
repeated mechanically, Always"
she Sprsns 20 her feet and faced him,
Then what about the justice Of
Gear' sAe demanded
Il denV Know neshln' shout the Jus
tice o. Cod ne answered bitterly,
~An know Is the crsstur at can't
run gets esngAt,~
There was q hong pause. ct doeSnt
seem rtxAt.~ she said at length.
~Ie ainT right ne agreed But
guess it's life I see II here on the
prasrhes with every Twin thing.
guess was like that, some. I've been
caught. I g~ess hairy amt respon'
ssnle for anything. Is itt I dtdn''
pick my father or MY mother did II
But I xoe 90 bear a.
Tnere was something near a break
n A&& fS<SN 81 INC A1>t WINES c4te
felt she MUST xpe4k.
Il TANK yezr fatAer Is a wonderful
Cd ean.- she satt and your mother
mns< have eeen wonderful. too. You
sAca,c ee rrcc3 &c tsesn both
-Ree1se. - yo1 r,ean thstr he De
nan&e1 Hes eyes were hooking
s<r~isAs tase herN
-A>esfrsesy.- she answered -Ae-
scfetely I n<aa IT.
Thea IL rcs,' 60 ay scrne more
tAt2ss 60 yvc- - wsnt On rsridly
-rNsngs Nc I estnT know whether tc
say o. oe<. szs nc~ tAeyswe Got 70 b
sat4 whatever sapq<ns. Rccn,e.
h2v<nr ever Aeen 70 scAeoa or learned
tctS cf tHEnxs I sAc1,t n learned IN;
I aaaS q feel. nskrAer. I dianrt learn
70 nr~ak al tHsse hotties IN q DAY,
Wen I caa lsarn csAer things TOO
an I Will N o1ey 4; w<ii take me
scroSS IL cesnf GO teave tins old
ranch. scene way su<f xs soon sx n
can 80 arranged I'm rean' 70 town
an we<k ~ ssrvnxs can Get pretty