The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1919-10-23
CHAPTER u.

Doctor Hardy recovered from his In.
jurles as rapidly as could be expected
and, while he chafed somewhat over
spending his holidays under such cir.
cumstances, the time passed not un-
happily.
A considerable acqualntanceship had
sprung up between him and the senior
Eden The rancher had come from the
East forty years before, but In turning
over their memories the two men
found many links Of association: third
persons known to them both; places,
even streets and houses, common to
their feet In early manhood; events of
local history which each could recall,
although from different angles. And
Elden's grizzled head and STOPPING
frame carried more experiences than
would fill dozen well-rounded city
lives, and he had the story-teller's art
which scorns to spoil dramatic effect
by too strict adherence to fact. But
no ray of conversation would he admit
into the more personal affairs of his
heart, or of the woman who had been
his wife. and even when the talk
turned on the boy he quickly withdrew
Ii to another topic, as though the sub
ject were dangerous or distasteful. But
once, after long silence following such
a diversion, had he betrayed himself
into whispered remark, an outburst
Of feeling rather than a communion
ton.
1--WE been alone so much" he said.
ut seems ! have never been anything
but alone. And-sooner or later-it
gets you'll gets YOU"
"You have the boy" ventured the
doctor.
mo-" he answered, almost flercely
"That would be different. l could
stand 1t then. But i haven't got him.
and I can't get him. He despises me
because--because l take too much at
times" He paused as though wonder.
ing whether to proceed with this un-
wonted confidence, but the ache In his
heart insisted on its right to human
sympathy. mo, 1t amt that" he con
tinued. "He despises me because hi
thinks l wasn't fair to his mother. lie
can't understand. wanted to be good
to her. to be close to her. Then tool
to booze. as natural as a steer under
the brandln'-iron roars to drown his
hurt. But the boy don't understand
He despises me-" Then, after Ions
silence: mo matter. l desplse my
/, SELF"
, The doctor placed hand on hi,
shoulder. But Eden was himsel
again. The curtains OF his life. which
/. he had drawn apart for moment, h,
e whipped together again rudely, almOs
b viciOusly. and covered his confusion b.
a plunging into tale Of how he had le,
= a breed suspected Of embarrassing OF
: little canter of ten miles with rOp
j. about his neck and the other end tie,
e to the saddle. "He ran WELL" said tn
e old man, chuckling still at the reminis
6 cence. sand 1t was lucky he did.
s. was strong rope"
d The morning after Dave had brOugh
d In the borrowed saddle Irene appeare
In sort of bloOmer suit, somewha
s wonderfully contrived from spar
e skirt, and announced willingness I
e risk life and limb on any horse thu
, Dave might select for that purpose. ii
g provided her with dependable mour
e anu their first journey, taken somewhl
z gingerly along the principal trail. wa
It accomplished without incident. 1t wa
II the forerunner Of many others, piuni
n Ing deeper and deeper into the fas
e nesses of the foothills and even ini
p the passes Of the very mountains then
n selves. His patience was infinite an,