Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1919-12-11
CHAPTER II.

Doctor Hardy recovered from his in
iures as rapidly as could be expected
and. while he chafed somewhat over
spending his holidays under such cir
cumstances, the time passed not I'M
happily.
A considerable acquaintanceship 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 q dozen well-rounded city
lives. and he had the stOry-teller's art
which scorns to spoil dramatic effect
by a 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
it To another topic, as though the sub
iect were dangerous or distasteful. But
once. after long silence following such
diversion. had he betrayed himself
into a whispered remark. an OutburSt
of feeling rather than a communica-
ton.
I've been alone so much" he said.
1T seems l have never been anything
but alone And-sooner or later-it
gets you-it gets you"
You have the boy" ventured the
doctor.
NO" he answered, almost fiercely.
"That would be different. l could
stand il then. But I haven't got him.
and I cant get him. He despises me
because-because l take too much nj
times" lie paused as though wonder
ing whether to proceed with this un-
wonted confidence, hut the ache in his
heart insisted on its right to human
sympathy. "No. it amt that he con
tinued He despises me because he
/ thinks I wasn't fair to his mother. He
can't understand. l wanted to be good
to her, to be close to her. Then l took
to booze. as natural as a steer under
the brandin-iron roars to drown his
hurt. But the boy don't understand
He despises me-" Then. after a long
silence: mo matter. despise my
self"
The doctor placed a hand on his
shoulder. But Eden was himself
again. The curtains of his life, which
he had drawn apart for moment. he
whipped together again rudely. almoS
viciouSly. and covered his confusion by
plunging into a tale of how he had lie,
breed suspected of cattle-rustling 81
little can;er of ten miles with rope
about his neck and the other end tie,
t. the saddle. "lIc ran WELL" said tn,
old man. chuckling still At the reminis
cence. "And ii was lucky he did. L
was Il strong rope
The morning after Dave had bN,IEh
in the borrowed saddle Irene ap2ErcS
in a sort of blOomey SUIT. sOmewha
wonderfully contrived from spare
skirt, and announced a willingness t.
risk life and limb on any horse tina
Dave might select for that purpose. lii
provided her with a dependable noun
and their first journey, taken somewha
gingerly along the principal trail, wa
accomplished without incident. 1t wa
. the forcrunner of many others, plung
ing deeper and deeper into the fast
nesses of the foothills and even int
the passes of the very mountains them
selves. His patience was infinite and