The Kendrick gazette., 1920-03-26
CHAPTER Il.

Doctor Hardy recovered from his in
juries 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 acquaintanceship had
sprung up between him and the senior
Elden. 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 too strict adherence to fact. But
no ray of conversation would he admit
into the more personal affairs Of bis
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
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 communica-
ton.
1--WE been alone so much," he said.
1T seems 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. I could
stand it then. But haven't got him,
and I can't get him. He despises me
because-because take too much at
times" He paused as though wonder
ing whether to proceed with this uu.
wonted confidence, but the ache in bis
heart insisted on its right to human
sympathy. "No. it amt that" he con
tinued. "He despises me because he
thinks l wasn't fair to his mother. He
can't understand. WANTED to be goOC
to her, to be close to her. Then took
to booze, as natural as steer under
the brandin'-irOn roars to drown his
hurt. But the boy don't understand
He despises me-" Then, after Ions
silence: mo matter. I despise my
self"
The doctor placed hand on hi
shoulder. But Elden was himsel
again. The curtains of his life. whicl
, he had drawn apart for moment, h
whipped together again rudely, almos
yiciously, and covered his confusion b,
plunging into tale of how he had le'
breed suspected Of cattle-rustling ol
little canter Of ten miles with a rop
about his neck and the other end tie
> to the saddle. HE ran WELL" said tn
E old man, chuckling still at the reminis
, cence. "And it was lucky he did.
: was a strong rope"
I The morning after Dave had brougf
4 in the borrowed saddle Irene appeare
in a sort of bloomer suit, somewhs
S wonderfully contrived from a spar
e skirt, and announced a willingness
: risk life and limb on any horse thf
= Dave might select for that purpose. II
e provided her with a dependable mouI
e and their first journey, taken somewh,
& gingerly along the principal trail. WI
It accomplished without incident. 1t WI
IT the forerunner Of many others, plum
II ing deeper and deeper into the fas
Ie nesses of the foothills and even I'M
e the passes of the very mountains ther
N selves. His patience was infinite an