Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-03-26
CHAPTER u.

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
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,
yer streets and houses, common to
their feet in early manhood events of
local shistory which each could recall.
although from different angles. And
Elden's grizzled head and STOPPING
frame carried more experiences than
would fill a 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. Bat
no ray of conversation would he admit
into the more personal affairs of his
heart, or of the oma 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 a long silence following such
a 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 lever been anything
but alone. And-sooner o. later-it
gets you-it gets YOU"
You have the boy" ventured the
doctor.
NO." he answered, almost fiercely.
.'That would be different. / could
stand it then. But Y haven't got him,
and l can't get him. He despises me
because-because I 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, it amt that" he con
tinued. HE despises me because he
tIllhhS L WuS l al ~ IiS IhotiANi ~
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. l despise my
self"
The doctor placed a hand Oh his
shoulder. But Eden was himself
again. The curtains of his life, which
he had drawn apart for Il moment, he
whipped together again rudely, almost
viciously, and covered his confusion by
plunging into a tale of how he had led
a breed suspected of embarrassing on
a little canter of ten miles with n rope
about his neck and the other end tied
to the saddle. HE ran WELL" said the
old man, chuckling still at the reminis'
cence. ".And it was lucky he did. II
was a strong rope"
The morning after Dave had brought
in the borrowed saddle Irene appeared
in a sort of bloomer suit, somewhat
wonderfully eontrived from a spare
skirt, and announced a willingness Il
risk life and limb on any horse tina
Dave might select for that purpose. III,
provided her with a dependable noun
and their first journey, taken somewha
gingcrl. along the principal trail, WA
accomplished without incident. 1t wa
the forernnrer of many others, pluDe
ing deeper and deeper into the fast
nesses OF the foothills and ven int
the passes of the very mountains then
selves. His patience was infinite ant