The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-24

out INTO tle open ~ present
''You--you think We had better re.
main hcrcg" doubtfully.
Until tho fire dies down; perhaps
even longer. Let them believe we
died In the cabin. then there may be
some chance for us Go get away"
hut they viii search tho rulns7"
mot for som. time. thoa. logs win
be glowing emhers for hours. That
sounded like the roof falling In then,
II was-seei II has crushed It's way
down thru the floor There n n
oaldron OF fire In that hols ws just
left. but II can't reach Va hcro-~only
the smoke
win II not show them who're We
have goneg"
Il hope not: probably the smoking.
blazing tfnbera win choke up the
opening, leaving Il 80 filled with
partly burned wood as 10 conceal u
entirely. Anyhow. this IL our ono
chance. We would he shot down
mercllcasiy outside"
Tho glare from the burning rubbish !
revealed their faces. and the smoke
began 20 swirl paat them In clouds.
yet did not choke tho tunnel. show.
/ Ing there must be an opening some.
where beyond to the outside shelby
| fastened HIS ncckcrehlef over the
girls nose and mouth. and protected
/ her. as we'll as himself. BY means OF
his coat Scarcely conscious of the
action they sat thus. their hands
clasped. casing az the lsapinE figures
OF flame. and listening TO the variety
OF noise reaching their ears. The po.
stlon. while ono Of hroodlnK horror
did not apparently involve immediate
peril The flames could not reach
them. and u was already evident that
those dense volumes OF smoke. while
dlss agreeable and rrffocatinE. could
still DO endured. But being coopcd
up there in that hole underground.
unable 70 venture fosth. chokcd BY
tho fumes. their faces smArtlnR from
tho heat. the earth walls holding
them In prison. death waiting for
them whichever way they turned
brought a strain TO Olga she could
no longer combat fmpuislveiy she
ciutched tho man b-wld. her. her
head touching his shoulder. her
slender form trembling TO a sudden
outburut
Don't ic-e your nerve" he viii.
pared. startled by her action. moth
ing can hurt " here
oh, know. I, ls no, that IN.
words alfnoHt sob. Il do not think
am realty frightened. only III
want 10 feel you near me-
Me" he Questioned surprised.
why. I haven't been much good 10
far
"oh. but you have: you hav. ben
splendid No woman could ever ask
more. want you to know how
grateful | am
Well I don't tut irss nat he
protested. There alnt no cause for
you TO be grateful. 80 far ss can
ore. A man who wouldn't rtick with
his wife wouldn't BE- much
"Are you here ;uss because OF
,hatr-
We'll. u,ayb. no, altogether. OF
course. ia be- her, anyhow. III
wouldn't 20 back on no woman who
belonged 10 me. But you Amt just
that exactly. I've somehow got 10
thinkin' lot about you lately
Truly"
sure. there's q heap o. things
happened since we wac lined up
against the wall ~ that shack down
az ponca- I've found out more what
you are than l knew then: an
reckon you got q better line on me. !"
IL chose you even thsn-
He laughed awkvardiy.
= out o. that bunch, I don't take
that as no great compliment Say.
that was the ornariest lot o. cattle
ever rode herd over
'oh. don't know her mood
changing into new interest '-rher.
were some hrnongsthsm not 20 bad
Anyhow. | choso you
Maybe you're sorry sinoe-
II am not" firmly. Il never have
been. SO. here. Tom shelby, NJ
pretty near know what sort OF man
you was when I selected you: your
face told me that You thought I
Just took you 10 as 20 get away.
Wen. maybe did IN a sense. for
| would have done almost anything 20
escape from that life Bu, 7 never
would have gone with you. ~ I hadn't
honestly liked you just the same"
You did,"
Yes. ! did. There's no reason I
shouldn't say 80. You said It In the
cabin there that you didn't marry
me because you knew had money
that you had no such knowledge.
Was that trucY"
Certainly
Then why did you marry mey-
His face. burning from the heat
OF the nearby flames. grew redd.r,
II possible with embarrassment. Her
eyes were gazing straight at him, In.
sdstent Of an answer
We'll. I amt exactly sure that I
know" he admitted reluctantly.
Maybe I sorter sympathized with
you a bit. an then I got almighty
mad at the way than fellows acted.
All them things counted, I reckon.
but after I went back an talked with
you alone. somehow I naturally felt
different--f---I kinder got 10 wantin'
you myself"
Il knew You did
You knew7 But how7 never
said anything like that"
mo; yet I felt the change. n
would never have said .yes' other. I
wise. You thought me Indifferent.
cold: but the truth IL rode out TO
your ranch with you that day secret.
~ happier than have ever been in
my life before"
"olgar his hand frightened upon
hers suddenly.
Yes" she went on. her eyes now
lowered slightly, concealed beneath
her long lhshes II am willing TO
tell you now. Perhaps we shall never
get out Of this place alive, and I
want 10 be honest with you for
once. Whatever happens, / would
rather you knew"