Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1921-07-08

/ guess the boss saw red for min
ute, but the question he asked had
to come.
by what right did he come to you
SheilaT
"By what he doubtless thinks is
the best right in the world. He is my
husband"
1t was out at last, and the boss
moor little house Of cards that knew
he had been building all these months
had got its knock down in just those
four quietly spoken words. AS well as
/ knew him, | couldn't begin to guess
what he would do or say. But he was
such a splendid fighter that l might
have known.
al heard, no longer ago than TINS
afternoon, that you were not-that
YOUR husband was still living" ne
said speaking very gently. Il didn't
believe it--not fully-though ! saw
that there might easily be room for
the belief. 1t makes no difference
Sheila. You are my friend, and you
are blameless. But before we go any
farther | want you to believe that
wouldn't have been brutal enough
TO give you that bit Of paper II had
remotely suspected that Colllagwooa
was the man"
She didn't make any answer to that'
1 In hn
told me SO much, can't you tell me
| little more?"
.'There isn't much to tell, and even
the little is commonplace and-and
discracefuI," she replied, with touch
Of WEAKNESS that was fairly heart
breaking. Don't ask me why we were
married; | can't explain that, simply
because / don't know, myself. 1t was
arranged between the two families,
and I suppose HOWE and l always
took 1t for granted. l can't even plead
.9norance, for / have known him all
my life."
"Go on" said the boss, still speak
ing as gently as brother might have
"Howie was a spoiled child, an only
son, and he is spoiled man. stood
n as long as / could-I hope you will
believe that. But there are some
things that a woman cannot stand
, and"
~ know" he broke in. $50 you
came out here to be free"
sit Is four years since we have
/ lived together" she went on, land fol
J long time hoped he would never
find out where l was There was nc
\ divorce. had taken my mothers
name. and only Cousin Basil and MI
: wife knew that l was not what per
:. hans every one else took me to be-
v a widow with dead husband instead
Y Of living one" :.
2 "Did Colllngwood try to find your
o "No I think not. But when he wa
here last spring with his Uncle BrecK
!. enrldge he saw me and found out tina
e was living here with Cousin Basil.
II "Did he try 10 prosecute youf"
lie mo, not then. was afraid OF Ohl
n one thing: that he might drink 10
he much and-and talk. Part Of the fea
- was realized. He saw me that SUI
re dav night in the Billiard. That wa
WHY he was trying to fight the hot
n people-because they wouldn't let NIL
n come upstairs. saw what you Oh
II and was sorry. ] couldn't help rec
II Ing that in some way 1t would prov
III TO be the beginning Of Tragedy
Ill "You saw no more Of him thenT
III mo; neither saw him nor heal
Ill of him until about a month ago wilt
Ill he came west with man name
Ill Bullock-a New York attorney.
HI didn't know why he came, but thoug
Ill It was to annoy me"
Il "And he has annoyed your
"Until this night he has never miss
an opportunity Of doing SO when
could dodge Cousin Basil 1t was l
A haunting boast yesterday at the capt.
Al that led me to telegraph Cousin Ba
AIh and Upton Van Britt about your II
TN TO Strathcona. He knew that you we
II going to the gold camp, and he declar
WI to me that you'd never come ba
IHl alive"
MA "But tonight" the boss persist'
NJ "What did he want tonight?"
\ "He wanted toto use me. de 81
that he had put something aero
for his uncle, that he had gotten Il
trouble for 1t, and that-to use
W own phrase again, you were the N
who would try TO get his goat.
"And his object is telling you thi'
"Was entirely worthy of the m
~ He asked me, or rather ! should
% commanded me, to choke you
was And, Of course, he added the ms
ovo He said / was the one who co
do It,"
no "WIthout intending to, you n
ind tied my hands," the boss said gray,
och IT wasn't meaning to spare COLL
be wood If there were any way IN WI
ron could use him as club to KIN
ass Hatch out Of the game"
"I haven't asked you to spare nj
a "No. / know you haven't. But
got fact remains that he IS your
lille band. r."
in. The interruption was the opeT
the and closing of the front door and
heavy tread Of the major IN the !
low In flash Mrs. Sheila was up
- st..,,,0I,