The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-07-07

wouldn't have been brutal enough |
to give YOU that bit Of paper II | ha''
suspected that COIingWoon
was the man. !
She didn't make any answer 10 tha'.
and after while he said: "llaVlh-
told me so much, can't you tell me II
little more?'
"Therp isn't much to TEL, aud even
the little is commonplace and-alld
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 tamlleS'
and | suppose HOWE and always |
took it for granted. ! can't even plead !
ignorance, for have known hm all
my life"
GO on" said the boss, still speak
inc as gently as a brother might have.
"Howic was a spoiled child, an only
son. and he is Il spoiled man. stood
if as long as | couId-I hope You will
believe that. But there are some
things that a woman cannot stand
and"
81 know" he broke in. $50 you
came out here to be free
1T is four years since we nave
lived together" she went ON, "and TOR
long time | hoped he would never
find out where | was. There was no
divorce. had taken my mothers
name, and only Cousin Basil ana MS
wife knew that ! was not what per-
haps every one else took me to be-
u widow with dead husband instead
of living one
did CoIlingwood try to find YOU?
"No. think not. But when ne was
here last spring with his Uncle hrecK'
enrjdue he saw me and found out that
| was living here with Cousin BASIL
"Did he try to prosecute YOU?
"No, not then. was afraid OF on!
one thing: that he might drink lo'
mich and-and talk. Part of the teal
was realized. He saw me that Sun
dav night in the Billiard. That wa
why he was trying to fight the ho'e
people-because they wouldn't let mn
come up-stairs. saw what you dlo
and | was sorry. | couldn't h'ip 1ee'
q inc that in some way it would prov
q to no the beginning Of tragedy.
"You saw no more Of him then?
"No: I neither saw him nor hear
o Of him until about a month ago Whe
f he came west with a man name
- Rullock-a New York attorney.
=, didn't know why he came, but | tAousl
10 it was to annoy me.
"And he has annoyed YOU"
~ "Untjl This night he has never mlSse
f. an opportunity of doing so when
;s could dodge Cousin Basil. 1t was II
,s tonpting boast yesterday at the capt.
"a that led me to telegraph Cousin ba'
and Upton Van Britt about your IT
1o 70 Strathcona. He knew that you we
NJ going to the gold camp, and he declar
j.; TO me that you'd never come pa
he alive
III "But tonight" the boss perslstt
&C. "What did he want tonight:
"He wanted Toto use me. lie 81
- that he had put something aero
~ for his uncle. that he had gotten IL
10 trouble for it, and tlat-to use
~ own phrase again, you were the m
n ~, who would try to get his goat.
~ "And his object is telling you thl'
"Wos entirely worthy Of the IN
V" uo asked me, or rather | should $
commanded me, to choke You
:, And Of course. he added the ms
,'.n He said | was the one VINO co
al do it"
~, "Without intending to, you n
''' tied nv hands" the boss said gray
IN 81 wasn't meaning to spare COM
nod wood if there were any way in WI
" 7 could use him as a club to XII
49,, Hatch out of the game"
'oo' 81 haven't asked you to spare hi
"No I know you haven't. But
II fact remains that he Is your
NY band. l."
The interruption was the ope'
oss and closing of the front door ana
new heavy tread Of the major in the
l'"' In flash Mrs. She|a was up
VII getting ready to vanish through
HI door that led to the dining ROOM
Hi ber hand on the door-knob she sl'
III quick question at the boss
iii "How much will you tell 60
iii Basil?'
HI Nothing of what you have
al III me-
"A N "Thank you," she whispered b
q III "vou are as big in your friendsh'
\ IL YOU are in other ways" And
N / that she was gone.
llu It was right along in the same
minute, while the boss was stal
. with his back to the fire and the
;or was going in to talk to him.
7 lost Maisie Ann. don't know v
A she went, or how. She had let
a nv wrist, and when I CROPPED 10
lNN she was gone. Since didn't SCI
|NlI| GOOD reason why should stay
VMI spy upon the boss and the ma:
IVY slipped out to the hall and cure
wi on the big settee beyond the
VII rack; curled up, and after list
while to the drone of voices
farther room, went to sleep.
# was away deep in the night
the boss took hold of me and shoe
ovota The long talk was JUS