The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-27

then" lie sat up. shrurEinE his
shoulders. Il can guess what hap
psnsd then" he finished. with an
abominabic grin. you told her she
wasn't good enough for you. because
you was gentleman
Rodorfek was very white. Ills
hands were cienchcd behind his back.
the mans hateful words. which yet
held a great deal of truth IN them
dashed him like whips OF fire. and
drove him back down the pathway
Of memory-the pathway that was
strcwn with tears and blood. to the
sodden field. and tho blaro OF the
hand. and the touch OF RosaIie 4
hands on his arm
For a moment = sort u Mortified
fascination kept him silent. seemed
20 chain hir feet; and yet. above II
all. hts mind was working clearly.
rapbdly-hc did not believe that sher.
ncy knew OF the marriage that had
taken place that windy morning. He
felt sure that. we're Il so. be would
have blurted II out flrst ana fore.
most
lie swung round suddenly.
You can't get over me with n
tsis like that. you know he xaid.
with forced calm. Yours plausible
enough. but you've no possible
claim ON ms. You say that Rosa
lie the name seemed 10 choke him
---that she delaberaaefy killed her
81. bscAsns I trcafed her badly
IL words rsanisad from hxs lSpa - II
fs ezsutd not bear 10 speak than.
You've no proof a what POO say.
and Il that's al you've eoras for you
can get out lie strrtchod his hand
to the bell
Sberrey sprnng TO his feet. his
p.alc face was livid. hla lips drew
back from HIS long teeth In . sort
Of SnarL
No proof. you sayr' he almost
shouted Want your face proof
enough the night OF tho ACCIDENT
Want the way you behaved proof
enough What were you half mad
for. II you didn't know as 1t was
your fault, Any Of the crowd that
was standing roundTl bear me out
in what sxyi II Rosalis had never
said q word. ia have known IL
she'd never spoke. poor little grit
His voice dropped naudnngiy.
Rorie set his teeth. recalling that
first day Of their meeting. when he
had prevented this bully from show
sring his blows on her defcnseiesn
body. He longed TO know what II
was that she had said. but he was
afraid To ask. Through the Gfnss
above the manteishcif he watched
the cvil face Of the man behind him.
drawn up now into . forced expres-
sion OF sorrow.
~she wasn't for blaming you. not
She" he snfvcied- with her iaaf
breath she said that you wasn't 10
be biarncd--whcn she couid hardly
keep from screaming out with pain.
As brave az . man she was. and
only a slip OF a girl. can rec her
now as she lay there IN the caravar,
her poor little face all drawn with
suffering"
Roris drew IN his breath hard.
stop IL" he said. ficrr-iy. do
you think I want to hear about itY
DO you think like knowing how she
dicd7" There was something almost
hystericai IN his voice
For a moment there was q tragic
silence In the room. broken only BY
Rorie's heavy breathing. He felt as
II this man had taken him By the
throat and forcibiy Dragged him back
to that night Of horror: compelled
him TO stand by his wife's bedside
and look at her agony. When he
spoke again his voice wns hoarsc.
How much do you want7"
He could bear II no longer: he
felt AT that moment as n he would
have given all he possessed TO rid
himself of this man, to escape the
memories that had come crowding
back upon HIM His seif-control and
clcar-headesincss had all deserted
him; he could only remember the
panic stricken reInorse and self tor
ment he had felt the night of Rosa
lies death.
Men hate TO suffer, ana Rorfe was
no exception 10 tho rule. How
much do you WANT he asked again.
"Ah' now we're talking sense"
said shcrney. He sat down com
fortably. and took out hts cignret
case. He held II to Roria, but was
angrily repulsed- He lit cigarct
himself. and tossed the burnt match
into the fender
well. now. let me see.- He puck
cred the uneven brows that wore
like SCOT smudges above his mean
eyes. and glanced knowingly at the
young man.
What do you say to five hundred
pounds7" he asked.
''Whatr
Sherncy shrugged his shoulders.
Come come. Mr.. Briton, we an
know you're rich man. what's five
hundred To your II RosaIie had
lived II would have cost you
mighty sight more than that TO get
rid Of her. I can tell you. I'm letting
you down lightly. and you know IT,"
Rorie strobe past him. and flung
wide the door.
Get outr' he said. His young