The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-07-08

hands. he is like other men of his kind
he would be very glad to climb out
upon the shoulders Of a woman"
guess the boss saw red for a min
ute. but the question he asked had
to come.
by what right did he come to you,
Sheila?"
by what he doubtless thinks Is
the best right In the world. He Is my
husband"
1t was out at last, and the boss
poor 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
l knew him, couldn't begin to guess
what he would do or say. But he was
such splendid fighter that l might
have known.
81 heard, no longer ago than this
afternoon, that you were not-that
your husband was still living" lie
said, speaking very gently. IL didn't
believe it-not fully-though saw
that there might easily be room for
the belief. II makes no difference,
Sheila. You are my friend, and you
are bameless. But before we go any
farther want you to believe that
l wouldn't have been brutal enough
to give you that bit OF paper IL had
remotely suspected that Collingwood
was the man."
la,t fn hot
and after a while he said: Having
| told me so much, can't you tell me a
| little mOre?"
There isn't much to tell, and even
| the little Is commonplace and-and
| dsgraceful," she replied, with touch
| of WEAKNESS that was fairly heart
| breaking. "Don't ask me why we were
married; I can't explain that, simply
| because don't know, myself. 1t was
arranged between the two families,
and suppose Howie and I always
| took 1t for granted. l can't even plead
| ignorance, 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. I stood
it as long as l could-I hope you will
believe that. But there are some
things that a woman cannot stand,
and"
"I know" he broke In. $50 you
| came out here to be free"
/ .,I. L. ct hox
lived together" she went on. land for
long time hoped he would never
find out where l was. There was no
divorce. had taken my mothers
name. and only Cousin Basil and his
| wife knew that | was not what per-
haps every one else took me to be-
| widow with dead husband instead
of living one"
"Did Collingwood try to find your
mo, think not. But when he was
here last spring with his Uncle Breck.
enridge he saw me and found out that
was living here with Cousin BASIL '
"Did he try 10 persecute your"
mo, not then. was afraid Of only
one thing: that he might drink toe
much and-and talk. Part of the fear
was realized. lie saw me that Sun.
day night in the Bullard. That was
why he was trying to fight the hotel
people-because they wouldn't let him
come upstairs. saw what you did,
and was sorry. couldn't help feel
ing that in some way 1t would prove
to be the beginning Of tragedy"
"You saw no more Of him thenT
"No; neither saw him nor heard
of him until about a month ago when
he came west with "A man named
Bullock-a New York attorney. l
didn't know why he came, but thought
1t was to annoy me-"
| "And he has annoyed you"
until this night he has never missed
an opportunity of doing so when he
could dodge Cousin Basil. It was his
taunting boast yesterday at the capital
that led me to telegraph Cousin Basil
and Upton Van Britt about your trip
| to Strathcona. He knew that you were
going to the gold camp, and he declared
to me that you'd never come back
| alive"
| but tonight" the boss persisted.
"Whot did he want tonight?'
"He wanted toto use me. He said
that he had put something across
for his uncle, that he had gotten into
trouble for 1t, and that-to use his
own phrase again, you were the man
who would try to get his goat"
o"And his object is telling you this?'
Was entirely worthy OF the man.
He asked me. or rather should say.
commanded me. to choke you on
And. of course, he added the insult.
He said was the one who could
do It."
| "without intending to, you have
tied my hands," the boss said gravely.
II wasn't meaning TO spare Colling-
wood II there were any way In which
| / could use him as club to knock
Hatch out OF the game"
II haven't asked you.to spare him.
| mo. i know you haven't. But the
fact remains that he Is your hus-
band. ~ e
The interruption was the opening
| and closing Of the front door and the