Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-07-14

''There isn't much to tell, and even
the little Is commonplace and-and
disgraceful." 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 l don't know, myself. 1t was
arranged between the two families,
and suppose HOWE and l always
took 1t for granted. l can't even plead
ignorance. for l have known him all
my life"
go on" said the boss. still speak
ing as gently as brother might have.
"Howie was spoiled child, an only
son. and he is u spoiled man. l stood
1t as long as could hope you will
believe that. But there are some
things that O woman cannot stand,
and"
Il know" he broke in. $50 you
came out here to be free" .-
ut is four years since we have
lived together" she went on, land for
a long time l hoped he would never
find out where 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-
a widow with dead husband instead
Of living one" .-.
ibid Collingwood try to find you?"
"No, think not, But when he was
here last spring with his Uncle Breck-
enridge he saw me and found cut that
l was living here with Cousin BASIL"
Ibid he try to prosecute you?"
mo. not then. was afraid Of only
one thing: that he might drink too
much and-and talk. Part of the fear
was realized. He saw me that Sum-
day night in the Billiard. That was
why he was trying to fight the hotel
people-because they wouldn't let him
come upstairs. l saw what you did,
and was sorry. couldn't help feel
ing that in some way it would prove
to be the beginning Of tragedy"
"You saw no more Of him thenT'
mo; l neither saw him nor heard
of him until about month ago when
he came west with a man named
Bullock-a New York attorney. I
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
haunting 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.
what 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 it, and that-to use his
own phrase again, you were the man
who would try to get his goat"
"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 or
And, Of course, he added the insult,
He said I 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.
woad II there were any way In which
I could use him as club to knock
Hatch out Of the game"
II haven't asked you to spare him. "
''No, know you haven't. But the
fact remains that he Is your hus.
band. -" .
The interruption was the opening
and closing q the front door and the
heavy tread Of the major in the hall