The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1921-06-25


he would be very glad to climb out
upon the shoulders of 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 it's knock-down In just those
four quietly spoken words. AS we'll as
knew him. couldn't begin to guess
what he would do or say. But he was
such splendid fighter that I might
have known.
81 heard, no longer ago than this
afternoon, that you were not-that
your husband was still living" he
said. speaking very gently. Il didn't
believe it-not fully-though l saw
that there might easily be room for
| the belief 1t makes no difference,
Sheila. You are my friend and you
are bIameless. 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 If l had
remotely suspected that Collingwood
was the man."
She didn't make any answer to that,
l H. Il I oxri nv
told me so much, can't you tell me a
| little moreT'
"There isn't much to tell, and even
the little is commonplace and-and
| disgraceful," she replied, with touch
| of weariness that was fairly heart
breaking. Don't ask me why we were
married; / can't explain that, simply
because I don't know, myself. 1t was
| arranged between the two families,
and / suppose Howie and I always
took 1t for granted. I 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
"H0wie was a spoiled child, an only
son, and he is spoiled man. stood
it as long as 1 could-I hope you will
believe that. But there are some
things that woman cannot stand,
and"
"I know" he broke in. $50 you
came out here to be free"
ut is four years since we have
/ cbn@
long time l hoped he would never
find out where I was. There was no
divorce. l had taken my mothers
name, and only Cousin Basil and his
wife knew that l was not what per-
haps every one else took me to be-
a 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
I was living here with Cousin Basil"
did he try TO persecute you?'
mo, not then. l 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 Sun
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 dld,
and / was sorry. l couldn't help feel
ing that in some way it would prove
to be the beginning of tragedy"
"You saw no more Of him thenY'
"No; neither saw him nor hearo
of him until about month ago when
he came west with man named
l Bullock-a New York attorney.
didn't know why he came, but thought
it 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. 1t was his
taunting boast yesterday at the capital
that led me to telegraph Cousin BASH
| and linton 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 lUHlSHl, AnC b'N'''
"What did he want tonight!'
"He wanted toto use me- lie 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
sand his object is telling you this?'
"Was entirely worthy of the man.
He asked me-, or rather should say,
commanded me, to choke I you off !,
And of course, he added the insult
IIe said was the one who could
do It,"
"Without intending to, you have
tied nv hands," the boss said graveiy
81 wasn't meaning to spare Colling-
wood If there were any way in which
could use him as CLUB TO knock
Hatch out Of the game"
"I haven't asked you to spare him"
.No. I know YOU haven't. But the
fact remains that he Is your nus
band. =
| The interruption was the opening
and closing of the front door and the
heavy tread Of the major In the hall.
In fash Mrs. Sheila was up and
getting ready to vanish through the
| door that led to the dining room. with