New Mexico state record., 1921-08-05

Z WouluHI nave been brutal enOug
Il to give you that bit of paper if | ha'
Il remotely suspected that COllingwoO'
Z, was the man."
X She didn't make any answer to that
and after while he said: "Havln,
a told me so much, can't you tell me /;
little more?"
There isn't much to tel, and eve:
i the little is commonplace and-anC
: dlsgraceful," she replied, with tOucl
I or 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 families
: and | suppose IIowie and | always
took 1t for granted. | 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.
"iowie was spoiled child, an only
son, and he is Il spoiled man. stood
1t as long as | could hope you will
believe that. But there are some
things that woman cannot stand,
and"
II know" he broke in. $50 you
came out here to be free"
ut Is four years since we have
lived together" she went on. "and for
a long time | 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-
n widow with dead husband instead
of a living one"
"Did CollingwoOd try to find you"
mo, / think not. But when he was
here last spring with his Uncle Breck-
enrldge he saw me and found out that
| was living here with Cousin Basil"
"Did he try TO persecute 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 Sun
day night in the Bulard 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 it would prove
to be the beginning Of n tragedy"
'You saw no more of him then?'
"NO; / neither saw him nor heard
of him until about month ago when
he came west with n man named
Bullock-a New York attorney. |
didn't know why he came, but | thought |
il 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. II 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 II, 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 off.
And, of course, he added the insult.
He said | was tie 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 If there were any way in which
could use him as club to knock
Hatch out Of the game"
Il haven't asked you 10 spare him."
"No. ! know you haven't But the
'act remains that he is your hus-
Dand. i" I
The interruption was the opening
md closing OF the front door and the {
leavy tread of the major In the hall.
IN flash Mrs. Shella was up and I
getting ready TO vanish through the Q
ioor that led TO the dining room. With '
Ter hand on the door-knob she shot a
quick question at the boss u
How much will you tell Cousin {
Sasil?" {
Nothing of what you have told
ne" h
Thank you" she whispered back; h
you are as big in your friendship as
ou are in other ways" And with d
hat she was gone. "
II was right along In the same half s
minute. while the boss was standing "
18th his back TO the fire and the ma r
Dr was going In TO talk TO him. that
lost Maisie Ann. don't know where a
he went. or how. She had let go Of II
~ wrist. and when groped for her Il
he was gone. Since I didn't see any d
ood reason why I should stay and a
py upon the boss and the major. I "l
tipped out to the hall and curled up \
n the big settee beyond the coat
ick; curled up. and after listening tc
while 10 the drone of voices in the C,
Irther room. went to sleep. Of
II was away deep In the night when o'
le boss took hold of me and shook me al
wake. The long talk was just get fc
ng itself finished. and the major had d.
,me to the door with his guest. til
I'VE must manage to pull CoIling- sc
ood out of 1t In some way" the ma
r was saying. Il don't love the of
N scoundrel any betteh than you
}, Graham; but that's a reason-a 10
m1y reason, as you might say" W,
len he switched Of quickly. you n,
went asked me yet why I ran away at
ON home this evenin' when I was 70
meeting YOU" fa