New Britain herald., 1922-01-06
THE 1glVOWgHOE ZRAN
EDISON MARSHALL
uiulc Brown & Co. and N, E, A, scr,iec)

ais lips, icahlug oniy small neat .IdatacAc, h!s hair WAS trimmed ana .arfuily parted. The mans skin had a.sO resumed Us natural shade,
 For the frat time nii! realized that man,
 "There's one thing, before we ,turt," Bill satd. "l want you to tell Cuesc understrappers ol yours to take lhat sqGa% and clear out of Clear water"
 Co us he says, Harold directed.
 one asked q question in the Indian gcrnacGlar
 Harold glanced once ut Bills face, saw by his expression that he was 1aTled, and answered in the same anEaage,
 Once more the Indian questioned, and seeking an answer. IL seemed to the other white man that his eye fell to the rifle that Bin carried. Then he spoke again, gcsturinG, The ges- ture that he made was four fingers held before the Indians eyes. Then he announced that he was ready to go.
 During the long trudge through the snow, from Harold's camp to Bills cabin, the two men spoke not a word. HaroId's mind vas busy with dark and devious thoughts, crafty schemes and desires more kindred to lust than to love. Bills thoughts were more for Virginia than for himself; would his loss be cquai2cd by her gain?
 As they neared the cabin thNv saw the window. Virginia, was still up, reading, perhaps before the fire.
 Wait" Bill commanded. There's one thing more. I've brought you here. I've given you your chance- for redemption. God knows if l had my choice I'd have killed you first. She's not going to know about the squaw, unless yoy tell her. Nor about the filth you lived in. Those matters terfere."
 He paused, and Harold waited.
 But don't forget I'm herc," he went on. II work for her-unti she gets out of my charge I'm her guide, her protector, the guardian of her happiness That's all I care about her happiness. l don't know whether or not I did wrong to bring squaw man to her-but if you're man enough to hold her love and make her happy it doesn't matter. But l give-one warning
 His voice changed. It took on a quality of infinite and immutable prophecy. In the darkness and the silence the voice might have come from some higher realm, speaking the urevocable law of the forest gods,
 Shell be more or less in your power at times, up here, I won't be, with you every minute. But if you take one iot of advantage of that fact either in word or deed-Ill break you and smash yo uand kill you in my hands,'
 He waited an instant for the words to go home. Harold shivered as If with cold.
 "Go on in," he said "she waiting for you"
 "Who's there?" Virginia called.
 ''Is it you, Bill?"
 Its not Bill" the answer came. But he's here
 "Who is it?" she asked again, steadily as she could.
 It's I-Harold Lounsbury. Bill told me to come."
 Virginia for the moment stood still, trying to quiet her leaping heart ana her nuttering nerves Her hanFs clasped at her breast, then she walked to the threshold and opened the door,
 Harold Lounsbury stepped through, blinking in the candlellght Harold" she murmured unsteadl- Ily. She tried to smile. 'ls 1t really you. Harold? p
 "Its l." he answered. "We'Ve come | together-at last" The words seemed to rally her scattered faculties. | Instinetively her eyes swept ms iace and form. All doubt was past thls man vas unquestionably Harold. Yet she was secretly and vaguely shocked'
 He seized her hands in both of ms, Virginia" he cried. wy Hoo' can't believe it's you,'
 She remained singularly cool in the ardor of this cry, Why didn't yo'' write?" she asked. Why didn't | come home? ?"
 The questions instead of embar-
 assing him further, put Harold at ms .asc. He had prepared for just these queries. , n,..
 T did write" he cried. "Why dldn you answer2'
 She stared at him in afnazen'''' '