The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-06-29

trustfui person with a constantly
morbid strain which struggled over.
lsstingiy for supremacy over his
usually CHEEKY grin and his naturally
optimistic outlook upon life. For
fate had allowed Houston 20 tive the
youth Of his life In ease and bright.
ness and lack Of worry. only that u
might descend upon him with the
greatest cloud that man can know.
Ana two years Of memories. two
years OF bitterness. two years Of
ugly recoliections had made ia mark.
In all hia dealings with rhayer. con-
Quoted though they might have been
at distance. Barry Houston could
not place his flngcr upon ono tan.
gible thing that would reveal hls
crookedncas. But he had suspected
had come 10 investigate. aud 20
learn. even before he was ready 10
receive the information. that his su-.
picions had been. In some wise nj
least. correct. To follow those aus.
plcions 70 their stopping place Barry
had fesgned smnesla. And II had
lasted just long enough for this grin.
ming man who stood at the foot Of
thu bed 70 tickle his fccfi
And how should that grcsesque
giant with his blazing rcd shirt and
queer little cap know % such things
~ smnosia and the tracing of q
dcadened nervcf How should he---
then Barry suddenly ssnsed- Had n
been a ru~cy Was this man friend.
. conpanion--evsn an aeccmpiics %
the shin.facsd. frost -gnsricd Thayer
and had his simple statement been
an effort 10 take Barry off bis
gtiardg n 80. II had not succeeded,
for Barry had made no admissions
But II all affected him curiousiy: II
ne,tied him and puzzled him. For a
long time he was silent. merely
staring AZ the grtnning features Of
Ba'tlste. At last.
II should think you would wait
until you could consult a doctor be.
fore you'd say q thing Ike that
"So7 II has been done"
And he told you"
Nothing. lilo doe. not need n
oven speak 10 Ba'teeu-." A great
chuckis shook the big frame. sBa'.
teese know al soon as 4 M'sieu Doc
talre."
ON good terms aren't you,
when's he coming srainf"
-Parbleur' The big man snapped
his fingers. -Peuff' Like that Ba'.
teess call hesm. and no 10 here
Houston blinkei. Then, In spite OF
his aching head. and tho pain Of tho
swollen. splIntlacsd arm he sat up
In bed.
what kind off,
"Oid Bs'tesss. he mus Joke" came
quickly and seriously from the other
man. "Ba'tsess--he II heem."
~ doctor7"
Slowly the big man nodded. Barry
went on. 'T-I-didn't know. I
thought you were Just trapper. I
Wondered"
"aoi That IN sfi--jus' a trapper."
Quietly. slowly. the big man turned
away from the bed and stood look.
ing out the window. the wolf.dog
,edging close 10 him an tho IN com.
panionship and some strange form
OF sympathy. There was silence for
a long time, then the voice Of Ba'.
tists came again, but now II was soft
and low. addressed. IL seemed. not 10
the man on the bed. but 10 vacancy.
sol Ba'teese. he r. only a trapper
now. Ba'teese, no had swear he
never again stand beside sick bed
But you" and he turned swiftly. n
broken smile playing about his lips
you. mon ami, you. when I foun'
you this morning. with your head
twisted under your arm. with the
blood on your face. and the dust and
dirt upon you-then you--you look
like my Pierrcl And 7 pick you up
--soF' He fashioned his arms az
tho he were holding a baby. "and
look at you and say--pierrer
'PicrrsF But you do not answer
Just like no Gid not answer. Then
start back with you. and the way
was rough. I take you under ono
arm-so. II was steep. I must have
one arm free. Then I meet Medaine.
and she laugh at me for the why I
carry you. And I was glad. Eet
make Ba'tiste forget"
What Barry said Il with the
curiosity OF boy. The older man
stared hard at the crazy design OF
the covers.
MY Pierre" came NJ last. And
my Julienne. Ba'teese. he n ali alone
now. Are you all alone7" Tho ques.
ton came quickly. Barry answered
before he thought.