The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-19

| lSICo dOWh LuG Ddfr16TS OI HIS super | for masculine reserve. She had laid | bare his defenses, had charged the very citadel. And he was hers. And so they started out again after | lunch. John Bolt was so bewitched | by Lorah Waring that he had eyes for no one else.
 He was always conscious of her l nearness. The sound of her low laugh, pealing out above the rattle of the stage. and the beat of the horses hoofs. sent his blood spinning madly. The sight of her burned itself indelibly into his m1nd
 He pointed out the objects of terest. He explained this process and that. He showed them the different shafts. the various buildings. the diff ferent branches of the business. He answered questions patiently. The afternoon waned, the heat ot the sun failed, the twilight drew near It was dusty. tired, hungry caval- cade that passed down the main street again toward the station and the private car waiting on @ siding there. The women had begun to complain of weariness and stiffness from sitting. and they sheered when they caught sight of the negro DOT ter in white, starched coat waiting to
 
 Sears moved. off to the little ex- press office from where he could wire directions about his plans, and Tn answer to Mrs. Warings beckoning gauntlet, John Bolt drew near to lift her down from her horse.
 She could easily swing herself down. if she had p1eased.> But she wanted an excuse to summon hdm to her side.
 So for an instant he supported her weight in his arms as he transferred her from the back of Nancy to the station platform.
 The blood was-still burning in his face, and his breath was coming short. and his heart was racing when she turned from betting Nancy and held out her hand to him.
 "Good7by," she said sweetly. "I don't sufsoose we shall meet again. And I want to thank you for a pleas ant day and a bully luncheon. Tn long stretch of dismal Western ex- periences. I shall always think of this one with p1easure.'
 He had never heard any one say Just that sort of thing before. and his face lighted as he crushed her hand in his
 And then Sears came back, and the group on the platform moved toward the private car. There were many voices calling "ThanIs!" down to John Bolt-"Thanks!" and "Goodby.' And MT. Sears was giving him a mes sage for fGriswold.
 He stood by his horse and watched them disappear from view into the green-and- gold car. He stood and watched until the last of them had gone. Then he turned slowly, almost duFly-mounted - caught hold of Nancy's lead-string, and set off through the gritty dust for his shack up the side of Red Peak
 As he passed through the main street. he found that a hideous change had occurred during the after noon.
 He thought of the city of Lorah Warnings choice-the city of lights and laughter and love. And a sense of Loneliness settled down upon him "a sense of. restlessness.
 Joe came out to take the horses from him when he came in sight of his shack, and he went in to find it more changed than even the village had been.
 It was cold and bare ana uncorn- fortable.
 John Bolt had never really looked about before. Although he had built the shack himself, he had never really observed 1t with seeing eyes - as a stranger might. Tonight he saw it for the first time as it really was.
 But he was awake at last! He was aroused! This woman with the white skin and the shining hair and the 1ark-gray eyes had stirred him to the depths of his being And staring at the floor he saw gIittering at his feet.
 It was small. flat gold case | sort of combination purse and card | ease. A circle of sapphires and dia- nonds surrounded the initials, L.W.W.
 He snapped the case and opened 1t. 1 aere was some money in the purse | part. And in the compartment on the l other side were some cards. MRS. LEDYARD BISHOP wARLNG,
 Fifth Avenue and Twelfth Street,
 New York City.
 1t was the first time he had realized hat she was married
 The truth came with something of shock And so he lay there, utterly crush d beneath his sudden discovery, un- Il thought came-one ray of hope!
 IT she were a widow! Of course he was a widow! So she was not ut of reach, after all. She was for E ny man who cou1d-to win.
 lie looked at the gold case in his land All the money he had put by n six years of service would proba- ly not pay for this trinket
 He sank into the big chair again, hilled
 He had been blind fool-a dull I'd! { He had wasted twenty-six years Of ls lire in this deso1ate West-dig- ing gold with which other men night win her. He had slaved that thers might enjoy. Again he sprang up feverishly. lie must see her again. He must l : loe down the mountain again that : ight. And the gold case that she ad dropped would be his excuse His first intention was to start at : nee. But on second thought, he re- framed himself. He must eat first, , nd change his clothes. So' ne made a second careful toilet, : nd rode swiftly down the trail again $