The Arvada enterprise., 1923-10-18
CHAPTER ~
Two Ple,ures In the Fire.

The period which followed had q
quality Of breathless, almost unearthly
happiness. They were young. savage
simple, and their love, unanalyzed.
was as Joyous as the loves Of animals
Joyous with that clear gravity charac-
teristic Of the boy and girl. Pierre
had been terribly alone before Joan
came, and the bullding-up Of his ranch
had occupied his mind day and night
except now and again. for dreams. Yet
he was Of a passionate nature. Joan
felt in him sometimes savage posi-
bility Of violence. Two incidents OF
this time blazed themselves especially
on her memory: the one. her fathers
visit, the other, an irrelevant enough
picture until after events threw back
a glare upon It.
They had been at Pierre's ranch for
q fortnight before John Carver found
them. Then, one morning. as Pierre
opened the door to 20 out to work.
Joan saw a thin. red pony tied to
the fence and q small figure walking
toward the cabin.
"Pierre. It's father!" she said. And
Pierre stopped In his tracks. drew
himself up and waited. hands On his
cartridge belt.
How mean and old and furtive her
father looked In contrast to this beat
tiful young husband! Joan was en-
tireiy unafraid. She leaned against
the side Of the door and watched. as
silent and unconsulted as any squaw.
while the two men settled their prop
erty rights in her.
80 you've took my GEL" said John
Carver. stopping a foot or two in
front Of Pierre. his eyes shifting up
and down. one long hand lingering
his lips.
Pierre answered courteously. "Some
man was bound to hev her Mr.. Car.
YER. soon or late. You can't set your
face ag'in' the laws Of natur. win
you be steppin' in1 Joan will give
you some breakfast"
Carver paid no heed to the invita-
tion. "Hev you married herr' said he.
The blood rose to Pierre's brown
face. "Sure I hev."
swell, sir. you hev married the dar-
ter OF a" Carver used brutal word.
Look out for her II you see her eyss
lookin' an lookin' at another man.
you kin know what's to come" Pierre
was white. "l've done with her. She
kin never come to me fer bite or bed.
Shoot her II you hev to. Pierre Landis,
but when she's kotched at her mothers
game don't send her back to me.
That's all come to say"
He turned with timber agility and
went back to his horse He was on II
and OF. Ealloplng madly across this
sagebrush fiat. Pierre turned and
walked into the house past Joan with.
out a word.
She still leaned against the door;
but her hend was bent.
Presently she went about her house.
work. Every now and then she shot =
wistful look at Pierre. All morning
long he sat there. his hands hanging
between his knees, his eyes full Of Z
brooding trouble. At noon he shooh
his head, got up, and. still without
word or caress. he strode out and did
not como back till dark. Joan suffered
heartache and terror. When he cam<
she ran into his arma. He kissed her
seemed quite himself again. and thl
strange interview was never men
TONED BY either Of them. They wsrs
! silent people. given to fsslings and
l - >n>a~~ .~th>~ eh.~ - eA~u.As. AL
words.
The other memory was Of q certair
sunset hour when she came at Pisrr1l
call out to the shed he had built q
one aids Of their cabin. lts open Ia
faced the west. and - Joan came he,
shadow went before her and fsl
aeroaa Pierre At wsrk. The flame a,
the west eavs . weird pallor to tn,
dames over which he bent. He Wal
vhistllng and hammerinG At q loni
piece Of Iron. Joan came and stoo<
beside him.
Suddenly he Strengthened up ant
held In the air a bar Of metal. tn,
shaped end white hot. Joan blinked
That's our brand. GEL" said Pierre
Don't you fergtt IT, when I've mad,
my fortune therell he stock all owe
the country marked with them ~,
bars. Thntll he famoms-the Two
Bar brand. Don't you ferRit II. Joan.
And he brought the white iron clos
80 that she felt its heat on her fac
and drew bnck. hinching. He laughed
let II fal,. and kissed her. .'onn wa
very glad and proud.
,rO RE COSTiNuED)