The Arvada enterprise., 1923-11-15


great deal about you" She wrinkled
her wide brows. You must have been
out after game. though twas out Of
season. And you must have heard me
a-cryin' out nm come In That WINS
right courageous. stranger. would
surely like you 10 know why come
away with you" she went on. wistful
and weak. but don't know as how
I can make 1t plain to you" She
paused. turning the blue jar in her
hand. you're very strange to me-"
she said. San yet. someways. you
takin' care OF me so well an 500
awful kind" her voice gave forth its
tremolo OF feeling-"seems like I
knowed you better than any other per.
son In the world"
A flush came into his face.
Il wouldn't like you to be think.
In" She stopped. a little breathless.
He took the Jar. sat down on the
bed. and laid hand firmly over both
OF hers. II won't be thinking any.
thing" he said, "only what you would
like me to think Ilsten-when a man
finds n wounded bird out In the win.
ter woods, he'll bring II home to care
for 1t. And he won't be thinking the
worse Of Its helplessness and tame
ness. OF course | know-but tell me
your name. please!"
"Jonn Landis."
At the name. given painfully, Joan
drew n weighted breath, another, then,
pushing herself up as though oppressed
beyond endurance. she caught at
Prospcr's arm. clenched her fingers
upon It, and bent her black head In q
terrible pnroXysm OF grief II was like
a tempest. Prosper thought OF storm
driven, rain wet trees wild In a wind
OF music. the prelude to "FlIe-
gende Hollander." Joan's weeping
bent and rocked her. He nut his arm
about her. tried to soothe her. At her
cry OF pierre! Pierre!" he whitened,
but suddenly she broke from him and
threw herself back amongst the pill
lows.
""Twas you that Killed him." she
moaned. "Whnt hev I to do with
you?"
1t was not the last time TINT bitter
exclamation was to rise between
them; more and more ficrcely It came
to wiring his pence and hers. This time
he bore II with n certain philosophy,
Gained her patiently.
GLOW could l help II, Jonn?" he
pleaded. "iou saw how II was?" Az
she grew duleter. he talked. ~ heard
you scream like n person being tor
turcd to death-twlce-n grcwsome
enough sound. let me tell you. to hear
In the dead OF II white. still night. I
didn't altogether want to break into
your house. I've heard some ugly
stories about men venturing to dis
turb the work OF murdercrs. But. you
see. Joan. I've fear OF myself. I've
n cruel brain. ! can use 1t on my own
failures. I've been through some self
punishmcnt-no! of course, you don't
understand nIl that. Anyway,
! came In. in great fear Of my life.
and saw what saw-n woman tied
up aud dcvilIshly tortured, n man
gloating over her helplcssness. Natural
~, before ! spoke my mind. ms n man
wns bound to speak II. under the pain
and fury Of such II spectacle. I got
rendy to defend myself Your
PIerre"-there was a biting contempt
In his tone-"saw my gesture, whipped
out his gun. and fired. My shot was
half q second later than his. l might
more readily have lost my life than
taken his. II he had lived. Joan. could
you have forgiven hlm?"
"No." sObbed Joan: n think not"
She trembled. "He said terrible hard
words to the. He didn't love me like
! loved him. He planned to put .
brand on me SOS ! cd be his own like
as II ! was a benxt belongin' to him.
Mr.. H0lliwe" said right. l don't be-
long to no man. ] belong to my own
self"
The storm had passed into this
troubled after-tossing Of thought.
Can YOU tell me ubOut II all p