Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-07-26

/ where It belonged There she gazed
upon It for a moment, as though fas-
cinated by 1t. Then she fell upon hef
bed and lay motionless until long after
the valley was wrapped in shadow.
The events of these days had al
most driven from Zen's mind the trag-
edy Of George Drazk. When she
thought of it at all it presented such
a grotesque unreality-it was such an
unreasonable thinc-thaf Il assumed
the vague qualities Of @ dream. It
was something unreal and very much
better forgotten. and IT was only by
an unwilling effort at such times that
she could bring herself 10 know that
it was not unreal. It was matter
that concerned her tremendously.
Sooner or later Drazk's disappearance
must be .noted-perhaps his body
would be found-aud while she had
/ little fear that anyone would associate
/ her with the tragedy ii was q most
| unpleasant thing to think about Some
/ times She wondered If she should not
tell her father or Transley just what
had happened, but she shrank from
doing so as from the confession Of a
crime. Mostly she was able TO think
Of other matters.
Her father brought 1t up In a star
thing way at breakfast. Absolutely
out of n blue sky he said. Did you
know, Zen, that nrazk has dlsap-
peared? Transley tells roe YOU were
interested a bit in him, or perhaps I
should say he was interested in you"
Zen was so overcome by this star
Ting change in the conversation that
she was unable to answer. The color
went from her face and she leaned
low over her plate to conceal her
agitation
Yep continued Y.D., with no more
concern than if a steer had been lost
from the herd "Transley said to tell
you Drazk had disappeared an he
reckoned you wouldn't be bothered
any more with him"
"Drazk was nothing to me-" aha
managed to say, How can you think
ne wasp
"Now who said he WASP her father
retorted. For young woman With
the price of a herd of steers on her
third finger you're sort O. short this
| mornin'. Now I'm jus wonderin' how
far you can see through a board
fence, Zen. Are you surprised that
Drazk has disappeared?"
She was entirely at loss to under
stand the drift of her fathers talk
He could not connect her with Drazk's
disappearance, or he would not APP
proach the matter with such uncon-
| Germ. That was unthinkable. Neither
could Transley, or he would not have
sent so brutal a message. And vet 1t
was clear that they thought she should
be interested.
Her fathers question demanded an
answer
"What should I carey she ventured
at length
Il didn't ask you whether you cared.
I asked you whether you Was sur,
prised"
"Drazk's movements were - are
nothing TO me. I don't know that I
have any occasion to be surprised
about anything he may do"
We'll, I'm rather glad you're not.
because If you don't jump TO conclu-
sions, perhaps other people won't. Not
that it makes any particlar difference. +"
Dad" she cried in desperatio,
whatever do you mean?"
ut was all plain enough to me. an
plain enough to Transley." her father
continued With remarkable caImness.
I'VE seen it right from the first"
You're talking ia riddles, YD.. "
his wife demonstrated. You're get
ting Zen all worked up"
"Jewelry seems to be mighty up
settin'," Y.D. commenced. There was
nothin' like that In sur engagement,
ell, Jessie? Wei, 10 come to the
point There was q fire which burned
up the valley of the South Y.D. Fires
don't start themselves This
one started among the Landson stacks,
so 1t was natural enough to suspec'
Y.D. or some of HIS sympathizers.
Wei it wasn't Y.D.. an / reckon II
wasn't Zen, an it wasn't Transley nor
Under an every one OF the gang
accounted for exceq' Drazk. Drazk
thought he was dom a great piece Of
/ business when he fred the Landson
hay. but when the wind turned an
burned up the whole valley Drazk sees
where he cant play no hero part
around here So he loses himself for
good. l gathered from Transley that
Drazk had been botherin you a little.
Zen. which is why I told you"
The girls heart was pounding VIC
lently at this explanation. 1t was
logical and would he accepted readily
by those who knew Drazk. She would
not trust herself I'm further converse.
ton. SO she slipped away as soon as
she could aud spent the day riding
down the river