The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-08-06

where IT belonged. There she gazed
upon II for a moment, as though fas-
cinated by II. Then she fell upon her
| bed and lay motionless until long after
the valley was wrapped in shadow.
The events of these days had al
most driven from Gems mind the trag-
edy of George Drazk. When she
thought of 1t at all II presented such
a grotesque unreallty-it was such an
| unreasonable thing-that II assumed
the vague qualities of a dream. 1t
was something unreal and very much
better forgotten, and 1t was only by
an unwilling effort at such times that
she could bring herself to know that
1t was not unreal. 1t was a matter
that concerned her tremendously.
Sooner or later Drazk's disappearance
must be noted-perhaps his body
would be found-and while she had
little fear that anyone would associate
her with the tragedy IT was most
unpleasant thing to think about Some
times she wondered II she should not
tell her father or Transley just what
had happened, but she shrank from
doing so as from the confession of
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 a blue sky he said. did you
know, Zen, that Drazk has disap-
peared? Transley tells me you were
interested 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 YD., with no more
concern than if 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-" she
managed to say. How can you think
he was?"
Now who said he was?" her father
retorted. For young woman with
the price of 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 board
fence, Zen. Are you surprised that
Drazk has disappeared"
She was entirely at a loss to under
stand the drift of her fathers talk
IL hor mi b.
disappearance, or he would not sp-
proach the matter with such uncon-
Germ. That was unthinkable. Neither
could Transley. or he would not have
sent so brutal a message. And yet 1t
was clear that they thought she should
be Interested
Her fathers question demanded an
answer.
What should l carer" she ventured
at length.
81 didn't ask you whether you cared.
asked you whether you was sur
prised"
"Drazk's movements were = are
nothing TO me. I don't know that
have any occasion to be surprised
about anything he may do.
well. 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 particular difference"
Dad" she cried in desperation.
whatever do you mean?"
ut was all plain enough to me. an
plain enough to T'rapsley," her father
continued with remarkable caimness.
1--WE seen it right from the first"
You're talking In riddles, YD.,"
his wife demonstrated. You're get
ting Zen all worked up
"Jewelry seems to be mighty up
settin'," YD. commented. There was
nothin' like that ia our engagement,
ELI, Jessie? Well, to come to the
point There was a fire which burned
up the valley of the South Y.D. Fires
don't start hemselves-usually. This
one started among the Landson stacks.
so it was natural enough to suspec'
Y.D. or some of his sympathizers.
Well it wasn't Y.D., an l reckon it
wasn't Zen. an 1t wasn't Transley nor
Under an every one of the gangs
accounted for excep' Drazh. Drazk
thought he WIS dom great piece of
business when he fired the Landson
hay, but when the wind turned an
burned up the whole valley Drazk sees
where he can't play no hero part
around here So he loses himself for
good. ! gathered from Transley that
Drazk had been botherin' you little.
Zen. which is why told you"
The girls heart was pounding vio-
lently at this explanation. 1t was
logical, and would be accepted readily |
by those who knew Drazk. She would |
not trust herself in further conversa-
ton. so she slipped away as soon as
she could and spent the day riding
down the river.