The Dolores star., 1924-09-05
By ROBERT STEAD
Author of The Cen, Tbs
HomsIfsaSsrJ''--.N .NsisbberJ." ere.
cesynEht By ROBERT STEAD

| bothered TO wonder much where or
/ how this affair must end Through all
| the years that had passed. Zen had
! been 10 him sweet, evasive memory
| to be dreamed over and idealized.
wild, daring. irresponsible incarnation
OF the spirit Of the hills.
He wrote on the bacg OF the note,
Look for me at eight" and then. OBJ
serving that the boy had not brought
| Teddy along. he inquired solicitously
| for the health Of the little pet.
Hes all right. but mother wouldn't
let me bring him. Said might lose
him" The tone In which the last
words were spoken implied just how
impossible such thing was. Lose Ted
6yi No one but a mother could think
of such an absurdity.
But got knife." Wilson ex-
claimed. his mind darting to a happier
subject Daddy gave 1t to me. VIII
you sharpen it? 1t is as dull as a
pig"
Grant was TO learn during the day
that all the boys figures of speech
were now hung in the family pig. The
knife was us dull as u pig; the plow
was as rough as a pig; the horses.
when they capered at corner, were
as wild as n pig: even Grant himself.
while he held the little chap firmly on
his knee, received the doubtful com
pliment of being as strong as a pig.
He went through the form of sharpen
ing the knife on the leather lines OF the
harness and nj Ia
that Wilson. with childish dexterity
of Imagination, now pronounced it as
sharp as n pig.
The boy did not return to the field
In the afternoon, and Grant spent the
time in strange admixture of happi-
ness over the pleasant companionship
he had found in this little son Of the
prairies and anticipation of his meet
ing with Zen that night.
Grant prepared his supper of bacon
and eggs and fried potatoes. bread and
jam and black tea, and ate il from the
kitchen table. Supper ended, he no.
ticed he had just time to walk to
Transley's house before eight o'clock.
Zen received him at the door; the
iisAiH idu E'hF ~ u HtlsllDOI y, size
said, and Wilson was in bed. She
lighted the dry wood in the fireplace.
Il have been so anxious to see you
again" she said drawing a chair
not far from him. "A chance remark
of yours last night brought to memory
many things-thlngs l have been try
ing to forget" Then. abruptly. did
you ever kill a MANI"
You know | was in the war;" he
returned, evading her question
Yes, and you do not care to dwell
on that phase of 1t. should not have
asked you, but you will be the better
able to understand. For years | have
lived under the cloud OF having killed
man"
You"
Yes. The day of the rre-you re-
member?"
Grant had started from his chair.
Il can't believe itr he exclaimed.
'There must have been justification !"
You had justification at the front,
but 1t doesn't make the memory pleas
ant. l had justification, but 1t has
haunted me night and day. For all
these years | have been carrying in Inv
heart secret until II seems to have
grown so big l must tell some one, or
burst And then, last night, his name
was mentioned, which brought II all
back to me as though it had been yes
terday. Time doesn't seem to cure
some things, ever. does it? And after
l had gone to bed, and was thinking 1t
all over. ! suddenly knew there was
one man l could tell. That is why
| sent that note. . You weren't an
gry?"
ANGRY! Dear" He checked his
lips on forbidden words
'WhoT he managed to say.
'Drazk."
"Drazk ="
Yes. | had killed him that day Of
the fire. 1t is rather an unpleasant
story, and you will excuse me repeat-
Ing the details. know. He attacked
me-we were both on horseback, In
the river-1 suppose he was crazed
with his wild deed, and less respOnsi-
BILE than usual. He dragged me from
my horse and ] fought with him in
the water, but he was much too strong.
/ l had concluded that TO drown my
self, and perhaps him. was the only
way out, when | saw leather thong
floating In the water from the saddle.
( By ruse | managed to flip 1t around
his neck. and the next moment he was
ut my mercy. had no mercy then. I
pulled it tight, tight-pulled till saw
his face blacken and his eyes stand
out. He went down. but still / pulled.
And then. after a little, / found my
self on shore.
II suppose 1t was the excitement of
the fire that carried me on through
the day. but at night-you remember?
there came reaction, and couldn't
keep awake. I suddenly seemed to
feel that l was safe, and could
| sleep"
Grant had resumed his seat. He
| was dpppIy moved nv fhia utrop,o ,on