The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-05-27


large, black eyes.
1T is strange, the mine being SO near
the house." Joyce said. "You know
Mother and / were never quite con-
vinced that there was a mine. We
were never quite sure that my father
hadn't a delusion on that subject, and
that Leboeuf, who was devoted TO him,
wasn't humoring him.
"Old Leboeuf must have been living
there for long time. He had some
grudge against Railway, you know.
He would have killed him once, If my
father hadn't interviewed"
She reverted to her fathers death,
and Lee was reluctantly compelled to
give her the particulars.
''He may have suffered a stroke and
have fallen over the cliff" he said.
"At any rate, his death was instan-
taneous. You may be sure he did not
suffer-"
1t was when he spoke Of his dis
covery Of her mothers grave that
Joyce showed signs Of breaking down.
"She was Ill such long time" she
was nothing that could be done for
her. When she died my father and
Leboeuf carried her body away into
the forest by night. They would never
tell me where she had been buried.
and I remember I used to prowl about
the house, always hoping to discover
her grave. 1 suppose that was a part
49, Co. IN IL
wanted her to be near him where he
was working"
1t was after dinner that Lee opened
the subject nearest to his heart.
Dear. you know what 1 want to
ask" he said. "Will you let me take
you south with me before the SHOWS?
And will you let Father McGrath
marry us before we start?
"Oh, Lee-when?" she asked
To-day, dearest"
ooh. not today, Lee!"
Tomorrow, then? And we'll spend
our honeymoon In the log house, just
for a day or two of happiness together
before taking up the trail. I know It
will always be your home, Joyce, and
that we shall often come back here,
now that the unhappiness Of the past
is over"
"Wait, Lee !" Joyce was wrinkling her
forehead In that manner that always
distressed him so much. II want TO
ask you something: Have you really
told me everything the time
when 1 had my fall from the horse
until I awakened In the forest with
you? Or have you-hidden something
from me-out Of consideration for
me?"
"Why do you ask that, dear7"
Because II feel that you have.
Lee 1 don't know why. It's just an
instinct I have. And If there is some
thing more, I should like to be told,
because-because 1 have feeling that
it may help me to recover that part Of
my life that Is still a blank to me-"
Lee felt In a quandary. IT was i'm
possible to wish to keep anything from
Joyce; and yet he felt that she ought
never to know the incidents of that
day and night at Siston lake.
"H you don't want to tell me,
dear" Joyce went on.
Lee had to tell her then, and did,
minimizing the affair in all but its
essentials. He said nothing about his
fight with the Free Traders, but told
her how she had been kidnapped by
the two men and taken to Railways |
camp, and how, in the absence Of the |
band, he had rescued her.
"And you say was unconscious all |
that tIme?" asked Joyce. II wish /
could understand 1t, and I wish l |
could remember 1t seems so strange |
that part of my memory should come
back 10 me, and not all of ii. Who
were those men and what did they
want of me-? We're they Railways
men? And what did he want?"
Il think the explanation is simple.
dear" Lee answered. PATHWAY wants
the secret Of your fathers mine. In
some way he must have learned that
YOU were coming back to the range.
He sent his men TO intercept you.
They probably told you that Railway
mad your father in his power. and that
g why you proposed to accompany
hem, and why you didn't want me-"
Not want you, Lee? 1 wanted you
from the first minute I saw you. I'll
ell you a secret, shall L? Well-I-1
ell in love with you that evening in
he hotel, and I've been in love with
you ever since. There.
"But why was riding In the ranger"
he resumed. what was it on my mind
10 terrible that there seems sort of
,lackness there? 1 felt that you could
ave me-" She shook her head. mo.
here's more to 1t than that, my dear.
And-I don't know-perhaps l shall
lever know"
Lee slipped his arm about her.
Joyce, dear, don't try to think. 1t
DOESN'T matter. Nothing is going to
natter any more. You are no longer
he unknown girl, travelling alone
through a Wilderness whose disap-
earance would arouse no suspicious.
)nce YOU are my wife, Railway can