Evening star., 1925-07-08

Then her eyes suffused with tears.
You want 10 take care Of me-the
Quaker-Jim?"
Yes" jim put his arm around her.
Come over 10 the chair and let me
ba ndage that arm
Slowly she obeyed him. Carter
Smith came forward to help. Jim
waved him away sharply. Don't
touch her. Go out and hitch the mules
TO the blackboard. Mrs. Topping, bring
me towels"
He bandaged Ruth deftly. No one
spoke during the process. Gertrude
sobbed softly against the wall When
the revenue man put his head in at
the door with word that the team was
ready, Jim buttoned Ruth's coat.
pulled on his great wolfskin ulster and
led her out to the blackboard.
1t was a wild night and wild ride
| They did not talk. Ruth was too
greatly spent and the team demanded
all Of Jim's attention, for the mules
were only half broken. They were
, afraid of the depth of the snow. They
lunged and kicked, and Jim piled the
whip. The wind, huge as the Rockies.
enwra pped them, engulfed them. They
crawled on and on. up the long way
that ended al last against the corral
fence.
| Jim tied the mules and lifted Ruth
out, guiding her staggering steps 10
| the door. Within it was dark and cold.
Jim lighted the lamp and Ruth dropped
trembling 10 the edge Of the bed. Old
| Susy was gone. jim kindled the hre
and set the stewpot 10 heat. Finally
he held a bowl of steaming liquid 10
Ruth's lips. When she had drunk il
| he said:
! I'm go out and put up the mules.
| You'd better lie down"
| She nodded, but when he returned
| she had not stirred. He hung up his
coat and cap, replenished the FIRE nd
came over TO stand in front of her.
You don't think I'll accept the sac
! rif1ce, do you, Ruth--let YOU carry that
! burden on your soul? No The point
! is'-he hesitaled as she lifted her
| tired eyes 70 his-''the point is the
! you've walked me out ot my trance.
| III take any punishment that's com
| ing 10 me If youth
Again he broke off. and. sitting
down beside her. pressed her face u
his. Ruth drew deep, sobbinE
| breath
I'm not fit 10 be a missionary. I've
acted-acted like-a wildcat. I'm con
sumed with shame"'
DON'T entreated Jim. Don't
spoil it. You were glorious. I adore
you for it" He gave a low laugh
"Old Susy was right. I've been a fool.
Ruth-Ruth-I love your
She looked into his keen eyes as
though she would read his soul. Jim
answered her unspoken question.
NO, you didn't bribe me, I'll make
1t my job 10 clean the matter up in
decency. What you did was TO show
me the real Ruth
Ruth wruns her hands But that
was not !! I was not myself"
Jim took her tired face between his
strong brown hands. Does that rnea
you are sorry for what you did,"
The fame returned for a moment
to the blue eyes. No" passionately
1t was agony. but exquisite
"Ah, Ruth Jim laid his lips to
hers. After moment he said: You
must rest"
She dropped her tired head TO her
pillow, then looked up at him TO say:
! It's been like Fra nce-lonely"
Jim's voice was husky. 4 know.
| knew all along that YOU were too
much alone. I knew how ! could feel
toward you And vet let that tavern
gang use me. Ruth. has every man
got II in him to be q hound like I've
been?"
There was only the Madonna look
i in Ruths eyes now. She smiled and
her tired lids dropped.
Dawn, creeping slowly in At the
window. pricked forth the kettle. cold
and gray upon the forward stove lid.
1t outlined Ruth's long body az she
lay asleep under the red blanket 1t
threw into bas relief Jim Acton, with
sieepless ewes, kneelins beside the bed
Ruth's hand cIasped in his, ending
his long nights vigil. And il was
thus that Susy found them when she
crawled in at red sun-up from God
knows what futile and pathetic Indian
errand.
THE END.
! Copyright. 1924. Butterick Publishing Co