The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-05-06

1 cnhif, Her ne60 Dent down, ner MANU-
ciasped on her knees, staring desc
lately in front OF her.
Lee stood beside her. Dearest, Il
could % anything to help you"
"You can't help me. II dom
know what to do"
Her voice was strained. hard, al
most unacceptable. Lee knelt nj hel
feet conscious Of sense Of utter help
lessness. He took her hands in his
and found that they were as cold az
ice. Her body was strained into un-
natural rigidity. 1t was almost as II
she were a prisoner on some torture
table, 80 set we're all her muscles, as
| though she were bracing herself
against some uncomfortable pain
yes. you can help mel"
The words came quickly from her
| lips, and, raising her head. she gave
him a strange, penetrating look you
you haven't been frank with me,
Lee.
you know all that there Is to know
about me. But what do / know about
you, You say you love me, you won
my love-my love, that Of the name
less woman; and you have my poor
little two weeks life story In your
possession You know everything that
there Is Of me-oh, you know 1t so init
mately. Can you not zee how ii hui
initiates me, TO think that 1 have no
personality Of my own at all, nothing
to myself no life. hardly a thought,
even, that is not yours7"
Dearest"
But she went On implacably: what
do know of you! Who are your Lee
Anderson That's only a name You
have your life. your past How many
women has II contained. women you
perhaps think Of regretfully. some
times even with tendernessET
'rd have told you that when the
time came. 1 loved one woman
thought l did. She was-well, / gave
her my love foolishly. that's all. And
it wasn't love There Is only you,
has only been you"
How do l know you are telling me
the truth, Lee AndersOn:"
You don't mean that. dear. We've
given our love to each other. with trust
and faith. It's just the loneliness and
the dread and the fear OF remember
ing the past that makes you doubt
everything. Look into my eyes and
see II you can doubt them"
The hardness Of her laugh surprised
him. 81 don't trust men. Lee Ander-
SON."
Lee felt stupefed. But deeper than
the hurt was his pity for her, a soul
cut of from the past. with only him
self to guide her. He could under
stand that the desire for a personality
Of her own might well inspire her
bitterness.
81 think the best way 1 can prove
my love for you" he answered. lis
just TO say nothing till your mood has
passed"
mo. Lee, there is better way than
that, much better way. Be frank |
with me. Let me share your life. Who |
are you? Lee Anderson? That's only |
1 name to me. Tell me why you came |
nto the range, and how you found |
me-"
He began TO tell her; but, because
( was impossible TO speak Of their
experiences ar Siston lake, he made
I appear that he had saved her-as
lie had said before-after the fall. and
'arried her into the woods. He
united much. but he distorted nothing.
what were you doing in the range?
What are you here forT Her voice
7as breathless, her eyes seemed TO
urn into his face.
"I-think-I-knov. You must tell
ne the truth. You came here TO find
omeone. You are a member OF the
olice. Whom have you come TO fndT'
And as Lee remained silent. she
ontinued:
1T wasn't a man named Pelly, was
:? An old man. an old friendless man.
-ho had been betrayed. sold by some {
ne he trusted? A man who had done I
o wrong to anyone. but who. whole {
before, had killed the scoun-
rel who tried to ruin his wife? Hadn't {
e atoned for that by a lifetime OF /
Nile?' Q
"what do you know OF himT" cried I
ee. Q
He is my father, This Is our home {
es, I'm Joyce Pelly. his daughter. as L
~ have always suspected. And l
lspected you from the beginning. n
nd you-you forced your presence n
Jon me under the guise OF protecting
e from my friends" p
THAT Is not So" Il
ITO gain your wretched ends by win u
ng woman's confidence and then d
traying her. And you dared-yes. g
u dared" g
"1 never dreamed who you were. OF
ont you believe my word Of honor
at / am incapable" d,
But she went on. still implacabie; ia
GU dared to pretend you loved ME, in
u traitor. in order 10 discover my lii
TIERS hiding place when II was "
ming up TO hinl-but why-why? ! hi
Mt remember all. 1 only know that or
I.