White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-05-01
as hitherto had been the desire for
silence, Hugh went on.


silence, Hugh went on.
Life is too short to be SO filed with
mistakes. My mistakes have been
more than yours. But, at least at
first, was not mistaken about the Inn
portance of love in mans life and
work. Or woman's. II you had
loved me, your love would have
weaned you from your mother and
have made big woman of you. And
now it's too late. It's too late. We
learn all of it when we are to GOLD
to enjoy the results Of our enlighten-
ment. I knew this to be SO at Chey-
enne." He paused.
What happened to make you know
it at Cheyenne?" asked Jessie.
ut was old Whitson made me think
of it," returned Hugh, and suddenly,
without conscious volition on his part,
he began to pour out to her the story
of his experiences at the state CAPT
tai.
She let the silence last for long
time before she said, softly:
"Hughie, if Miriam Page were out
of the way, could make you care for
me as much as ever"
She leaned toward him in the fire.
light and for moment Hugh looked
deep into her blue eyes. But he only
shook his head and said sadly, "Too
late, Jessie! The old thrill is gone.
Make no mistake. I love Miriam as
never could love woman again."
Suddenly Jessie moved from her
place opposite him and with gesture
of abandonment infinitely pathetic in
it's helplessness she dropped on the
floor of the cave beside him, and lay
ing her head on his knee she burst
into racking sobs.
"Hughie! Hughie! Ny punishment
is greater than can bear!"
Hugh, his face lined with pain, look
ed down on the mass Of chestnut
braids.
For Gods sake, Jessie, don't! You
make me feel like brute. What do
you want me to do? Pretend to love
you when I don't?"
But Jessie was beyond converse
tion. She wept on and on as If by
tears she sought to wash out the mis-
takes of her selfish girlhood. It
seemed to him very long time be-
foro Toeofa ,oisad har Nhaod ond 1ooL-
ing up into his face said:
"Hughie, l suppose that selfishness
wrecks more lives than anything else
in the world. My own has wrecked
me and your own selfishness will ruin
you if you don't get a different view
of life"
II can't force myself to do the i'm
possible" replied Hugh.
| Jessie returned slowly to her old
seat. Hugh replenished the fire, then
leaned YEARLY against the farm wall
behind him and closed his eyes. Grad
ually his long body sagged in slum-
Der. He had been asleep for some
time when Jessie looked at her watch.
1t was past midnight. She crossed
over to Hugh, kissed him softly. on
the lips and, stepping lightly, left the
cave.
The sun was we'll up when Hugh
made his way around jutting rock
to the spot where Fred had agreed to
meet him with the horses. Fred was
there. Also Pink Morgan. Both men
were sitting their horses, but Pink
was evidently present under duress,
for Fred had an ancient six-shooter
resting on his left arm.
Il brought Pink along, Hughie,"
said Fred. picked him up down by
the bridge. I think he can tell us
what happened up in the Dinosaur
Cave. He went up to see IL you had
hid the gray stallion there and he got
peevish and broke up the whole
works. know him."
Hugh looked at Morgan carefully.
"Who helped you, Pink" he asked
suddenly. "You couldn't have done
all the wrecking." Pink grunted.
Fred shifted his gun and mimicked
Pink's grunt. Sounds like the hog
you are" he said. Gosh, but I'd like
to make sausage Of you. Wish you'd
worked to git out just one of them
dinosaurs and you might have some
inkling Of what scientists like me and
Hughie do"
That's all right" said Pink, with
astounding calm. 1--WE got you two
going. It's worth taking your insults
for. Keep 1t up, Fred. like to hear
you rave" He dangled his feet COM
fortably free of the stirrups and
wiped his nose on the back Of his nit
ten.
Fred breathed deep and the hand
that held the old gun twitched uneas-
ily Hugh stared at Pink as IL he
never before had seen him. His big
blond hulk bore little resemblance to
Jessie, yet he was Jessies' father.
Mrs. Morgan's little birdlike frame.
too, bore little of the look Of Jessie.
Yet the combination Of the twain had
produced the fine, clean-cut strength
that was Jessie's.
(To Be Continued)