New Britain herald., 1925-01-07
/ MAX BQAND-

not heed his challenging shout, but went blithely on to the corral, where she unsaddled Peter and brought to him an ample feed of grain. It was not until she had fin- ished all these things that she went back to the ranch house.
 Buck Daniels walked in front of 1t, up and down, Up and down. witt, glow of light from his pipe now and again showing the storm ir his face.
 Well" he said, what have you got to say for yourself?"
 She smiled across the stove at him.
 'I said Hello when I came i'll from the corral"
 What have you been doing?"
 Finding out the price of Peter
 What do you mean by that?"
 "I mean five hundred dollars. That's what he's worth.'
 You've sold him."
 "Yes."
 'Without asking me?'
 q bought him back again."
 Joan, what the devil is in you?'
 She shrugged her shoulders and went on with her work. Fried po- tatoes and a great slice of ham and a mighty cup of coffee and hot milk would not be too much for her.
 You been riding to a fall, Joan. and now doggone me if the time ain't come when you got to hear some talk that aint going to be like any other talk you ever heard! In the first place what I want"
 "Hush." whispered Joan.
 She raised her hand, and into the silence which she had interposed foated the shrill crying of the wild geese as some thick wedge of them fled up the northern sky. It was @ marvellous music to Joan. It chimed and echoed in her very heart of hearts.
 She even opened the door, but as she stood there, against the outer hackness of the night, looking northward to the sky, Buck caught at her shoulder and drew her back into the room. He closed the door hastily and stood with his shoulders braced against 1t, His eyes were a little wide, as he faced her, and she thought that there was still a slight tremor of the upper lip as If, the instant before, he had re- ceived great shock.
 But she was too filled with great memories this evening to pay much attention to Buck and his ideas of her. The careless smoothness with which she spoke to him was the only tone possible to her. If she had tried to speak soberly. she would have burst into tears and been un- able to proceed,
 She would have turned back 10 the stove, but he caught her and stopped her again.
 I've had hell two nights hand running on account of you," he told her, and I'm damned If I'm going to have 1t again. Understand 2"
 She did not answer. She hardly heard the words he had thundered at her.
 Joan Where have you been?"
 with a man."
 "I knew it." he groaned. T knew 1t. Who?"
 "A man you know
 And he hasn't seen the last Of me whoever he is"
 Lee Haines was his name"
 IL was a strong name. indeed. It seemed to have the strength of a club to strike down Buck Daniels. He fumbled, found chair, and low cred himself into it without taking his glance from her face.
 s"What did Lee tell you? Where is he? Where did you meet him What did he tell you, Joan?"
 II It was a second blow and 1t made him drop his face in his hands. She stood over him. trembling with an- ger.
 You've kept it away from me all these years, and what right had you to do that? I've lived in the center of a lie'"
 He made a gesture as though brushing her words away to get at something important.
 "Did he tell you how - how your father died, Joan?"
 All but that" she answered.
 Thank God"
 But I'll find it out! I'll find out very word that can be known bout him."
 Joan, I won't let you. We star lck east tomorrow. I've made ar Ingcments. We're going to go
 Not a step!" she cried. "Oh, dc ou think I'd give him up? I've een cheated of him all this time, but Pm going to make it up!"
 He arose and began 10 pace the room. swinging through it, back and forth, with an uneven step as his thoughts spurred and checked him. But at last he stopped short and faced her,
 i've got to tell you things been praying all this time that you wouldn't hear. I'll tell it short, be-