White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-06-19
iIIIIlIililIIIIIIIlIIIIilIIIIIlIIlilIlIIIIlIIII
THE EXILE Of
THE LARIAT z
BY HoNoRE WlLLslE &
Copyright 1928 8
Frederick A. Stokes Company =
New York =
Christmas Again
IiIllii. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CONTINUED from Last Week.


Christmas Again
There was something extraordinar-
ily battling about the reported sale OF
Hugh's property. Principal Jones IN
dertook to run down the facts. But
Judge Proctor was gone on vague
trip east. Charles Grafton insisted
that he knew nothing of the sale. No
deeds had been recorded. There was
no move on the part of the Eastern
Electric Corporation to begin any sort
of building operations. Yet the ru-
NOR of the sale persisted.
He had more than expected and
much dreaded to receive letter from
Miriam, but no letter arrived. He
was deep in conference with Johnny
Parnell in The Lariat when the first
word he had received about Miriam
arrived. 1t was in the shape of a
telegram from a hospital in Salt Lake
City.
miss Miriam Page died today at
this address. pneumonia.
Hugh read the message through
twice, then laid it on the counter A
sense of irreparable loss shook him.
1t was only now, after the week spent
over his fossils in severing his life
from Miriam's, that the actual real
ization of what that loss meant came
to him.
Johnny Parnell, striding in, put his
hand on Hugh's shoulder Hold on,
Governor!" he said II want to tell
you something Did you get tele-
gram Just now from Salt Lake?"
EYES," replied Hugh. 1--we got to
leave for there at once. BY the Dino
saur."
Governor" said Johnny, with the
note of Difference he now always gave
his old friend, Il heard that you'd got
that telegram. l heard Billy Chamber
lain, who knows Morse and was in
the ticket office when the message
came"
Hugh twisted his brown hands to-
gether and there was long silence.
Hugh gazed at the message as though
he would imprint forever on his mind
it's shape and color.
Jessie broke the silence by saying
casually:
"Hughie, when did voc plan to go
after Judge Proctor?"
'Ive been trying right along to get
an interview with him." replied Hugh
"There is something strange about
the whole thing l can get no details
from any one. l wouldn't have be-
lieved it possible that any of that
crowd could have reached the Judge
Why, he was one Of Uncle Booklets
best friends He knew how Uncle
Bookie felt about the Old Sioux Tract
1t was sacred place to him"
Jessie was suddenly very white ant
uneasy. Her deep eyes gloWed will
anxiety as she rose and, standing be
fore Hugh, said "Hughie, that othe
ClOWd ulul lClCh Ouu6C. oAus
"You!" exclaimed Hugh.
Jessie nodded. 1--WE all knew tina
they were trying to force the sale OF
the plea Of your week spent working
on Jimmie's dinosaur. | thought twt
could work that game, so l went t.
him and we Matched a scheme base
on the fact that you'd broken tn
literal terms Of the will when yo
started to give all your time t
politics. | don't know how the oil
Judge worked up the legal end Of II
But anyhow, group of the cattleme
bid in the Dude Ranch. And you re
member that legacy of mine? l bi
in the Old Sioux Tract. You can hav
'em both any way or time you war
to arrange for them"
Hugh stood staring at Jessie in u
ter amazement. Jessie! Jessie
can't! l don't deserve it,"
Jessie walked slowly to the rea
window. Straight and strong an
very fine was her silhouette agains
the winter sky Slowly she Wake
back again to Hugh.
"Hughie, / never have known wha
you really think about things. Befor
Booklets death | couldn't even CUES
But now, somehow, | understand will
out being told. And / believe ths
you do deserve it"
Il don't, Jessie! l don't!" erie
Hugh. you must not! Jessie, 20
break me with your generosity"
Jessie smiled at him wistfully, lif
ed the tray and walked slowly to tn
door There she paused, to say SLOW
ly, Hugh, l don't think it's genera
ity. It's just-its just MYTHS ju!
that | am, as l warned you, gres
lover" Then she went out.