White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-05-22
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
THE EXILE OF
THE LARIAT !
BY HoNoRE WlLLsiE
Copyright 1928
Frederick A. Stokes Company /:
New York
Observation-Disclosures
CONTINUED from Last Week)

'nOuluer Oh big rang, Lue u6AoSI
peak of the White Wolves. II that's
rue we're 20 bad miles from help at
Heckle's ranch. But there's no dan
ger at all. There's a couple of days
grub at the Dinosaur. I'll leave you
girls here and make Heckle's in
Jew hours.
IF you think I'll stay on this ledge
alone for two days with Miriam Page,
you-well, you misjudge how l feel
about things. I'd rather go on myself
and leave you two here, only that
would undo what I've tried to accom-
plish." Jessie's voice, disembodied in
the darkness, sounded curiously bit
ter Her hearers knew that she was
not smiling and at ease now.
Hugh sat sat down abruptly. There
is no immediate hurry. Well wait
until daylight"
In the darkness, he could vaguely
discern that Jessie had seated herself
at the edge of the ledge, close to the
Dinosaur. Miriam was leaning against
the wall of the mountain, some dis
lance from either Of them. Silence
fell.
Hugh would not permit himself to
feel that he had done wrong to any
one in allowing his love for Miriam
to be frankly expressed. But he was
coming to full realization of the
truth of Mrs. Ellis statement that a
man in public life in America must
live his private life conventionally or
else be willing to face situations such
as he had faced this evening in The
Lariat. For himself he did not care.
He sincerely believed that the bigness
of the love he and Miriam felt for
each other was full justification for
itself But he had discovered this
evening that what hurt Miriam, hurt
him; that what hurt Mrs. Ellis hurt
him, and most of all, whatever threat
ened the success of the Gray Stall
lions mission was almost intolerable
to him. And yet, he could not consid
er giving up Miriam without envisag
ing a mental and spiritual anguish
which he believed he could not en-
dure.
The wind was rising by degrees
Dawn must be coming. Hugh though
| that Miriam and Jessie must bs
asleep, they sat so silent upon the
ledge.
Gradually now Hugh was able tt
discern the huddled form of Miriam
His eye followed along the CROWN,
edge Of the shelf on which their live
were so precariously perched. TIL
wings of the Dinosaur. Somethin
huddled beneath. Jessie? No. !
boulder against which the Dinosau
braced herself from the chasm below
Hugh turned on his flashlight an
threw a finger of light the length c
the ledge.
Jessie was not there.
He started to his feet with an e.
clamation Miriam wakened with
groan.
"Hughie! What is it?"
"Jess has gone. She can't have ia
len or I'd have heard her. She's don
what she threatened"
The two stared at each other Will
dawn in full panoply marched owe
the shoulder of Big Fang.
Hugh stood in helpless exasperatio
for a moment Miriam, very lovely l
the growing light, in spite of her Of
vious WEAKNESS, smiled little.
"You see why she did it, don't yo1
Hughie?"
mo, l don't. Even with her strengt
and experience she's running no
rible risk"
"Of course, she knows that. b
she preferred the risk to having
stay alone with me. She could go 8
far as chaperoning us on this trip. Sh
could go no farther. Jessie is a tr
mendous hater. After all, she has
right to hate me even more than
hate her"
II don't see why you should hat
JESSIE" said Hugh, for the first tim
speaking little shortly to Miriam.
Il hate her because she's had yor
youth, because she still has some {
your thoughts. l want to blot her O,
Of your very memory"
Hugh, who had been scanning til
growing depths of the canyon beloy
holding his injured arm, his mind tor
by thousand difficulties, turned no
with his whole attention given to th
pain in Miriam's face and voice.
"You are sure that you love MI
Hugh?"
Very, very sure, Miriam"
"And that no matter what happen
you will believe in the bigness an
fneness Of my love for YOU"
Eyes, Miriam"
She turned to stare at the canyo
which lay exposed now at their fee
After a moment she asked, "Wher
are we, Hugh?"
Were in the forest reserve an
perched we'll above the tree line. T.
not tell you how high we are"
II think you are wise!" Miriar
shuddered Hugh, it would be bette
for you to leave me here and go o.
after Jessie. I'll be quite safe, II
don't go to gazing over the edge"
| "Joss ia without food mr. watar