The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1927-01-21
CHAPTER III

n NNE lad taken OIL her cOStum
n and slipped into a negligee t
do her packing comfortably, an,
then decided she had better BIZ
good-by to Joe first. She wanted t,
tell him her great secret, see al
answering joy leap into his face
for he thought more of Basset
than anybody, and he'd be so sur
prised to hear that Anne, heI
charms held at a low valuation
had won such a prize.
She passed the long line Of CLOSED
doors, voices coming from behind
Mrs. COTnell's, and reaching JOe'S
knocked. A come in" uninviting
ly loud and harsh, answered hel
and she entered. Joe was sitting
In a low armchair, bent forward
his hands holding a cane with
which he was tapping the floor. He
looked up to see who it was; then.
without greeting or comment,
dropped his head and went on
lightly striking the cane on the
carpet as IL he were hammering In
a nail and 1t required all his at
tention. then raised his head and
looked at her-what have you
come here for? the look said.
II was not a reception to encour-
age condolences and she stood I'M
comfortably regarding him. trying
TO find something to say that would
dispel his somber iii humOr.
You're all ready7s Where's your
l~uggage?"
Down by the door. Is there any
thing else you want to know?'
81 don't want to know, I was
thinking of you. You're always
late, and it's different here with
only one way to get ashore and
Gabriel willing to wait"
He made no answer, continuing
his play with the cane. She knew
that something was wrong and sat
down on the arm of a chair, I'M
easy, wondering what 1t was:
I'm glad you've managed this
holiday. And it's Jolly having Tom
MY Trayers. he's such a sport.
YouIl meet him tonight at Bangor.
AT the Algonquin inn-wasn't that
the name of it?"
"Um."
II want to be sure, because If
any important mail should come
for you | could send 1t there to
meet you on your way back. Al
gonquin lnn-Tll remember that.
Then off tomorrow morning-it1I
be lovely In the woods now
SApy place would be lovely after
tbs beastly hole"
r Beastly holel l thought you
liked it,"
ibid your Take another guess.h
You expected to like 1t. You
wanted to come"
He made no answer, but slanting
his body sidewise with an air of
ostentatious endurance, took out
his watch and looked at It. She
ignored the hint-you couldn't be
sensitive with Joe-and leaning to-
ward him asked:
Whats the matter, Joe?'
"Matter-with what!i
"Youl Has anything happened?"
"Oh, no, nOthing's happened"
His words were mincingly soft.
"What could happen with such a
charming lot Of people and Miss
Saunders playing the sta role in
the performance and out?"
It was Sybil rhen-he'd been
working himself into a bad temper
over her treatment of him. Anne
had thought it odd he had not mem
toned it before:
You're angry with Sybil, and
don't think she has been very nice
TO you. I've noticed It, especially
the last three days and this after
when we We're sitting out
there on the rock | tried to make
her tell me why"
He raised his head; the profile
defined against the window
q working muscle in the
and did she tell you?"
No, she didn't seem to want to
ak about it. She changed the sub
lect. There's no use getting an
about it, because | don't
think she has any reason. You
have to make excuses for her.
She's gone through this awful ex-
D%erience and her nerves are all
gracked to pieces. You have TO be
and take her as a sort of
afflicted person" /,
He dashed the cane down and {
to his feet in a volcanic
explosion of rage: :
Il don't take her that way. | {
AXE her for what she is, a id
wing hypocrite." I
"Joei" She was amazed, not so /
luch at The words as at the sud
enness of the outburst and the ;
ontorted passion of his face. q
"She thinks she can treat me r
ny way she wants and get away
it'll it. Well. she'll find her mis- n
Ike: sizes taken the wrong turn
z this time. She takes NE for a o
.IiOw dog She can kick whenever +
E feels Ike it. But ! got teeth
csn bite. Patienf-be patient a
I'd ike 20 wiring her neck, "
IF used an epifhet that brought s.
ire ~ her feet, breathing battle: 50
ont dare 10 say that Of my
e1f. ne Tracv" ~
g