The Ely miner., 1932-06-03

wv AASSp - ISM O0h ~ A~N
She doesn't want il This is
warning, Ames Keep away
from her :" He was moving slowly
nearer TO Ames as he spoke. slowly
and menacingly. For moment it
looked as if he were going to drive
one of those mighty fists of his into
Ames' face. But Ames did not move.
He was perfectly game, and his love
for Lucy was the biggest thing he
knew.
Il am not afraid Of you, Warning
ton," he said coolly. "I just loathe
and despise you with all my strength.
And if my love for Lucy can ever
serve her, you may be quite sure that
it will l may as well tell you
that / shall do everything in my power
to induce her to leave you"
.She will not leave me-"
1--WE shall see."
They stood for a moment, eyes chal-
lenging eyes. But Lee carried his hot
headed threat no further. He recog-
nized courage wher he saw it.
In dead silence, Ames put on his
hat and left. AID in dead silence. Lee
stood looking after him.
He was reused only when Lucy came
from her room and laid hand on his
arm. TheI he spun round to face her;
caught her shoulders in a grasp that
was painful; looked down into her
face deeply, searchingly, and then as
abruptly flung away from her and
paced up and down the room.
"Did you hear what he had to say
to me?" he asked after time.
'Some of it, she replied. Il couldn't
help hearing, Jim. It made me realize
what you had against you at the
time" she added. He turned away
again and resumed his pacing; then,
Love me still, Lucy?" he asked on
a rough, unsentimental note.
do you think that what he thinks
of you has changed me?" she an
swered, meeting his eyes squarely.
Hes going to try to make you
leave me-" he added.
HE won't succeed"
I1c was SHE'LL q iO-tS
turned from her staring out through
the open window.
Then: Il want him to succeed" he
said. brusquely.
She locked at him for moment be-
fore speaking.
"You want me to leave you?" she
asked at last.
"Yes." The words came from be-
tween closed teeth.
She looked at him a moment longer.
Then came toward him and laid a
hand on his sleeve.
Turning him so that he was forced
to face her, she said quietly:
"Are you as much afraid of me as
all that. JimT'
I'm not afraid of you," he denied,
sharpl.. I'm just. hampered :.
with you here that's all"
afraid as all that?" she said again.
very softly.
He flung her from him.
"For mercy's sake leave me
alone :" he cried out.
"Own up, Jim. Fight in the open,"
she said. what if you are AFRAID of
me? Isn't your hate strong enough to
withstand your fear? Isn't your
longing for revenge big enough TO
fight down your longing for me?"
The last words were very softly said,
and very deliberately. Lucy's blue
eyes looked up into his moody, SON.
Der ones, with an expression that held
him dumb before her. But after a
timeless moment he turned away with
a curious action as if he wrenched
himself out of some spell she had the
power to cast upon him, and without
looking at her. said:
81 have no longing for you. Lucy.
And am not afraid of you. 1t just
worries me to ha' you around
Fidgets me; gets on my nerves l
want you 70 go :" He had started
steadily and coldly enough. but his
words shook rather toward the end of
his speech.
"very WELL" she said, quietly. But
it's a pity tc lie to me, jim" She
hesitated a moment, then went into
her room and shut the door, He had
asked her TO go And her plead
ing arguments had not altered
him Very we'll she would go.
Perhaps, after all, it would be best.
This tension could not last much
longer; she could not endure it. Love.
it seemed, had no SORT of power against
hate She stood by her bed
thinking very bitterly.
She could hear his restless pacing
in the other room. Then perfect still
ness. Then a knock upon her
door and his voice:
LET me in. Lucy"
She thought a moment. very great
bitterness in her heart, then answered
steadily:
"No."
He did not ask again. The next
thing she heard was the sound of the
door into the corridor being opened
and slammed agai-.
She started forward, with an i'm
pulse to call him back, then; but he
was gone And after all what was the
use? What was the use.
She went back to her bed, sat down
on it. looking out rather hopelessly be-
fore her. Then felt tears upon her
cheeks, and burying her face into her
pillows, she cried as if her heart were