The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-02-29

what he was doing he clasped his arms around her, as she stood a little above him.
 Forgive me, Thiry," he implor- ed
 There's nothing to forgive. she fa1tared.
 "I'n go to my room before any one sees me. Ash didn't know me. He never will"
 She will tell" said Thiry, hope Ilessly.
 "who? Allie2 Oh, mo-" he de- clared.
 T mean that jealous woman"
 Amy Dabbl" exclaimed Rock, with a start. She did know. But shell have no chance tonighs. Reckon your noble brother couldn't hsar it if she tried to tell him. But they'll pack him out of there l pronto Tomorrow I'll find some way to shut her mouth"
 Yes, you will said Thiry, with sad derision. Don't waste your breath, Trueman. Don't ask her. Perhaps it will not occur to her that Ash didn't know you" Rock frightened his arms a little, drew her closer.
 ''Thiry kiss me good night" he whispered, suddenly
 'Truemanl"- she exclaimed, and tried to draw away. But he held her, and as she turned her face he managed to kiss her cheek
 Now, you've done itl" she cried.
 What he. had done she did not say, she ceased to pull away That emboldsned him. Still he drew back tho better to see her aver6ed face.
 What's one more offense?" he qusried. I've ruined my hopes to- night-or I have found them glori- fled. Oh, Thiry-how I love youl kiss me good night"
 ''Nol" Yet she seemed weak ing. He felt her quiver in his arms.
 Then let me kiss you? E. It might be the first and last time. If Ash finds me out, I'll have to leave this country. Else I'd have to kill him"
 You'd go away for me?" she flashed, suddenly quickensd and revivified, and her hands went to his shoulders.
 T promise you"
 You love me so much?"
 "Thiry, girl, I love you more than can prove"
 Blindly, with unreckoning inn pulse she bent and met his up- turned lips with her own. Quickly, l with a gasp she broke away to stare a moment, as if some sealza- tion had stricken her, then she fled across the porch and into the house.
 | Ash Preston did not return to Sunset Pass for a week after the Fourth. Rumor drifted down by rider that Preston was hunting for the Mexican who had beaten him lat a dance.
 It was an anxious and breeding time for Trueman Rock until Ash returned, sober yet showing the ef- fects of a prolonged debauch. One moment Rock stood on the porch, his hand qtivering while Ash strode over from his cabin. Sullen. his face black and blue, still swollen, he presented no encourag- ing aspect. But manifestly that moment proved he did not know of suspect that Rock had been his assailant. Then the suspense of this meeting for Rock ended when Tlliry almost tainted in his arms "Aw, Thiry, I'm sorry, rasped out Ash. Tears were streaming down his bruised cheeks. q was drunk thet night. <. III never go 1 to town no more" This had happened in the middle of the afternoon, upon Ash's arrival home. Gage Preston was absent. 1 It was Rocks opinion that Gage did not care to be present when l Ash met Thiry and Rock. Supper l that night no longer seemed some thing like a funeral feast. Gage Preston came in late, and his grutt | heartiness, his steely glance, en- bracing Ash and Thiry and Rock, were strangely at variance. 1 Rock did not tarry with the 1 family He carried away with him look from Thiry's eyes-the first in which he .... met her since that unforgettable last moment on Sol Winters porch-and it drove him ] to pace under the pines.
 He paced a beat from the open back to the gloom of the thick spreading trees. On the soft mat' lof pine needles his feet made nc
 sound; against the black shadow ol the slope his figure could not bs
 seen. But his own sharp eyt
 caught a dark form crossing 1T
 front of a cabin light. He heard g
 voice low but clear-Gage Pres.
 tons: Ash, come hyar'
 Then two dark forms made blacs
 upright bars, to oblitarate the light
 then passed on. Rock watched crouching to peer through tn, l