Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-06-06
Flame Of
the Border
By VINGIE {. ROE
Copyright.
Doubleday. Doran q Co, Inc
WNU Service
Continued from page 81

emO away.
But Sonya turned and laid hel
hand on his, and there was a soft
smile In her eyes
There Is no need" she said.
mo needl The greatest need ri
ever knowl And It can't be filed
III have to leave you soon. forever
with that on my conscience, on my
hearth"
Leave me? No. you will not
Not ever, Starr Stone. You are my
man-from the beginning"
THE soul In my body-if | have
one-will stay with you while life
lasts. hope you know that But
the body itself-is another matter.
| think we'll be saying good-by up
here. Here where we met ln-in
disaster-and | want you to know,
Sonya, that II there Is such a thing
as redemption Of a mans inner self,
| have been redeemed by knowing
you All my instincts. all my de-
sires, all my outlook on life itself
have changed The Border and all
1t has meant to me In my wild.
ness, my devil-may-care, has lost
Its charm. I'd leave It-all-eyery.
thing-for a different life. II I
could"
"Oh. Starr" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
cant you tell me? Won't you tell
me what It Is that threatens you
us7"
Impossible" he said quietly. any
lips are sealed-for your sake more
than mine. What I know would be
dangerous knowledge for you. What
! have done-being with you, COM
Ing back to you again-against or.
ders-has been a danger for you. |
knew 1t, but was too weak to 20 NV
way. never to see your face again.
! could not, In this strange transit
tion which has been taking place
In me. But strength has been grow
Ing In me OF late. like a great tree,
standing against the wind. Do you
see, Sonya, what you have done for
met" he finished earnestly.
Il know" said Sonya. 81 knew
from the first, almost, that II would
be SO. That the good was In you
under-under whatever II was that
hid It That some day 1t would
come out. that the evil would fall
away. leaving you as you were
meant to be-"
You knew? How early? WhenY"
The second time I saw you
at Two Fingers hogan In Chez
wash. think | knew 1t then, dim.
". when your face flushed red on
me The good was strug.
CLING with the bad that minute"
You're right It was. And has
never ceased to struggle since"
"And you're not going to 70
cried Sonya, passlonately.
Not going to throw 1t all awayi I
will not let you'll"
The man sighed. wet his dry lbs.
Then he leaned toward her and took
her against his breast.
my darling" he said gently
please kiss me once more"
With a strangled cry Sonya threw
ler arms around him.
why? WhyT' she pleaded. "Why
will you not stay here and 20 for.
with me into lifef Don't you
owe me?"
Love your My Cd; It's because
love you, adore you, worship you,
hat I'm taking myself out of your
LIE before 1t is too late. I don't
to gee you"
See me whatT'
Nothing. Let's 20. Let's 20
low."
He turned On d'Oro sharply and
leaded for the down trail, Darkness
GLOWING close. Sonya sat rigidly ,
q her saddle. her throat swelled
'ainfully with the dark realization
hat her dream Of love was done for,
hat this man whom she had come
o love so helplessly was riding out
I her life. She could not speak.
AT the mesa's foot they set out
cross the levels which were once
lore darkening into a starlit night
] dreary silence. And before they
ad said another word, before they
ould say that last farewell which
omforts the heart bereaved, fate
as upon them.
Out of the shadows of a clump Of
four men suddenly rode
cross their way. And at their head
ode that huge figure of a man
.hich had loomed on the dance floor
enchanted night and called
tarr Stone as a master calls his
Dc.
He sat now and looked at him with
ack eyes burning.
"Hombre," he said again as he
Id said before, "three times In as
any days have l sent for you, and
~ did not come. This is the rea-
nodded toward Sonya.
"Yesi' cried the girl like a shot,
ough her voice shook. "Yesi T.
ID a better one. I first, and the
ring for those who died, second. I
. a doctor, and there has been a
eat sickness among my people, the
dams. This man has stood with