Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-01-27
CHAPTER xv-Continued
''But I hadn't known"

"You suspected that there was
one, didn't you? You and Jed Stew
art came to live in the Other House
to watch me, didn't you? Do you
think that I have forgotten that you
called me a schemer?"
This seems to be turning into
question and answer period. Sup
pose you let me tell my side of the
story. Sit down, please"
II prefer to stay here. Go on.
hope it doesn't take long. I have
a lot to do before l leave in the
morning-sorry to have to ask to let
the furnishings stay here until Moth
er gets back, but"
Don't be so breathless, dearest"
I'm not breathless, and I'm not
your dearest. I wish you would
say what you forced your way in
here to say and-and CO."
"All right, remember, you asked
for it. I came to say that after I
knew who you were that day in
Jed's office, l didn't believe that
you had used undue influence with
my aunt. l ADMIT that for while
tried to fool myself, but I
couldn't keep it up. I didn't open
my house because I wanted to
watch you. I decided to do it on
Thanksgiving day, because Liked
you and your whole darn family
AS the weeks passed, Jed and l
were sure that if the second will
had not been destroyed, Henri knew
where it was. Not knowing it's con-
tents hampered u.s."
"But you know now?"
eyes. And it hurts Internally to
think that you should have been
drawn into this sordid mix-up."
''Why shouldn't I be? It's what
might be called poetic justice, isn't
it? Didn't I start the trouble when
I went to Lookout House to see your
aunt the first time? I'd been warned
that business and friendship won't
mix any better than oil and water.
Now I know it. You had suspected
for weeks that had no right to your
aunt's money, and yet you and Jed
Stewart let me keep on spending
and spending. When I think of
those two cars I bought I almost
lose my mind. How can I ever
pay it back?"
"Pay it back! Don't be foolish.
There is no question of paying it
back. Have you forgotten that Mary
Amanda Dane left an income to
your"
"You don't think for an instant,
do you, that I would accept cent
of that money? Would you take any
from me when tried to divide with
you? I'm surprised, I'm really sur
prised that you don't play the mar
tyr and ask me to marry you"
''No. I shan't ask you to marry
me- I've made a lot of mistakes
in my life, but, believe me, I've
learned enough not to make that
one"
His cool denial hurt Brooke intol-
erably. He hated her, she told her
self. Why shouldn't he?
Sin the library a while ago you
told Lucette you were leaving here
because you had accepted an offer.
Are you engaged to Jerry Field?"
A gate in the wall! A way out
without letting him know that she
cared, how desperately she cared
for him. She laughed.
"I-Here come Sam and Lucette.
They are stamping snow from their
feet outside as a warning that they
are about to interrupt our confer
ence. Amusing, isn't it?"
Amusing to you, perhaps. 1t
isn't to me-
Sans face was as red as the fire
as he and Lucette entered the room.
"Sorry to interrupt, but"
"Don't apologize"
"I'm not apologizing." His face
went from red to crimson. "I'm
only trying to explain, Brooke, that
the inspectors walking the floor and
gnashing his teeth and muttering
something about keeping the Law
waiting. He wants you, Mark, and
he wants you.quick."
"I'nh going" Mark Trent paused
on the threshold. "Good-night,
Brooke. Well finish our talk to-
morrow" u4,e;
ruADrUD WV