The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-02-15

seemed to limp like some injured
thing. "Oh," she said, "it was nice
of you to come.
He opened his cigarette case and
offered it to her. She was obliged to
make her fingers rigid in order to
control their trembling as she held
the cigarette while he lit it for her.
II came. Autumn" he said at
last, his voice strangely tense, be
cause I did not want you to leave
with the feeling that--that we are
not friends"
A desire to give way to tears al
most overwhelmed her as she looked
at him now and recognized what it
meant for him to speak so frankly.
She could have gone to him in that
moment and wept in his arms.
II have had nc such feeling,
Bruce" she said with difficulty.
II couldn't blame you if you had,
he said. II think I told you-one
night-that we could not be friends. -
She smiled at him but did not
speak, smiled frozenly, in silence
that was unbearable.
Il wanted you to know, before
you left, that we shall always be
friends-betause we must be. I had
dinner with Hector the other night.
''He told me So" Autumn said.
81 heard the whole story-our
whole story" Bruce went on, with
| evident emotion. 81 wish you had
/ told it to me before"
Autumn lifted her hands toward
him slightly in a gesture of appeal.
81 wanted to tell you. Bruce, but
you must know why I could not
''I understand that perfectly, Au-
tumn. / should have felt the same
about it myself-and would proba-
bly, have acted as you did"
She forced herself to look square
ly into his eyes. ''It has all been
terrible-for both of u.s."
Forget it, then," Bruce said firm
ly. Whats past-is past!"
AS he spoke, a car drove up be-
fore the door and came abruptly to
stop. Bruce got up and walked
toward the window.
THAT must be Florian now" Au-
tunn said.
"It is" Bruce told her. "I'n be
on my way"
He came toward her and held out
his hand. She slipped her hand into
his and thought in swift panic that
she was losing him now, forever.
did you mean what you said
that the past is past?" she asked
him hurriedly, as Florian's football
sounded at the door.
Before he could reply, Florian had
hailed them from the doorway,
Bruce drew back step and Autumn
turned to meet Florian, who was
coming toward them, his usual easy
self, his hand extended.
Hello, folks!" he greeted them
"Great to see you again, Autumn
And you, too, Brucel How's the big
sheep man? Gosh, I haven't seer
you for an agel"
1.-THE last time we met" Bruce
began, but Florian interrupted him
'Say, the last time you spoke te
me-you had murder in your heart.
ST admit it." Bruce said with {
smile.
You're great on that defending
a-woman' s-fair-name stuff, Bruce
You'll get reputation if you're no
careful. You looked ready to xii
me that night-kill me with you
two hands, as they say in th'
thrillers."
81 know l was," Bruce admitted
Ell owe you both an apology fol
what I thought that night"
Don't spoil it, now" Florian ad
monished him. "You know, yo,
really should have lived in the day
when knights were bold-and all tina
rot--when running a man through
was just part of the days work.
He laughed at Bruce and thel
turned to Autumn. "Give us drink
Autumn. I'm as dry as salt mine.
"Sorry I can't stay with you AMI
join in one," Bruce said. "I've go
to get into the hills first thing in th'
morning and I've got lot to d.
before dark"
Sorry" Florian replied. 'I wa
hoping we might have you down a
the ranch for a little party this week
end. Autumn is coming down t
help us celebrate her going away
In fact, Lin told me she intends t
telephone you tonight about it,
'I'd like to CO." Bruce assures
him, "but can't put off the trip an
other day. Tell Lin for me, vii
you? I'll not be home to take he
call"
You're not leaving tonight?"
mo, but I'll be staying up at th
cabin in the ravine tonight" Bruc
replied. "I have some work to d
up there on some new corrals Tn
putting in"
well, business is business" Flor
ian observed, land I've had enoug
| of it to last me for a month. HOY
about that little drink, Autumn"
"I'n say good-by, then," Bruc
said, and gave Autumn his han
once more.
Autumn held his hand for a me
ment without speaking, then turne
away as Bruce started for the door
"Call me up when you come OF
of the hills Floriap suggested a
Bruce waved him farewell.
Right" Bruce replied and wa
gone.
Florian turned to Autumn as tn
door closed. "Come along, darlin
-one drink and we'll hit the trail.
Autumn brought the ingredient
and permitted Florian to mix then
; He kept up an incessant chatter COZ
corning his trip to Vancouver an
: the scores of small interests ths