Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-03-20

dents out of the past came now to
enlighten her. This man facing them
with a weapon in his hands was
the same George who could not en-
dure the thought of leaving her with
Joseph Neargood at Gilead. He was
the same George who could not see
Fritz Aulgur give her a pearl He
was the same George who was for
ever tormented by devil of jeal-
ousy. 1t did not occur to her to
wonder why the passion in him had
| thus suddenly come to head. Ger
| tainly he had lost control of him
self.
She moved toward him, said
leadingly: George, you're sick.
Let me put you to bed. Pleased"
"I'm sick to DEATH" he told her.
"Sick of you! Don't touch me. I've
shut my eyes to your wantonness
long enough"
His word stopped her like a
blow. Richard protested gravely:
George, you're talking in circles.
If you've get anything to say, say
it. What's on your mind?"
"I'm talking about you and Mary
making love to each other all the
time" George told him; and his
own rage choked him, and he
coughed, bending double, clutching
at his chest, his face dark with
lack of breath before he could speak
again. "Do you think I'm blind?"
he challenged then.
81 think you're crazy!"
"I'm crazy, am II" George visi-
bly, fought to control himself; to
speak impassively. ooh, I don't
blame you so much. Why wouldn't
you make love to her, when she
begs for it? Captain Corr, leave
her alone. No matter what she
says. Because if you ever touch
Mary again, or speak to her, I'll
kill you
Richard said miserably: "Man,
you're sick!"
"Maybe 1 am. But I'm not too
sick to pull trigger. I've killed as
big a man as you, with pick
axe, and he had gun! Don't you
touch Mary again, or speak to her.
"Speak to herr" Richard echoed.
''Why, sure will; and I'll touch her
too if it comes that way. Have
some sense Why wouldn't II"
George cried explosively: "Be-
cause you're in love with her, and
she with you'll" But on his own
words, paroxysm of. coughing
swept him, bent him, silenced him.
He dropped the revolver on the desk,
clutching at his chest with both
hands. 1t was long before he could
speak again.
Through that long moment Rich
ard looked at Mary, and Mary
looked at Richard. Before the mo-
ment ended, each knew.
1t was true! While their eyes met
in that long exchange like revela-
ton, like vows exchanging, these
two forgot George, racked and help
less by the desk. His words I'M
locked at last a long-closed door.
| What he said was true, and while
their eyes held now, they both knew
It'll They knew that they had loved
each other always, and would love
each other always. They had not
guessed the truth before; but they
knew it now forever, beyond doubt,
beyond change, beyond forgetting.
Each thought wonderingly: I was
blind not to know then that this was
true.
But now they knew. Now they
knew; and the knowledge was a
gulf, deep and terrible and hopeless.
Their eyes held hard, till George
recovered; and they did not know
he had recovered till he crossed to
thrust at Mary with a movement
like a blow, to break the bridge of
their exchanging glasses, and to cry,
pitifully furious:
Don't! Stop! You shan't even
look at him sol"
She spoke in panic of haste, des-
perately denying, as much to per-
suade herself as her husband.
Mary whispered: George, George
it isn't true!" She looked at Rich
ard again. She knew it was true,
knew he knew. cit isn't, pleased"
she cried like prayer.
George faced her, challenged: $50
it's not true?"
"Of course not"
He lifted one hand, brushed it
past her like a scornful blow.
You're liar"
Mary begged: George, pleased"
He swung to her, staring at her
narrowly. "You want me to believe
you don't love him?" he demanded.
81 don't, George"
He grinned mockingly. He slipped
his arm through hers. Cali right"
he said II believe it. I believe
you. You're my wife, and you love
me. Is that true?"