The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-07-02

Sle naQ been too long IN the Coull-
try not to know. She slipped her
arm through his elbow and they left
the floor, passing Harry Jump with
out giving him notice. They went
down the stairs into the soft dark
shadows. Harry Jumps boots
scuffed the stairs, following. He
passed them, saying from the side
of his mouth, mot here, Clay. :"
They followed him as far as Gen.
try's and stopped before him.
"All right" said Morgan.
"You sure?" said Harry Jump.
staring at Catherine.
I'll CO." she said.
Never mind" answered Morgan.
You know better, Harry"
Well, then. / rode through Gov
ernment Valley before dark tonight.
There's notice posted on the build
ing. The land office is selling the
valley at auction tomorrow after
noon at four o'clock, in Sage City. "
He waited for Morgan to speak
and when Morgan kept silent, he
added: THAT notice should have
been posted a month before the sale.
Somebody's got at somebody to hold
off until it was too late for you. It S
nine o'clock now. Eighteen hours
until four tomorrow. Hundred and
ninety miles to co.
Morgan said: II talked to Fred
Rich at the post office a few days
ago, and he knew nothing" He
drove his hands in his pockets; he
had his head up, he was watching
the mouth of the Odd Fellows door
way. But he wasn't seeing it, Cath
crime realized. He was long, still
shape in the shadows, quietly con-
sidering this little treachery. He
had way of absorbing trouble and
punishment without showing emo
ton; he had way of storing these
things in his mind. He said: "All
right. Harry"
He turned back with Catherine.
She said: Spectators, Clay. Or
Ben" She knew how he felt about
Government Valley.
The music had stopped. Coming
up the stairs they saw Herendeen
and Ann standing at the edge of the
hall, neither one liking the other
enough to keep up conversation.
Herendeen never bothered to con-
ceal his feelings. He displayed re-
sentiment now as they came for
ward. He ducked his head at Cath
crime. my Dance" he said, and
led her away. Out on the floor he
looked toward Morgan, thoughtful
ness on his cheeks.
Ann said: Don't make me dance
with him again.
He said: II guess I've got to
take you home. I'll have to ride. "
She got her wrap at once and
they went down the stairs. The
sense of wasting time pushed Nor
gan along, making Ann McGarrah
walk quite fast. On the store porch
he thought to lift his hat. Tell
Janet I'll be back to take her home
on Wednesday" he said, and swung
away.
For Ann McGarrah the evening
went fiat as she watched him 60;
he had not thanked her, he had not
even thought of her these last mo-
ments, he had not taken her into
his confidence and mentioned the
trouble that now made him disap-
pear at the head of the street. Still
and dark and hurt, she looked dowr
at the smooth front of her dress,
knowing that she was pretty and
knowing she had, for a moment,
warmed his heart. And then this
had gone. She thought of Catherine,
coolly and critically, and turned into
the store. Janet was asleep. Stand.
ing over the bed in the dark room,
Ann McGarrah watched Janet's
small sweetly mature face, seeing
there so much of her mother. This
was the secure grip Lila held on
Clay Morgan-this was Lila's power,
this was her way of forever remind.
ing Clay of the past, and this was
her way of holding him to an un-
real, unjust obligation. Thinking OF
all this, Ann McGarrah hated Lila
with secret, passionate fullness.
She turned back the extra covers
from the child and left the room.
Going up Stage Street, Clay Nor.
gan reached Harley Stewards house
at the top of the hill. When Stewart
came to the door, Morgan said
Come down to the bank, Harley
I've got to have some money inside
of fifteen minutes"
no BE CONTINUED)