Show ZEN N of lonk the Y do D A jo flo eel of the foothills foothill t CHAPTER XIII continued 17 the mea meal passed pleasantly and without incident and before tl aliey I 1 i ey realized how the alie time had flown linder was protesting that he be must be on his way at the gate put a hand on grants shoulder im prepared to admit he said that theres a whole lot in this old world that needs correct correcting correction in but im not sure that it can be corrected you have a right to try out your experiments peri ments but take a tip and keep a comfortable cache against the day when want to settle down and take things as they are it Is true and always tins has been true that a man who Is worth his salt when he wants a thing takes it or goes down in the attempt the loser may squeal but that seems to be the path of progress you tou cant bent beat IL 11 well well see sec said grant laughing sometimes two men each worth hla bla salt collide As in the meadow of the south YD rd said with a smile ton remember that YD when hen our friend here upset the haying buying operations sure I 1 remember but im not holdin it agin him now A dead horsell hor sels seis dead horse borse an I 1 dont go sniffin it perhaps I 1 ought to say though 10 R with much difficulty he managed to extricate the envelope from a pocket grant returned that I 1 really do not know how the iron pegs got into that meadow i and I 1 don dont t know how your hay bay backs got afire but I 1 can guess remember draak A little locked an just the chittur to pull off a tool fool stunt like that when the fire swept ul the valley instead of down he made his getaway get away and has never been seen since I 1 reckon likely there was comeione in Land sons gang capable 0 drivon pegs without consul consulting consult tin ln the boss the little group were standing in the shadow and grant tied had no opportunity to notice the sudden blanching Man ching of zens face at the mention of ft draak grant shook hands cordially with YD TD and ills his wife with and mrs Squi ggs with and mrs any inclination lie he may have felt to linger over zens hand was checked by her quick withdrawal of 14 it and there was something in her manner quite beyond his understanding he could have sworn that the telf possessed zen was actually trembling 1 CHAPTER XIV the rest day wilson allson paid his usual T visit sit to the held field where grant was plow plowing lug and again was he the bearer of L message with much difficulty lie managed to extricate the cm eu elope from a pocket dear sir mr grant it rend read 1 I am so excited oer mer a remark dropped last night I 1 roust must te you again as non as possible can you drop in tonight say at t eight yours ZEN grunt grant read the message a second time wondering what remark could haie occasioned it for a moment he wondered it if uhe had bad created a pretext upon which vo i bring him to the home by the rive bed then instantly dis missed tha thought as unworthy ol of him at any rate it was evident that his addressing her by her christian name came had bad given no offense Tense ol this time she had not called him the manon man on the hlll hill and there was no sua suggestion of 0 playfulness in the note 1 then the signature Big nature yours zen eliat might mean everything or it might mean nothing elther either it was purely formal or it implied a very great deal indeed grant reflected that it could hardly be interpreted nY here between those to and was it reason reasonable Uble to suppose mat zen would use it in an entirely formal sense it if it lind had been yours truly or yours sincerely or any such stereotyped conclusion it would not hae called for a I 1 second but the simple word yours j it if only tilie she were thought 43 grant rant and felt elt th alip P color creeping to hla his face ace at the thought it was wn the first time lie bad dared thai thae much ue lie had bad not by ROBERT STEAD ct tunch tn rhe t to copyright by bf ROBERT STEAD bothered to wonder much where or how this affair must end through nil all the years that had passed zen had been to him a sweet evasive memory to be dreamed over anti anil idealized a wild daring irresponsible incarnation of the spirit of the hills ne ile wrote on the bace of the note look tor for me nt eight and then observing that the boy had bad not brought teddy along lie he inquired solicitously f for 0 r the health of 0 the little pet 1 lies all right but mother let we me bring him said I 1 might lose him the tone in which the lost last words v were spoken implied just how impossible such a thing was lose te teddy d I 1 no one but buta a mother could think of such tin an absurdity kut but I 1 got aa a knife wilson exclaimed his mind darting to a happier subject daddy gave it to me will you sharpen it it Is as dull its as a p pig ag 1 grant was to learn during the day that all the boys figures of of speech were now hung in the family pig the knife was isas as dull as a pig the plow was nos as rough as a pig the horses when they capered at a corner w were ere as wild as a pig even grant himself while lie he held the little chap firmly on his knee received the doubtful compliment of being as strong as a pig lie ile went through the form of the knife on the leather lines of the harness and was pleased to discover that wilson with childish dexterity of imagination now pronounced it as sharp as a pig the boy did not return to the field in the afternoon and grant spent the time in a strange admixture of happiness over the pleasant companionship he had found in this little son of the prairies and anticipation of his meeting with zon zen that night grant prepared pr pared his sapper of bacon and eggs and fried pott bre bread ad and jam and black tea and ate it from the kitchen table supper ended he noticed he had just time to walk to Tran house before eight zen received him at the door the maid had gone to a neighbors she said arld wilson was in bed she lighted the dry wood in the fireplace fire PI ace 1 I have been so anxious to see you again she said drawing a chair not far from him A chance remark of yours last night brought to memory many things things I 1 have been trying to forget then abruptly did you jou ever kill a man you know I 1 was in the war he returned evading her question yes and you do not care to dwell on n that phase of it I 1 should not have asked you but you will be the better able to understand dundei stand for years I 1 have lived under the cloud of having tilled killed a man you 11 yes the day of the fire you remember grant had bad started from his chair 1 I cant believe it he exclaimed there must have teen been justification you had justification at the front but it make thero the memory emory pleasant I 1 had bad justification but it has haunted me night anil and day for all these years I 1 have leen carrying in toy my heart a secret until it seems to have grown so big I 1 must tell some one or burst and then last night its ills name was mentioned which brought it all back to me as though it had been yesterday time seem to cure some things ever does it and after I 1 had gone to bed and was thinking it all over I 1 suddenly knew there was one man I 1 could tell that Is why I 1 sent that note you angry angry I 1 dear lie he check checked ed its ills lips on forbidden words who he managed to say gay draza draak I 1 yes I 1 lind had killed him that day of the fire it Is 1 rather an unpleasant story and you will excuse me repenting repeating the details I 1 know lie he attacked tue me we were were both on horseback in the river I 1 suppose suppo lie was with his wild deed and less ble than usual lie he dragged roe me from my horse and I 1 fought with him in the water out but he was much too strong I 1 had concluded t that at to drown myself and perl perhaps him nin was the only way out when I 1 saw a leather thong floating in the water from the saddle by a ruse I 1 managed to flip it around his neck anil the next moment he wua was at my mercy I 1 had no mercy then I 1 pulled it tight tight pulled 1111 1 I saw his face face blacken and his eyes eves stand out ile he went down but still I 1 pulled and then after a little I 1 found myself on shore 1 I suppose it was lie excitement of I 1 alie le e lire fire that tha carried in ma on through tl the day hut but at night you remember there came a reaction and I 1 keep awake I 1 suddenly seemed to feet feel that I 1 was safe hate and I 1 could grant had bad resumed its his sent scat ile he was wag deeply moved by this strange con ilder ee lie he bent Us his eyes intently upon her face now shining in the ruddy nidd light from rom the r deplace he place her fr frank a reference to the event that night seemed to create a new bond b between eav een tie them 1 m ile he knew now it if ever he i had do doubted u bt ed it that zen 11 ran 1 e y had bad treasured that incident in her heart even evea as he had treasured it 1 I was so embarrassed after the the accident you know she continued 1 I knew you must know I 1 had been in the water for days and weeks I 1 expected every hour to hear ot of the finding of the body I 1 expected to hear the remark dropped casualty casually by every new visitor at the ranch dranks Draz ks body was waa found today in the river river the mounted police are investigating cut but time went on and nothing was heard beard of it it would almost have been a relief to me if it had been discovered it if I 1 had reported the affair at once as I 1 should have done all would have been different but having kept ray my secret for a little I 1 found it impossible to confess later it n was as the first time I 1 ever felt my self reliance severely shaken well now you know she sold said with an embarrassed little tough laugh you see I 1 have put my life in your hands your husband knows no that made it harder I 1 never told frank I 1 she arose and walked to the fireplace pretending pretend lii in to stir the logs when she had seated herself again she continued it tins lias not been easy for me to tell all things to frank dont misunderstand me he be has been a model husband according to my standards according to your standards dg according accordine to my standards when I 1 married him S she lie paused and grant sat in silence watching the glow of the firelight upon her cheek your standards have chan changed T said grant taking up tase lie thread when avise slie she had bad sat down again they have they have changed more than franks which makes me feel rather at fault in the matter how could he know that I 1 would change my ideal of ahat a husband should be why he know that Is the course of development without changing ideals ther would be stagnation perhaps she returned and he thought lie he caught a note of weariness in her voice but I 1 dont blame frank now I 1 amther blame him then ile he swept me off my feet stampeded me sly parents helped him and I 1 was only half disposed to resist you see I 1 had bad this trouble on my mind and for the first time in my life I 1 felt the need of protection besides I 1 took a matter of fact view of marriage I 1 thought that sentiment love if you like was a thin thing of books an invention of poets and ad fiction writers practical people would be practical in their marriages as in their other undertakings frank has been all I 1 expected of him she repeated as though anxious to do her husband justice lie he has made money lie ile spends it generously if I 1 live here modestly with but one maid it Is because of a preference which I 1 have developed for simplicity I 1 might have a dozen if I 1 asked it and I 1 think frank Is somewhat surprised and it may be disappointed that I 1 dont ask it although not a man for display himself he be likes to sep see me make display its a strange thing it that a husband should wish his wife to be admired by other men some are successful in that grant remarked 1 I have not sought any mans nd nitration she went on with her astonishing frankness 1 I am too independent for abat what do I 1 care for their admiration hut but every woman wants love grunt grant had changed his position and s sat at with lil ills s elbows upon big bi knees his chin resting upon his hands you knori zen lie sold using her christian dome deliberately the picture I 1 drew that day by the river that Is the picture I 1 have carried in my mind ever since rince shall carry to the end perhaps it lias has led me to be imprudent illas has brought me here tonight for example you had rny my invitation true iut but chy hy develop another situa situation tm which as you say has no i way al out 10 do ou want me to go no 7 zen en no I 1 want vant to st stay a y with you always lint but society must respect act its own conventions she arose and atoo by his chair letting her hand tall fall beside his cheek you silly hoy boy she said you organize to so society clety nor subscribe to its ct convention inventions still I 1 suppose there must be a code of 0 some kind and we shall reggo respect ct it you had your chance denny and you passed it up alad had my chance yes I 1 refused you in n words I 1 knola but actions louder hut but when you told me you were engaged what could I 1 honorably do more very much more than you can do you could have shown me die my mistake how much better to have learned it then from you than later by my own experience you could hove have swept roe me oft off my feet jut just as frank did you did nothing it I 1 hail had sought evidence to prove how lin practical nl iou ou are arc as compared with my super pi act leal husband I 1 would have found it in the way you handled or rather ailed to handle that situation t I 1 on what would your super practical husband do now nov it if tie he were in my position pods si 1 lie said drawing her hai hands ds into his I 1 1 I Ij dont know you do lie ile BAYS an that any man worth his salt taken take whit what he ti aunts in this world am I 1 worth my salt there are re different standards of value goodness I 1 how late it is ast 1st I 1 you tou must go now and dont corn come back before let us say ay wednesday CHAPTER XV whatever may have been grants granta philosophy about the of at creating a situation which had no way out he found himself looking forward impatiently to wednesday evening an hour or two at zens fireside provided the social atmosphere which his hl bachelor life lacked and as ag seemed unappreciative of his domestic privileges remaining in town unless ills his business brought him out to the summer home it seemed only FL a jut arrangement that they should be 6 shared bared by one who valued them at their worth the wednesday evening c conversa tian developed further the understanding that hat was gradually evolving between them but it afforded no solution of the problem which confronted them zen made no secret of the error she had made in the selection of her husband but bad no suggestions to offer as to what should be done about it she seemed quite satisfied to enjoy grants conversation and company and let it go at that an impossible situation as the young man assured himself she dismissed him again at a quite respectable hour with some reference to saturday evening which grant interpreted as an invitation to call again at that tir time ne when he entered saturday night it was evident piat that she had ben been expect I 1 ing him she seated herself beside hin on a dl vanette and the joy of her nearness fired grant with a very happy intoxication grant looked into her eye eyes now close and responsive and found within their depths something which sent him to his feet zen he exclaimed the mystery of life Is too much tor for me surely there must bo be an answer somewhere surely the puzzle has a system to it a key which may some day be found I 1 or can it be just clinos chaos just blind driveling draveling dri senseless sen selesa chaos 1 11 I suppose we disobeyed the law back in those old days we heard it clearly enough and we disobeyed I |