Page:The unhallowed harvest (1917).djvu/360

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
"BLACK AS THE PIT"
355

"I'm beginning to feel the same way about it," replied Barry. "You know I can't stand for what those fellows did to Farrar."

Her mind turned to another phase of the catastrophe.

"Barry," she asked, "does he know——" She paused, but he divined the question that was in her thought.

"I don't believe," he replied, "that he knows a thing. He was knocked insensible, and there isn't anybody who would go and tell him such a thing—unless it might be——"

"Who?"

"Jane Chichester."

After that, for a moment, neither Mrs. Bradley nor her visitor spoke. Both appeared to be deeply immersed in thought. Finally the woman looked up at him.

"Barry," she said, "I'm going away."

"Going away?"

"Yes. I can't stay here. It's impossible. I must go. For his sake I must go. I've thought it all out. I've begun to get ready."

"When are you going?"

"To-morrow, maybe. Next day, surely. I shall slip quietly away. No one but you will know it till after I've gone."

"Where are you going?"

"Out to my brother Jim's ranch. He has written for mother and me to come to him. We'll go now."

"And I'll go with you."

"You must not do that, Barry."

"Then I'll come later."

"No, Barry. I would only destroy your peace of mind and all your opportunities. Some day, very soon I hope, this dreadful trouble will be over, and then you'll get back into the old life again, and be happy."

"I shall never be happy without you."

"Oh, yes, you will. You will forget me. You