Page 49 (1/2)

Which was all very well, as far as it went The trouble was that

resolving not to think of Marie, calling up all the bitterness he could

her ie from

his mind than did the miles and the months he had put between them

He reached the town in a dour mood of unrest, spite of the promise of

wealth he carried in his pocket He e and the letter,

and went to a saloon and had a highball He was not a drinking lass or tith his

fellows--but he felt that day the need of a little push toward opti freeze-out Bud went

over and stood with his hands in his pockets and watched the else to do, and because he was still having sohts He was lonely, without quite knohat

ailed hiered for friends to hail hi

No one in Alpine had said hello, Bud, when he caiven hie of ore, but he had not spoken except to nae required The bartender had made some remark about the weather,

and had smiled with a surface friendliness that did not deceive Bud for

a moment He knew too well that the se

He watched the game And when theup at Bud, asked if he wanted to sit in, Bud went and sat