Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 40: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

30 Lang returned, surprized because he found it easy to talk to this wonderful girl. ‘“There’s just one thing I would like to ask you. What is it that makes you so different from any girl I’ve ever met?” His eyes showed that he was _ honestly puzzled. “Different?” She in turn was frankly perplexed. “Yes, different,” asserted Lang stoutly. “You don’t seem to talk like other girls I’ve known; and it isn’t so much what you say as how you say it. Where did you get your learning?” “My mother,” she said. “She must be a wonderful woman.” “She is dead,” said the girl wistfully. “Father and I live here alone. I was born here. Mother came from the prairies. Father wouldn’t live anywhere except in the mountains; and I have never known anything else.” “From the prairies!” exclaimed Lang. “Now I know what it is that makes you—different. You're the spirit of the range with the wisdom = these old hills. No wonder you are beauti- Sef mustn’ t say that,”’ she reproved. ' “But it’s true, an’ if it wasn’t true ’d never gay it. Id rather keep still than lie.” She looked at him quickly. “Ts that why— Does that perhaps explain your dead-line?” It was a bold question, and Lang felt the force of it. “Maybe—maybe not,” he said vaguely. “But I hope that talk of the line will not stop you from coming up there to pick flowers again.” | A wave of color swept over her face. } “That is hardly an appropriate remark, do you think, Mr. Langworth?” She turned toward the lower edge of the clearing. “Wait!’? stammered Lang. “I—I didn’t mean it—that way. I meant you were wel- come and no one will bother you——” The explanation, however, seemed a useless bit of talk. “T think you are sensible enough to under- stand,” he ended. “T’ll try to,” she replied doubtfully as they walked through the spruces and came out upon the wide slope of the valley. ~ “Til be hittin’ for the camp,” said Lang. “We're opening a prospect-hole up there. Good-by.” She did not answer, but watched as he swung up the slope toward the ridge on the south side of the draw. As she turned toward the south end of the timber which screened the Thornton ranch- house Bransom came out from within the shelter of the trees, leading his horse. Adventure XVIII “SEE you’ve got a new friend, Alice, 2 he greeted. “Mr. Bransom, what were you do- ing there—spying?” she demanded with a look of contempt. “T wouldn’t call it spyin’,” sail Bransom. “Just call it takin’ precautions. I was up on the ridge keeping an eye on the cattle here- abouts when I saw him sneaking down this way. Your dad’s got some mighty fine cattle in here, Alice.” “What do you mean?” she flared in indigna- tion. “Has my father hired you to~ watch his cattle?” _ “Oh, no; but I’ve got a few in here myself. An’ one can’t be too careful when there are mysterious strangers around who wear ridin’- boots and spurs an’ hosses that ain’t branded.” “So that’s it. You think Mr. Langworth is a cattle-thief?”’ “T ain’t makin’ any accusations,” evaded Bransom; “but as I said, I just aim to be care- ful. Nobody ever lost any cattle if he watched em close enough.” “Have you told my father of this—your precautions?” “T think your father knows.” “And I think he is: able to look after his cattle himself; you haven’t any stock on this ranch.” / “T was just cutting across; I came up the ridge behind yottr place.” “Spying!” she said with fine scorn. 3) “Have you told this man of your suspicions to his face? He says he is mining up there.” “He don’t look like a mining man, an’ he don’t act like a minin’ man,” said Bransom almost harshly. ‘I know the lowland breed. What’s he here for? Giving you a cock-and- bull story about . “That will do, Mr. Bransom; you need not connect me in any way with this affair.” “No? But he has done just that. Are you on this fellow’s side, Alice?” “You needn’t call me Alice; and I do not © take sides against any one until I have justi- fiable reasons for doing so. I wouldn’t hint dark things about a man behind his back un- less I could prove them to his face.” , “Oh, that’s all right,” said Bransom with a forced laugh. “I’m not accusin’ any one. You look awful sweet today, Alice.” “T will not listen to such statements from you.” Anger but served to heighten the effect of her charms upon Bransom. He dropped the reins of his horse and took a step toward her. She drew back, but he ignored this. “Alice, what do you think I have stayed up heré in this forsaken country for more than a year for?” | Z / ECORMICLOO© (C@)