The Argosy, December 1905 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

60 “Yes. Haverstraw told me. Ii lI had been here I shouldn’t have let you go over to Kalispel’s alone. Id have gone with you, Jim.” The anxiety that vibrated in Roy’s words was vastly pleasing to Jim, al- though he laughed lightly, released the hand he was holding and gave the youth a hearty slap on the shoulder. “Nonsense! You ought to know by this time, Roy, that ’m able to take care of myself.” “What success did you have at the other ranch?” Jim gave a brief account of his visit to the O. D. K. headquarters. Roy laughed at the way Jim had turned the tables on. Ol Kalispel. “That was a reckless thing to do, Jim,” said Roy, “but it was lke you. Take my advice, however, and keep a weather-eye out for old man Kalispel from now on.” “He is the least of my troubles, Roy,” Jim answered, his brow clouding as his eyes dwelt on the youth’s face. “You are back from the mountains long before I expected you, my boy.” “T didn’t go up into the mountains, Jim,” said Roy, finding his guardian’s face uncomfortable and looking away. ‘Where were you, then?” “In Lamark, most of the time. I came back to Siwash day before yester- day and was asleep in my room at the tavern when you had your dinner there with Judge Givins.” “T didn’t dream of such a thing,” muttered Jim. “Why didn’t you go into the mountains, Roy? You look worse than you did when you left here. There’s no use talking, you’ve got to have a change of climate. Yovrre all run down and played out.” “Don’t you fret about me, Jim,” Roy returned carelessly ; “ ?’m not so bad off as you seem to think. I just took a notion not to go into the mountains, after I left here, and that’s the reason I hung around Lamark. I knew the mountains wouldn’t help me, but I thought 1¢ would relieve your mind a. little if you thought I had gone.” Jim studied the youth gravely. It was possible Judge Givins had not been misinformed, after all, concerning the THE ARGOSY. disagreement between Roy and Nate Kalispel. According to Roy’s own state- ment he had returned to Siwash on the preceding Sunday. But he had not gambled on Sunday night. Early training had cast him in a different mold. Confident of this, Dexter asked the boy nothing about Nate JXalispel. If the boy had any- thing to say, he would say it without being urged. Theré was something else that con- cerned Jim, just then, and that was the question of Orah Lee. There was much he wanted to learn about the girl, and Roy must be the one to tell him. He came at the matter in a devious way. “Did Haverstraw tell you I had lost iKentuck? ” he inquired. “Yes, Jim,” was the sympathetic re- sponse. .“ Poor old Kentuck! He was the finest saddler that ever came out of the Bluegrass State.” ‘He was more than that, Roy,” re- turned Jim sadly. “ He was a tried and trusty friend, one to be depended on at any stage of the game. But he gave up his hfe in a good cause, and I guess that is as much as any one could ask for, brute or human.” “'That’s so,” went on Roy, with a side glance at his companion. ‘“ Haverstraw says there is a woman in the ease. Look out, Jim—that heart of yours would be a fine mark for the little chap with the bow and arrows.” Dexter laughed. “ You haven’t anv idea who the girl is? ” said he. . “Not the slghtest,” smiled Roy. “But Haverstraw says she is as pretty as a picture.” “ Haverstraw is right. What’s more, she is as good as she is pretty, and that’s saying considerable. By the way, lve got some letters here for you.’ “T found them,” said Roy. 23 Read them?” <a Ve Yes.’ “Anything important in any of them?” asked Jim artfully. Roy vouchsafed him a quick glance and flushed as he answered: “Well, yes, Jim. I shall have to ride to Siwash this morning.” “ Naturally,” chuckled Jim. Lee is very anxious to see you.” * Orah COMmiclooolkX (C@