The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

MESQUITE RANCH. could endure in silence. A wrath that nearly overcame his scruples about ex- posing himself in his weakened condi- tion to Sykes’s jealous rage took pos- session of him. He clutched at the rocks and made himself be still. And all the time Natalie was clamor- ing for something that would be proof of such positive nature that Dr. Strat- ton might be supposed to have made a terrible mistake. Sykes reiterated what he had said about the letters and the wires. Guill had not mentioned the letters—and Na- talie questioned Sykes closely, so close- ly that it was impossible to believe him wrong. He had bfought the letters from Pifion himself; and Gill, knowing he had no love for the “ rich gazabo,” had read them, and explained that a deed to an interest in a mine was in his pos- session. [t took all of his keenness of mind to interpret Natalie’s questions. She was in a peculiar position. Sykes’s jealousy flamed up whenever an inquiry of hers indicated an undue interest or anxiety about Radford. He seized upon what she said about Radford’s killing Bullen with an avidity which showed how eagerly he would have welcomed any disaster that might befall his rival. But it was a strong argument in favor of Bullen still being among the living, that he did not take more stock in the suspicion that Radford had killed him. Natalie treasured the singular proof as if it were the most precious of all things in the world. Yet Ted could tell as he listened that Sykes’s statement did not convince her against the testimony she had to substantiate the death of Bullen. Ted felt that Bullen was dead. But who had killed him and why, he could not guess. ‘“ Dr. Stratton saw the body of Neeck Bullen,’ Natalie said as if to affirm what he had just thought. “T don’t know who Doc Stratton is —hbut I guess he’s got somebody else mixed with the corpse,’ Sykes said with unshaken faith, | 805 But Ted knew that Bullen had been Stratton’s patient. He knew that Midge would not be mistaken in so vital a matter.. And again, the awful fact that he was suspicioned with some con- nection with the Westerner’s death hit him like a crushing hammer. Suddenly he realized that Sykes was struggling with Natalie. He started out from the niche where he had _hid- den. Then she broke away from the big cowboy and started up the trail. Sykes gave a rough laugh and at- tempted to kiss Natalie. Ted suspected that he was not quite sober. His blood boiled, but he forced himself to keep still as she sped lightly up toward him. “Stand still or I'll shoot!” It was almost unbelievable. Ted came out from the misery of consider- ing his own plight to\see-the danger in which she was from the wild impulse of her admirer. He was) sure that Sykes did not know what he was about, and the terror of what he might do almost petrified him for an instant. In that moment Natalie turned and faced the man who was coming rapidly toward her. ~“ You should be ashamed, you cow- ard!”’ she cried, though the danger could not have been unnoticed by her. For Sykes was actually flourishing his pistol as he ran. “ You think I’m goin’ to let that thar rich skunk git ye! But I ain’t. I’m goin’ to kiss ye to-night, an’ to-morreh (’m goin’ to tell the boys that we’re goin’ to be married. It’s got to be thataway soze ye kin. jes’ git ust to- itt * The liquor Sykes had drunk before he started out with Gill on his night- trip had been assisted in its work by frequent drafts as he waited alone. Natalie's words and her hidden but in- tense wish to find out all he knew that might clear Radford had worked upon him till the smoldering fire in him burst into flame as she extended her hand to say good night. He had utterly lost the gentle chivalry that had always marked his manner to her. CORDIC DOOKS (E©)