The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

840 THE frenzy whenever he was addressed by the name of his enemy. Stratton’s wooing was record - . breaking in its brevity and conciseness. Ted won't hav e you, Bess. You're mine.’ Radford came into his own splendid- ly. As the manager of his mother’s in- terests, he controlled and directed his own property, knowing that he held his deeds to the mine if it were ever neces- sary to assert his claim. But it was as he crossed the rough way from the storehouse to go over ‘to the mining town on the railroad that his real kingdom opened to him. The queen of the love realm he was to possess met him like a small human whirlwind. She flung herself in his arms, regard- less of miners and other observers. “You are not hurt? You are well? They deed not shoot you?” she cried, feeling the broad shoulders and the strong arms with trembling hands. Big Red flourished a gun with an abandon that sent the observers into speedy retreat. “Hike!” he yelled as if there were cause for some kind of celebration. But Radford paid no attention to the hikers. He was making for a big rock that promised inviting and inviolate shadows to eager lovers. Natalie cornered in the bend of his right arm and forearm as they went. “Around the abutting rock he hurried the little lady. Secure from sight, he stopped and let her go. “Now, Natalie, I am free from any shadow of dishonor. I am worthy of your love. Will you marry me? * he asked, holding hard on his clamoring senses, trying to keep the strong wings of his love from carryang him away and her with him. It was her right to know that he was clean of blame. He must. give her a chance to choose. She was so little, so insinuatingly, bewitchingly tiny, that he felt he must keep his big arms and ARGOSY. his aching hands from touching her till she had given him the privilege. “ How can I—eef there ees another girl who weel—” “ Natalie! Natalie! Natalie! I love you—not her. Nothing but real love ever justifies the risk of matrimony! I mean to tell her she can’t have me— if you'll take me. She does not love me. She does not know love—” - “ Ah! M. Wiseman, you are not so smart as you theenk! Your friend, the beege Midge, try to find out so much of me—and 3 find heem out! He loves your sweetheart!” she exclaimed, on tiptoe beside him and lifting her head so that the fragrance of. her and the near sweetness of her lips went to his head like wine. “Natalie! That’s great! We'll be married when they are!’ he exclaimed, reaching for her. She slipped lke a butterfly beyond his arms. “ Non, non; she has the trousseau all ready! You will marry more queeck eef you marry her!” she taunted. But Radford’s blood was. singing at his ears. His eyes were aching. His ears drank her voice. He felt too much to let her trifle longer. ~ Natalie—come! 2 Silently she went to him; silently he folded her in his arms. Big Red never has finished wonder- ing what kind of an animal it was that scared him and Silsby on the trail— scared him so he yelled out in despera- tion and demanded if it was Radford. He could have had his curiosity grati- fied if he had asked the sheriff and his deputy, who had crawled on hands and knees along the dark trail to keep from tumbling into the gulch. But he did not. Radford regained his power of speech after a while. “Mo think, little Bitter-Sweet, that I'll have you where I can hear and see and—kiss you all the time! It’s heaven! ” THE END. EOPMIC MOO KS (E@)