The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

778 “T just don’t!” Ted immediately contradicted. ‘‘ Ma tante has another ‘say’ coming! I’m making a business of ranching. [I’m here to stay and to erow up with the country. I haven’t a red cent in the world except the ten- ner in my jeans and this month’s wages—which I won’t get till Satur- _ day.” He pulled the lonesome bill from his pocket as if to prove his words. But Natalie merely stared her unbelief. “It’s the confounded truth!” he in- sisted. “‘ That’s why I pulled out of New York. JI was dead broke, and I , didn’t want to sponge on any one!” “You mean—you are not—a reech young man?” she asked. “That’s exactly what I mean.” “Then you weel stay out here-and be a ranchman!” she cried, as if it were delightful news. “You bet Pl stay! And I’m going to—do you beheve in love at first sight?” ; He was very close to her—so near that he looked right down upon the top of her smooth, dark head. “But you deed not like me—at first sight! You theenk me but a leetle ugly child!” Radford seized her. Such intuition made it impossible for him to keep from taking the vivid little lady, erown up now to loving, with her eyes like wonder-stars and her tender lips pouting and laughing, bewildering, rosy, trembling. “The time you hit me with the pot was really the first time,’ he whis- pered, bending, dizzy as the warmth of her breath fanned his lips. “Ket was a stew-pan!”’ she correct- ed, drawing away. But Radford caught her, held her, kissed her. “ Natalie!” The gates of bliss slammed deafen- ingly in their flushed faces. Radford turned. Natalie withered with embar- rassment. On the trail above them Miss Thorpe stood, and Tom Sykes glared down over her shoulder at them. THE ARGOSY. Instantly Radford reached for the quivering hand of his companion. He drew her close to him and looked up at Miss Thorpe with triumph and joy blazing in his blue eyes. “Miss Thorpe, I’ve been telling Na- talie that I love her.” The announcement brought no re- sponse. Natalie’s eyes, lifted with ten- der pleading in their depths, did not move Miss Thorpe. She gazed down in disapproving silence, while Sykes continued to glare. “I’m going to ask her to marry me when I can afford—” “Mr. Radford, there are other rea- sons besides your engagement to Miss Hetherington that ought to make you ashamed of yourself!” Radford turned to Natalie. He saw the red leave her cheeks and the black eyes gaze out of a white face that scared him. He knew he deserved the scorn Miss Thorpe was pouring down on him. . “Natalie! I—”’ “You are—engage—to some one?” she asked, as if a tight hand at her throat made it almost impossible for her to speak. 7 “Yes; but we don’t love each other — it’s one of those affairs that — that—” “ You scoundrel! ”’ It was Sykes who shouted the words. He came leaping over the rocks to the edge of the basin. Radford turned and faced him. He felt the devilish ingenuity with which fate had wound him up in a tangle which words seemed inadequate to unravel. He confront- ed Sykes with fists and eyes that ached to oppose something of all that was dead against him. The young Southerner was fairly consuming with the jealousy he felt and the belief that Radford was an underhanded sneak who had taken the chance of Miss Thorpe’s absence to make love to one girl when he was en- gaged to another. “Put up your gun!” Ted shouted, seeing the uselessness of the weapons EOPNIGLOOOKS. (C@)