The Argosy, Vol. 75, No. 4 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

MESQUITE RANCH. Silsby had not seen a woman for two’ years. He never went to Pinon. The boys said he was afraid he might see “a skirt.” The prospect of another set- to with the quick-tongued, fire-eyed little French girl filled him with ter- ror. It cheered: Ted to see him so miserable; it made up a bit for the ridicule he had endured because of his good looks. Big Red laughed till he ached. Suddenly “the boss” straightened up as if for some herculean task. He looked at Ted with a large assumption of courage. “Think I’m’ scared, don’t you, Purty?” he snarled. “TI know you are!” Ted gloated. _ “Ye’re so all-fired scart that ye don’t—” Big Red stopped in sheer wonder. Silsby was climbing the trail to the Stone House. CHAPTER XV, RADFORD GETS A LETTER. AuicE THorps looked up from her work to see Silsby. He would have faced a bunch of infuriated steers or the united and belligerent force of the Double X-ers with less discomfort. Miss Thorpe was worried about Na- talie. Occasionally, when she tiptoed to the door of her room, she heard a stifled sob. A whole-hearted disgust with the combination of men and events that had robbed the little French girl of the quiet and calm that had made her overpossessed her. She felt especially hostile to Radford, and she faced Silsby with some of her anger shining in her eyes. “Say—” was all Silsby could think of at the moment. “T’m not ‘say’; I’m Miss Thorpe. What do you want?” Alice asked. “Tt want to buy the right to use the Apache Spring to water my critters,” he answered, coming to the point grate- | fully, as it promised a speedy escape. 789 “ The Double X has—’’ “ What’ll they give you?” Silsby in- terrupted. ‘We set the price; but they haven’t decided.” ‘““ Make me a price and I'll decide! ”’ Silsby suggested. “We told them four hundred dol- lars—” Silsby stared. for a moment. ‘Then he opened his mouth and shut it sud- denly. He was swallowing a swear- word. “ Why?” Alice asked, reading the strange signs on his face. “Well, lady, that thar spring’s wuth twice that, easy, to either one uy us. It’s the only water-hole in reachin’ dis- tance uv the railroad whar we kin bring a big bunch an’-keep ’em till they git over the trip. It makes ’em wuth more when we ship—’” “You mean that the use of the Apache Spring is worth eight hundred dollars a year to the owner of the Mes- quite Ranch?” Alice asked, excited and pushing the box of colored rib- bons from her knees. Natalie had sent for the materials of her business when they found that Uncle Phillipe’s ‘“ estate’’ would not raise beans and afforded no grazing land which could be rented. Natalie must still work at the nerve-straining flowers till Alice could become known in the country as a nurse. Health ap- peared to be the possession. of every one they encountered, so she had no great anticipations. But the fact that the spring might yield them a living came as a great and delightful revelation. But the thought came with it that this man might be mistaken. , “Mr. Gill thought four hundred dollars was too much. Maybe Mr. Silsby of the Mesquite might not be so willing as you think to pay—” “Tm Silsby of the Mesquite. pay eight hundred dollars a year,” the quick interruption. “But Mr. Gill said—” Alice began, afraid of the good luck. Pi was COMIC OOOKS (E@)