Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

220 prehensive, cautious, timid! the man’s manner was always that of a win- ner. Triumph was in the atmosphere around Channing; you felt it whenever you went near him; the atmosphere permeated you; went through you like a knife! It cast a chill over you; it made you feel ap- It was a hell of a feeling. It took the pugnacity out of aman; it made you feel negligible, inferior, childish. Well, he’d triumph over Channing. This time he’d reverse things. Channing would gentle a horse for Jane, would he? He'd teach her to ride! Well, maybe Channing wouldn’t be successful in those things. What then? Wasn’t that failure? And wouldn’t that cause Jane to lose faith in Channing? Of course, Bassett conceded, a great deal depended upon Channing’s choice of a horse. Channing wouldn’t choose a wild horse to start on. It would be sheer in- sanity for him to choose an outlaw. He’d be doomed to defeat from the outset. No; Channing would select a horse that could be ridden. To be sure, there wasn’t a horse in the remuda that a woman could safely ride. There wasn’t one of them that wouldn’t require a lot of gentling before a woman could handle it. Bassett didn’t betray the anxiety that tortured him. He went about his affairs calmly, treating Jane with the same quiet consideration that had marked his manner toward her on the morning he had invited her into the ranch house for breakfast. He assured himself that he was even more con- siderate. At any rate he was more atten- tive. Twice within a week she mentioned her forthcoming riding lessons. ‘““Seems Channing is delayin’ a lot,” smiled Bassett. ‘‘ When is he goin’ to gen- _tle that horse?” ‘““He has been very busy,” answered Jane. ‘““That’s so,” agreed Bassett. not look at Jane as he asked: “He ain’t decided on a horse yet, has he?” ‘““Why, yes, I believe he has. He men- tioned a black horse. I think he called him He did Midnight.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Bassett was glad his face was averted. Jane would certainly have seen the flash of triumph in his eyes! Midnight! Midnight was the biggest hypocrite in the Circle B string! Midnight had a church door manner and the heart of a devil! Midnight had been the worst out- law in the country! But Bassett was almost forgetting. Channing had not been at the Circle B when Midnight had been broken. Chan- ning had ridden Midnight, but Channing was a wizard with horses and Midnight was always on his best behavior when Chan- ning was in the saddle. He had never be- trayed any of his peculiarities to Channing; he had been quiet, obedient and dependable. He must have exhibited all those virtues to induce Channing to choose him for Jane! But Bassett knew one or two traits about Midnight that no one else knew. And so he did not permit Jane to look into his eyes for a time. He stood near her, pretending to be interested in something outside. ‘““When’s Channing goin’ to start gentlin’ Midnight?” he asked. ‘* To-morrow.” : “Well; Midnight’s good.” Bassett ap- peared to hesitate. “ But Midnight’s got his faults. An’ I ain’t meanin’ to say any- thing to run down Channing, ma’am; but if I was figurin’ to- have a horse gentled for a lady I wouldn’t get Channing to do the gentlin’.” “Isn’t Channing a good rider? he know horses?” “T ain’t sayin’ anything about Chan- ning’s ridin’. I’d say that he’s about as good a rider as any man in the outfit. But Channing’s got one fault; he’s got a whole lot more conceit than a man ought to have. ‘“Channing’s somethin’ of a poser; he likes to make believe he knows how to do a thing whether he knows or not. Likes to shoot off his mouth. You stay around here a while an’ you’ll find him out.” “Why, I thought he was bashful!” said Jane, astonished at this revelation of Chan- ning’s character. She looked sharply at Bassett, and her eyes narrowed a very lit- tle, for she thought she detected a flush on Bassett’s cheeks; and she now remembered Doesn’t COLPMIC OOO KS (E@)