Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

250 Warren was a manly chap. He was a man other men liked. Channing liked him. He admitted as much as he rode. Warren was good looking. A man would say that about him and speak only half the truth. A girl like Eve, who had never seen any men except the cowboys who had worked for the Circle B, would very likely consider Warren handsome. And _ there would be much justification for such a de- cision. Channing covertly watched Eve. He had observed the slow change that had come over her. In the past year or two she had grown more serious, more quiet, more thoughtful. There had come a new expres- sion into her eyes—a fleeting dreaminess. It now came to Channing with something of a shock that. Eve had grown up, had become a woman without his knowing it! He’d been so accustomed to thinking of her as a child that he had forgotten that the day would come when she would be a woman. He permitted Eve to ride ahead. trailed her, watching her. e She had changed wonderfully! ‘The little pale faced girl of Red Mesa had grown into a beautiful woman! The frail bud he had watched had developed into a rose that was now almost full blown. Take her hair for instance. It had al- ways been ‘beautiful, but never as beautiful as now. It bulged from the back of her felt hat in wonderful waves and _ coils! Golden curls and wisps lay against the back of her neck in such graceful disorder that he felt he would like to ride close to her and touch them. And it was curious about the skin of her face. It seemed immune to the ravages of wind and sun, It was as white and trans- parent, almost, as it had been on the first day he had seen her. The- bloom in her cheeks was not the red of sunburn. And there was never a squint in her eyes. She could gaze against the sun as clear eyed as she could look at any one. Eve’s eyes were clear and direct and ap- praising when they met Warren on a little level near his shack. He was a young man, not older than Channing on the day the latter had met Eve and Jane on the station He ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. platform at Red Mesa. He was tall, lithe, with good features and clear, steady eyes. His lips were set in serious lines when he rode up to greet his visitors, although his eyes flashed a welcome to them. _He bestrode a roan horse; he was arrayed in knee length riding breeches of brown, above which was a gray flannel shirt with a tight fitting collar and a black tie. Soft boots incased his feet. He had taken off his hat at Eve’s approach, and it dangled in his left hand as he sat on his horse and looked at her. He bowed when Channing mentioned Eve’s name, “You'll get down, of course,” he said to both Eve and Channing. “ You'll find my powers of entertainment pretty meager. This happens to be the first time that any one around here has honored me with a visit.” Channing glanced at Eve, expecting she would find some excuse to decline. He was hoping she would. Instead, she was slip- ping out of the saddle as calmly as if first formal visits were of everyday occurrence. She hadn’t begun to dismount, however, when Warren was at her stirrup. He had acted while Channing had been wondering what Eve would do. Decidedly, the young man was quick witted and gallant. Channing had never assisted Eve to mount or dismount. Eve had never re- quired assistance. She could get out and into a saddle about as quickly as Chan- ning. ° He watched out of the tail of his eye as Eve permitted herself to be helped down. His lips twitched wryly as he meditated upon Eve’s present manner. She was pre- tending she needed assistance and her cheeks were scarlet. After alighting she stood for an instant close to Warren. Both laughed, and War- ren’s eyes were Swimming with admiration. ‘““T stepped on your foot,’ apologized Eve. “T expect I’m pretty awkward, Miss Bassett.” “Oh, I didn’t mean to intimate—”’ “ You didn’t,” disclaimed Warren quick- ly. “ Besides, my foot ought to be glad—” He flushed, seemed to remember Chan- = & (CCONAMIUCE VNOOLKS (E@)