The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-02

Tho girl eyed tho money and tho man with
haf-bashful curiosity.
Il reckon dad might give 20 suthing II he
had mind ter. though ez q rule he's down on
tramps ovor since they run of his chickens.
Ye might try"
But want you to try. You can bring II to
me here
The girl retrcated q step. dropped her eyos,
and with Il smile that was n charming hesita-
ton between bashfulness and impudenee. said:
so you are hidin'. are yer"
That's Just 1t. Your heads level. l am"
laughed Lance unconcornedly.
"Yur amt one o. the McCarty gang-are yep"
Mr.. Lance Harrott felt momontary moral
cxaltatlon in declaring truthfully that he was
not one Of Il notorious band OF mountain FREQ
hooters known in tho district under that namo.
Nor ye ain one OF them chicken filters that
raidcd Hendcrsons ranchp We don't 60 much
on that kind o. cattle yer"
No" said Lance. cheerfully.
Nor ye amt that chap ez beat his wife unto
death ut Santa Clara3"
Lance honestly scorncd the imputation. Such
conjugal i'll treatment as he had INDUCED in
had not been physical and had been with other
mems wives.
There was n moments further hesitation on
the part OF the girl. Then she said shortly:
We'll. then. l reckon you kin come along
with me-"
"Where?" asked Lance.
To the ranch" she replied simply.
Then you won't bring me anything to eat
here ?"
What for2 You kin get It down there"
Lance hesitatcd. Il tell you it's all right"
she continued. I'm make 1t all right with dad"
But suppose reckon I'd rather stay here"
persisted Lance. with perfect consciousness.
lOwpvpr of nfrpctatiOn In his cnutiOn.
stay AWAY then said the girl coolly; only
as dad percmrited this yer woods"
continued tho girl scorniully ez he's got
down thar ez here. For here he's like to come
any mint You can bot your life on that"
his eyes for she G again dropnod her own With
frown of hrusque embnrrnssment. Come
She would not accept it. cycling it, however.
iurtl,Sly' Ike s, h"rse about to shy. Hand me
He handed 1T to her with an assumption of
Gaycty; She received it on her part with un-
,Gisnsh seriousness, and threE It oyer her
the child and heroine. II is quito unnecessary to
say, afforded Lance undilut Joy.
'fouGo first" she said.
grin. Looks Kinder as If / was a prisner,
go on. and don't fool, she replied
The two Jared onward through the wood. For
one moment he entertained the facCtlOuS idea
of appearing to rush frantical!v away. Just to
see what the sirl would do. but abandoned il.
first pop. he reelected admiringly.
When they had reached the open hillside
Lance stopped nuuiringly. This way" she
nm opposite direction 10 the valley where he had
hear,l the voices; one Of which he now recog-
fcw moments. and then turned sharply into a
trail which began TO DIP toward a rayine lead;
H., to the yii1y n WY DO you have to go n
"th g a shorter cut
That's telling" she answered shortly
WHAT'S your name = asked Lance. after a
steep scramble and u drop into the rayne.
",MhatY"
II mean your first name-your front name"
.".Fiipi oh, short for Felira p
=" 1t Amt Fiippcr-it's Flip" And she relapscd
You d IN t ask me mine ~ suggested Lance
She did not Nouchsaie IA reply.
Then you don't want to know"
Maybe dad Will. You can lie to him"
agrcoabic homicde f1r some moments. He
moved onward silently eNiding admiration
Only, added Ftp" with sudden caution
you III better agree with me-"
The trail her" turned again abruptly and re-
entered the canon. Lance looked up ami no.
bay th,rkct and the plateau that lowered far
above them. ihe trail hero showed slgns S Of
clearing. anu liit way WIS uuEEbu ny lclleu
trees and stumps of pines.
What docs your father do here ?" he finally
asked. Flip remained silent, swinging the re-
v0lEer. Lance reneniIi his quest on. ;,
- Burns charcoal and makes diamonds" said
Flip, IopkingGt him from the corners OF her eyes
Fin nodded her heNd.
Many of 'cm y he continued carelcssly.
Lots. But they're not big" she returned.
| with "A SldclOng glance.
ION. they're not bls2" said Lance Rravely
They had by this tine REACHED a small stakcd
,l,.n lFtp ut,I
cstrkle OF poultry welcomed the return OF the
evident mistress of this sylvan retreat. 1t was
under II tree. n saddle and bride, II few house
! hold indictments scattered ABOUT, Indicated the
Nanch. Lake most pioneer claarIngs, it WAS
| simply n dilorsanized raj upon nature that had
| left behind u desOlate baltieiieiu strcwn with
waste and decay Tho l%ilen trees. thr crushed
thicket, the spliptrrrd limbs, the rudry torn
| up soil were made hideous 10y their grotesquc
| juXtuppsltlOn with the wrecked fragments of
| CIVILIZATION, in empty cans, broken bottles
| battered hats. solcless boots. traycd stocking
! cast-otl rags, and the browning aissurdty III
| the twisted wire skeleton Of ~ hoop'd skirt
| hanging from u branch. The Widest dchIe the
| d"hSra, thlcset tho most virgin solitude was
! les, drrary and forlorn than III lrst footprint
| of man. fhe On,y rcd2eming feature of this
| prolonged bivou..G was tlie cabin itsolf. Built
| OF the hq!l-cylndrical strips of pinc bark. and
| tain picturesque rustciy. Bnt this was an
aoc.dnrt OF economy rather than taste, tor
OF %n .6s En % M S y nv lh"t the bark
| e reckon DADS in the woods" she added
pauStn1 before tho open door OF tho cabin. o.
DnlP' Her voice, c ear and high, seemed to
| fill tho whole long canon, and eGnoed from the
green plateau above The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
| OF an aXn We're suddcnly pretermutcd, and
somewhere from the depths of the close set
| pines a voice answered Flip" There was u
| pause Of II few moments. with some mutterlng.
stumbling and cracking In the underbrush
and then the sudden appearance of Dad"
| Had Lance first met him IN the thicket he
would have been puzzled to assign his race to
| Monaghan, Indian, or Ethiopian origin. Pcr-
functury but incomplete washintss of his hands
| and face, after charcoal burning, had gradually
ground into his skin n srtyIsh slate pencil
| paIlor grotesIuely rclicvod ut tho edges where
| tho washing had lett of with u border of u
| darker coLOr lie looked like AN overworked
| Christy minstrel with tho brieicst of intervals
between his performances. There were black
Fins in the orbits Of his eyes, as II he galcd
| lecbly out OF unglaz"d spcctaces, which
heightened his simtan resemblance, already
| .rotrsuuely exaggerated by what appeared 10
| be repeated and 5pasmOdic eNperments in dye
| ing his gray har. Without the slightest notice
| of Lance, he inflicted his protesting and auur-
| ulous presence entirely on his daughter.
| Well what's up nOwf Yer ye are calling
| me from work an hour before noon. Dog my
skin ct ever get fairly limbered up afore it's
| TO IHnces intense satisfaction the girl ro-
| nniNp 10 Inn Alt uir n