The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-08-12

SSffOSE AdlS - Mn
and is driftin' round in Frisco with
some fellow. When Hcrsely gets
to hear that, you can't keep him
here; he'll settle up, sell out, and re-
alize on everything he's got to so after
her agin, you bet That's what Briggs
said Well, that's what sent me up to
Horseley's tonight, TO get there, drop
the news, and then pin him down to the
contract"
1T looked Ike good stroke Of bust
ness and a fair one" said the lady, in
an odd voice. 1t was so odd that Hays
looked up But she had somewhat
altered her position and was gazing at
the ceiling, and with her hand to her
face seemed to have just recover ed
from a slight yawn, at which he hest
tated with a new and timid sense of
pOliteness.
You're getting tired, ma am?"
-Oh, dear, no." she said in the same
voice, but clearing her throat with
little cough. And why didn't you see
this Mr.. Horseley after all? Oh, forgot
you said you changed your mind from
something you'd heard"
He had turned his eyes to the fire
again, but without noticing as he did SO
that she slowly moved her face, still
half hidden by her hand, toward him
and was watching him intently.
No he said slowly, -nothin' I heard,
somethin' felt 1t mout hev ben that
that set me off the track. II KEN to me
all of a sudden that he might be sittin
thar calm and peaceful as l might be
here, hev.n' forgot all about her and his
trouble, and here was me gOin' to drop
down upon him and start it all afresh
agin. 1t looked a little like persecution
yes. like persecution. l got rid of it,
sayin' TO myself it wasn't business. But
I'd got off the road meantime, and
had TO find it again, and whenever got
back to the track and was pointed for
lis house, it all seemed to come back
on me and set me off again. When that
happened three times, I turned round
and started for home.
And do you mean TO say said the
lady, with discordant laugh. that you
believe, because you didn't go there and
break the news, that nobody else will?
That he won't hear of it from the first
man he meets?'
He don't meet any one up where he
lives, and only Briggs and myself know
it, and I'll see that Briggs don't tell.
Due II was uuiSNiS tueci, iuiS wlOAc
thing comm upon me suddenly,
wasn't it?
very queer" replied the lady, for,
with the same metallic laugh, you
don't seem to be given to this kind Of
weakness with your own family.
If there was any doubt as to the sarcas-
tic suggestion OF her voice, there GER
tainly could be rome IN the wicked gilt
ter of her eyes fxed upon his face under
her shading hama. but happy he seemed
unconscious OF bC-h, and even accepted
her statement wife out an Interior sig
nliicance. du
Yes he said crmmuningly to the
glazing embers OF ne hearth, 1T must
have been q specia" revelation.
There was something so fatuouS and
one-sided in his attitude and expression,
so monstrously inconsistent and made
quate to what was going on around him,
and so hopelessly stupid--if mere SIM
ulation-that the angry suspicion that
he was acting part slowly fadei from
her eyes. and a historical smile began
to twitch her set lips. She still Gazed
at him. The wind howled drearily in
the chimney; all that was economic,
grim and cherries in the room seemed
to gather as fitting shadows around
that central figure. Suddenly she arose
with such quick rustling of her skirts
that he lifted his eyes with a start; for
she was standing Immediately before
him, her hands behind her, her hand
some, audacious face bent smilingly for
ward. and her bold, brilliant eyes with
in foot OF his own.
Now, Mr.. Hays, do you want 20 know
what this warning or special revelation
Of yours really meant? Well, it had
nothing whatever to DO with that man
on the Summit. No. The whole inter-
est, gist and meaning of it was simply
this, that you should turn round and
come straight back here and--she
drew back and made him an exaggerated
theatrical courtesy--have the supreme
pleasure OF making my acquaintance.
That was ell. And now, as you've had
1t, in five minutes I must be OFF, You've
offered me already your horse and sleigh
to go to the Summit. accept it and go.
Good-by!"
He knew nothing Of woman's capri
cious humor; he knew still less Of that
mimic stage from which her voice, ges-
ture, and expression was borrowed; he
had no knowledge Of the buriesque emo