Arizona republican., 1898-09-16
THE OLD
 SILVER TRAIL.
BY MARY E. STICKNEY.
Continued rom Yesterday.)

admitted. rather dryly as it seemed, dragging his box little farther from the fire, which brought his face nor, into shadow; irrclcvantly adding, in Il tone which somehow struck tie girl as odd: And so it was this lawsuit which brought you to Windy Gulcsl- and gay" ne the pleasure of meeting you again
 "1es. It is strange how things turn out. is it not:.'' She looked q him vita T rather Ea1Iied feeling. conscious of a vague sense of irritation. For her own part. she had been 90 cordially frank: therr was even q ranking suspicion in her r nd that she had been more friend " than the conditions might warrant Only by reciprocal confidence could ha relieve the situation from awkwardncss now. And do you live hcre-at Windy Gulch?" she went on, curiosity in her glance.
 i That is my post office address, he | said. dcroting himself to putting more wood on the fire. with rather an inscru table smile. .I live-so far as it can be called living-up at my mincr Which reminds me-" starting up abruptly, 1 tontri:ion in his air. T promised you I would ride over to the Grubstake an'h ! let your father know that you are all i right. I had almost forgotten it; but would you like me tc go now?"
 "What. and leave me alone here?" Dorothy cried, in q tone of sharp pro- 1 test.
 Not unless you like. of course"
 '.Thc fact is. have been thinking 1 papa might not be there himself she 1 went on. "IIe rode over to Tomtowr l this afternoon to see a surveyor therf 1 a Mr. Brigham. It is q bad road. yoi' know, and, with a storm and all, if seems as though he might have been de- ta;ned. does it not?"
 T should think it quite probablN." :" the young man returned, looking at ho l with an expression of keen interc. "Hc rode over to see Brigham. did V, l say?" Ard then, the odd. sham fac look upon his face, he added. prefac'r the hurried explanation with a rote c' laughter that seemed strangely forced. "Brigham is rather q friend of nlir". you see"
 "Is hoo" Miss Meredith returned, looking at him in vague surprise. "I ! fancy cara does not know him very wei. In fact he-''
 Don't. Miss Meredith! You must Hot." he brusquely interrupted. Twas q cad to let you say word about him: but" He rose hurricdly, leaving the sentence unfinished, while he went .o the door and looked out with an air of seeing nothing. T beg q thousand pardons,' lie said, gently, presently turning back. se< ming very b:g anu ] broasi-slouldercd as he stood lookine down q her. but the fact is. your fa ther iias q lawsuit on-you spoke of i, d moment ago; and iu such cases evel. trivial things-admissions that might seem almost thing-i1ight really make grave mischief. Especially un
 der the circumstances-well, I shouui be very sorry to take an unfair adva1- tagc by letting you say anything you might afterward be sorry for, you know
 But l have not said anything" the girl protested, looking wholly belvil- dered.
 No: you have not said anything," he said, soothingly, his eyes seeming to Ter entreat forgiveness. "Only-parcon ue for offering atlvice-if l were you. Miss Meredith. I would never speak to d stranger of your fathers movements. Of course. in nine cases out of ten no harm might be done; but then, again you might regret it.
 T think my error in the present case was in assuming that you were not-a stranger" her face flushed an angry red frank mort ification in her eyes. But has it not stopped raining? l thought as you opened the door that it seemed almost clear"
 "Blundering chump that am. have !; made you hate mel" he impetuously ex- claimed.
 ''Oh, by no means,' her chin very much in the air. "I never trouble to hate strangers"
 But it was a mere question of time. I suppose he gloomily went on, hard ; " addressing the remark tc her. ''Soon or late you were bound to have it in for me-
 There was startled questioning in the girls swift glance, and then she looked
 CIV i|ie y Ou it IiOu StOIJlJtC raining?" she asked, stifly, after mo.
 nicnt.
 , T believe it has, he duly rejoincd | going to the door to look out again "Hes; it has stopped. I suppose
 would better go for the horses.'' } The spirit of frank ood-fellowship ir l which they had renewed their uncon 5 ventional acquaintance in the shelter oi , the old hut seemed to have been lost in , it's shadows. In almost suilen silence ! they rode along over the rough trail making toward thcturning to the Mas :, cot mine. At first she coldly protested :, against his coming with her. but he said v that 1t had grown too late for him tc , ride on then to the ranch for which It Q had started out; he would have,to make
 the trip another day: and now. if sht . really did not mind, he would prefer tC Q 20 back With chill ndi4ferppca Miss