Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-10-05
CHAPTER XIV.
PR0Gp TO BE A WOMAN


ESS and deep down In bis own
mind he knew that she was right. He
was a firm adherent to the principle
that personal perplexities are best
fought out In solitude. and In reality he
admired Lisle for her determination
and upheld her In 1t.
While Mr.. Thomas and his daughter
remained with him he was content to
let things 60 on Us they were. but when
the week Of their stay came to an end
and they had departed be soon became
moody. a condition which always i'm
medlately preceded one Of his fits. Just
before the guests left him Erna be-
sought him to ride or send over to
Crescent and Cross for information
concerning Lisle. but the old frontiers
man was obdurate.
"'Twon't do" he said gruf1y. when
Llsle wants me. she'll send for me, and
| agreed not to bother her until she
did. She's got sand. Lisle has, and 1t
won't do to cross her In the mood she's
in lust now. She wouldn't stand It
She'd take the bit in her teeth and get
to buck jumping SOS she'6 throw the
whole gang of US. You and your pop
mosey right along to Kansas City and
say nothing. and when Lisle has her
stampede out she'll quiet down and 60
to feeding all quiet and serene. After
that Ill take her to Kansas City to see
you, and then we can fix her up and
regulate matters"
Nevertheless his restlessness increas-
ed as the days passed. The one week
swelled itself into two. and the two
heightened into three and then four,
and Craig developed habit Of riding
of alone on the plains and being abb
sent all day. At such times he inevita-
bly, rode In the direction Of Lisle's
ranch to a spot that was situated lit
tie more than half way between the
two places and sufficiently high SO
that from 1t he could with the aid Of
his binoculars quite plainly see upon
the veranda Of the ranch house where
he believed Lisle was still engaged In
fighting 1t out" He used to dismount
from his horse. turn him broadside to-
ward the ranch. and. resting his arms
upon the saddle. study for an hour ut
time every moving object that came
into his range Of vision. Sometimes he
thought he recognized the figure OF
Lisle. and during the ensuing "a hours
there was always an appreciable lift
Ing Of the cloud that rested upon him.
But he never went farther than that
particular point. and he never permit
ted one Of his men to do so.
IF don't keep my word with her
now, she'll never trust me again as
long as | live" was his mental COM
ment whenever the inclination to OBJ.
tain information on the sly proved al
most too strong for him. But he be-
came more and more morose as the
weeks passed. hoping all the time that
che would not permit the entire two
months to come to an end before she
communicated with him. but at last,
when only two weeks remained until
the time would be up. he began to count
the days, convinced that he would mel.
ther hear from nor see her until the ex-
piration Of the time.
When he morning Of the great day
arrived. he was up with the sun, his
moroSeness had vanished, and Craig
Thompson was himself again. He pos
sessed implicit faith that LiSle would
keep her word. and he felt as certain
that lie would have news Of her or see
her before the sun set as he was that
he would live until that hour. That
day he did not ride out. as usual. but
he roamed restlessly about the place
and. much to the aStoniShment Of his
men. whistled gayly while be Inspect
ed things"
AS the day advanced and began to
decline lie became uneasy. and at last.
when the sun glowed like ball Of fire
in the west preparatory to hiding itself
behind the Sierras. he began TO talk to
himself. swearing under his breath in
q manner which. If he had uttered the
words aloud. would have Mortified the
most accustomed ears.
The sun dropped out Of sight, and
still there was no sign Of LIsle.
"The day won't be up till midnight" "
muttered Craig. I'll wait till then.
but not q minute longer. When the
clock strikes 12. I'm going to light out
for Crescent and Cross"
u,bn, ,yon;np f,,1l onI Il 81. cot.
tied upon the earth. he did not go III
side. as was his custom. He brought
an easy chair out upon the porch and
settled himself in its depths to wait,
Straining his ears to catch the slight
est sound that would announce the ap-
proach of stranger. and at last. when
the hour was considerably past 0. he
bounded to his feet with sudden inter.
est. for his practiccd ear had detected
the unmiStakable football of n gallOp
ing horse. In moment more the rider
came into view and presently drew
rein Immediately in front Of the wait
ing man.
"Is this Thompson's ranch?" he in
quired.
"You bet It is." was the quick re
sponse.
IL want Craig Thompson"
That's me. stranger"
"All right. I've got a message fol
you. was instructed to deliver it be
fore sundown. but my horse went lame
and l had to fool around half a da!
before | could get another"
He handed over a sealed envelope