Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-12

| detais-thnt tho house had been planned
with reference to sudden foray or escape re-
awakened his former uneasy reflections.
| Zeenic, who had been watching his face,
added, ats no SLOUGH, when bar or painters
hang round nights and stampede the stock,
to be able to swing yourself on to boss,
whenever you hear row gon' on outside"
"Do you mean that YOU
"Paw used, and do now, sense I've come
into tho room" She pointed TO monde
script garment, half cloak half habit, hang
ing on the wall. give been outer bed and
on Philippines back rs far ez the trail five
minutes after heard the first below"
Hale regarded her with undisgused as
constituent There was nothing at all Anna
gonian or horscy in her manners, nor was
there even the robust physical contour that
might have been developed through such
experiences. On the contrary she seemed to
lazily eifcmnate in body and mind. Heed
less of his critical survey of her, she beck
oncd him TO draw his chair nearer. and
looking into his eyes, said:
"Whatcvcr possessed you to take to huntn'
mem"
Hale was staggered by the question, but
nevertheless endcavored to explain. But he
was surprised to find that his explanation APP
peared stilted even to himself, and, he could
not doubt, was utterly incomprehensibc to
the girl. She nodded her head however, ard
continued:
"Then you haven't anythn' agin' George"
81 don't know George" said Hale, smiling.
"My proceeding was against the highway
man"
"Well, he was the highwayman.'
II mean it was the principle objected to-
a principle that consider highly dangerous. "
"Well, he is the principal for the others
only helped, | reckon said Xeenie, with n
| sigh, "and reckon he rs dangerous"
| Hale saw it was useless to explain The girl
continued
"What made you stay here instead Of 60
in OH with the kernel! There was suthin'
else besides you wanting to make that Stan
ner take water What is it,
\ light sense of the propnquity of beauty,
of her confidence, of their isolation, of the
teloquence of her dark eyes, at first tempted
Hale to reply of simple gallantry: II
graver consideration of the same crcum-
stances frozc it upon his lips
81 don't know" he returned awliwardly.
"Well, I'll tell YOU" she said "You
didn't cotton to the Kernel and Eawlins
much more than you did to Stanner They
amt your kind
In his embarrassment Hale Numbered upon
the thought he had honorably avoided
Suppose, he said, with constrained laugh,
Il had stayed to see you.'
81 reckon l amt your kind, neither" she
replied promptly. There was momentary
pause, when she rose and walked to the CHM
ney ats very quiet down there" She said,
STOPPING and listening over the roughly
boarded floor that formed the ceiling of the
room below. 81 wonder what's going on
In the belief that this was delicate hint
for his return to the party he had left, Halo
rose. but the girl passed. him hurriedly, and,
opening the door, cast quick glance into the
stable beyond.
| Just as | reckoncd-the horses are gone
too. They've skedaddled,' She said blankly
Hale did not reply. In his embarrassment
moment ago the idea of taking an equally
sudden departure had flashed upon him.
Should he take this as justification Of that
impulse, or howe He stood irresolutely
gazing at the girl, who turned and began to
descend the stairs silently. He followed.
When they reached the lower room they
found it as they had expectcd-deserted.
81 hope didn't drive them away" said
Hale. with an uneasy look at the troubled
face of the girl. "For really had an idea of
going myself n moment ago"
She remained silent, gazing out of the win
| dow. Then, turning with Ill, Int shrug of
her shoulders, she said, bali denantly:
whats the use now! Oh, NAV, the Stanner
crowd has vamoscd the ranch, and this Yer
stranger Ealkllates to stay"