Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-29
CHAPTER, ~.

own walk of life even the
4 y basest of men approached her
clad in linen and broadcloth sleek
beasts with civility; but her" were
males whose lean jaws clampcd upon
food with the eager haste of wolves,
men primitive us Picts, with less OF
law than Zu!us. They were not out
laws from society. for they had never
known society They We're desperadoes
for diversion.
Rnymouds motive in thrusting them
out appeared more and more deed TO
win applause 1t lowered him, made
him less admirable in every way, and
when he spoke to her she withdrew
into herself with glance which chill
ed and depressed him.
"Of course his character is of no con
sequence to me-" she thought. except
in so far as he is likely to influence
Louis The situation suddenly lost its
spirit of comedy and took on Il very
serious cast The plan of leaving a
sensitive, poetic boy to the company
and influence of men like these became
questionable. even dangerous. Bakei
was a foolish and stupid person and
these rough riders troubled her; bur
Raymond, to whom the boys eyes al
ready turned with fervent admiration.
was more cerrupting still. for whatever
weaknesses he might have would sure
ly come to be active and vital forces in
-. r,-I,nln 6nsitrn in
the light OF this encounter, assumed the
face Of folly.
The powerful young rancher, mix
ture OF barbarism and culture engross
ed her quite as mountain lion might
have done His action could not be
foretold, and she was amazed to find
herself carried entirely outside herself,
shaken and dismayed. AS he set to
work to put the table In order, silent
and sullen as before, she watched him
from her corner with intent gaze.
How deeply can l trust him?' she
asked herself. don admires him, and
he certainly is man of intelligence"
Louis, who had gone to see the sun
set, called to her excitedly, and as she
stepped outside the door she, too,
caught her breath in wonder and ad-
miration.
She turned to the dim purple range,
crumpled into ridges and slashed with
deep valleys. '"They may be alluring
to you, laddie, but they scare me-a lit
tie. Well, perhaps you'll be able to go
and see what they are like by and by,
when you are stronger"
perhaps Rob will take me. would
not be afraid Of anything with him.
He's uplendid syIe. Don't you think
SOL"
Ann smiled, but answered doubtfully
"He seems u fine, resolute fellow" Her
sisterly anxiety reappeared. "But J.
don't like to leave you here, Buddie.
These men, the best Of them, seem
rough and reckless. l think you'd bet.
ter go back with me-really do"
ooh, no! I'm all right here, sis. Rob
will look after me. It's just what j
need"
maybe it Is for the best, but have
a feeling that something is going to
happen to you. don't like to go bacl;
without you. I'll stay on day or two
longer anyhow. I want to find out
more about conditions here. have Il
queer feeling at my heart. don't
want to leave you. Let us go in"
A kerosene lamp stood among the
dishes, and the driver of their team
o,,1 Int hov nd 1n
Mexican boy were all eating together.
Raymond was not to be seen, and Ann
realized, with rang Of dismay, how
wholly she was depending upon him.
"Without him l shall be scared" she
admitted to herself. The other men
paid very little direct attention to her
beyond moments awkward pause
and lowering Of their voices. They
continued to discuss the fire and their
days work. It was plain that they
were Of different temper from the
crowd Raymond had thrown from the
door, and yet they were not progresses
ing.
The liverymGn, short, dirty and
very assertive man Of small wit, was
maintaining himself against one of the
riders in an argument. II punched
cattle oil over them hills" he was say
ing. II know it's all another fake like
that old Mount Horeb business in 20.
It's nothin' but cattle range-a lot q
smooth hills
"But they've found the gold. They
can't be no question about it now. I've
got brother up there, and he writes
me-
"They told the same kind O. yarns
about Horeb, and see how it turned out.
They amt an ounce O. gold in this
whole Rampant range It amt the
right kind O. formation"
"Well, I'm goin' up there anyhow"
said Baker, "as soon as Barnett can
fill my place"
so am L." said one of the other cow
boys, a dark, smileless fellow nearly
forty years Of age.
They're talking about Sky camp"
whispered Louis, 1.-The new mining
town"
The talk among the men shifted again
to a discussion of the fire. II hope
Bob won't order us out to fight it to-
night I'm tired as dog" said one Of
the men.
''The way put it up is this" bleat-
ed the liveryman: THAT fire started
from somebody campin' over on Birch