Rock Island Argus., 1906-02-17


spond to her quizzical tone. II had
lived for years quite apart from any
from association with cultivated peo-
pie, and besides l had begun to feel
that 1 was wasting my life and had be-
come irritable. / went to the ranch to
pay off a debt, and I-well, l had fallen
into groove You recalled me to bet
ter things
II and the bullet" she said rather
fiippantly, for she was becoming appre-
hensive of the trend of his condolences.
He ignored her interruption. or, rath-
er, lie plowed across it with something
like his old time resolution. 1T is due
to you to know-Or at any rate l desire
you to know-that 1 am not fugitive
from Justice Baker thought he was
being funny"
Il am not so dull as you think, Mr..
Raymond | understood him perfect
Iy."
II am glad you did. 1t is true l am
estranged from my family, but it is not
due My faults have never been Grim
inal"
please do not feel it necessary to
explain" interrupted Ann. 'It is pain
full TO you. and-and it is wholly unnec-
essary. l beg you to desist. hope you
will understand that l am in no sense
doubling YOU
y shadow of pain crossed his face.
Somehow the reality of their meeting
was not as he had imagined it.
She, on her part, was angry and dis
pleased with herself and resentful Of
Il at
looked the gentleman, and his face
was very handsome. very moving in
its clear pallor Suffering had infinite
ly refined its lines, but she could not
forget his services as cook and cow
boy, and, besides, she hated being per-
turbed. She resolutely changed the
subject.
'Dr. Braide says you are getting on
splendidly and that you will soon be
returning to the ranch.''
Checked and chilled by her manner,
he plainly abandoned all further
thought of confiding in her and an
swered, wearily and sadly: 'It will be
4 long time before l return to the life
ON the ranch. 1 have other plans
now"
Ann half regretted her action and as
she rose said, with n smiling asSump-
ton Of easy, friendly interest which
hHrt him worse than anything she had
spoken: Il think it wonderful
the way you are coming on. We will
see you at dinner in n few days"
THANK you. l shall be down at the
earliest moment" he quietly replied
and leaned back in his chair, white
and suffering, his eyes closed his lips
quivering.
Ann was well aware that she had not
lived up to her higher self in this in
terview and that she had been cruelty
and distant with him.
And yet l don't see how l could have
acted differently" she argued with
her better self. He must not go on
me more deeply interested in
his life than l really am
Mrs Barnett was impatiently wait
ing for her return.
What did he say?' she breathlessly
asked. Pm dying to know"
Ann answered with evasive indiffer
ence. He thanked me again for my
heroic action and begged pardon for
Ills IuOcACSS, tlil VI W MN ilO LAiS5hI
have spared himself the trouble of re-
peating."
Mrs Barnett was on the scent for
romance. What elseY'
Nothing else
poor fellow, He has been strug-
Cling toward this event for days. Only
the doctors express orders kept him
from getting up ten days ago. He has
been all the morning dressing for ii.
and now you tell me in that supercil-
ious tone that nothing happened"
Ann fired into anger. What could
happen? You needn't speak in riddles,
have happened? Come, now, you silly,
thing"
Some note in her voice touched Mrs.
and she slowly replied: Ann
Rupert, you are the coolest, cruelest
creature l ever knew. i know what
you did to that poor fellow. You I'M
snubbed him; you froZe his
gratitude on his lips. OF course you are
his superior'-she became
weakly sarcastic at this point-"but
you are not justified in stabbing sick
man to- the heart
You're quite mistaken. 1 was very
nice to him."
''Nicei I've seen you nice to young |
men before. Oh, I'd like to see some
man crush you! I'd enjoy seeing you
crawl,'
Mrs. Barnett went Immediately to
door and knocked. At his |
word she entered. He sat where Ann
had left him, but Louis was beside |
him, showing him new drawing.
isn't that wonderful said Ray |
nond, holding the sketch in the air, his |
eyes aglow with pride in the boy. IF
could do that 1 would never be lone
some or restless. 1 wish 1 knew my |
lse in the world as certainly as Louis
loes.'
The young artist flushed with the !
pleasure. Its just as wonderful to
.ide the way YOU do and throw rope
md all that. I'll teach you to draw if
rou want me to-"
RAYMOND fI1rnad 70 Mrs barnett |