Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-03-30


whirl before his eyes. 1T seems a iiui
. triuous mixture.na .esa ~ xos
/ He recovered himself. "Oh, it's q
hearty mess, all right. My cooking
Z, isn't fancy bgsss Il Ss
1 81 beg your pardon" Ann FASTENED
to explain, II didn't mean to critieise.
ssIgtlidnt intend to- hurt syourEfe feelings.
I'nl-sure it's very tasty dish" -.
"Oh, l don't blame you; but, you see,
we're not running summer hotel ex-
actly. Still, well make you as COM
Portable as we can while you stay"
"By which you mean to hint you hope
l won't stay long" She was frankly
amused.
He became very sincerely grave. II
didn't say that, lady"
''But you meant it. Pm not Obtuse.
know when am out Of place.
shall flee tomorrow"
She was forcing his hand, as he well
knew, but he remained gravely SIM
pie. 'I'll be sorry if our grub or any
thing else should scare you out"
She changed the subject quickly. 81
can see that Louis is to be perfectly
happy down here. am glad / came.
/ shall feel much more resigned to his
being here now that / have met Mr..
Raymond and yOu."
Raymond remained inexpensive.
"Your brother is an enthusiast, l be-
lieye you said. He'll be more charita-
BILE than--than you, for instance"
Ann didn't like his emphasis. II
don't wonder at your resentment. Our
coming is an imposition, but if l had
known-please be kind enough to adj
NIT that / didn't know how you we're
situated"
Raymond resumed his cowboy man.
ner. "NOw, lady, you let that 60. l
don't blame you hair. You're here,
and I'll see-I mean, the boss will see
We'll all sec-that the boy is treated
right, and I'll guarantee that he gets a
| fair share of what's going. I'm not
! apologizing, but hope you won't take
us on the wrong slant. hope you'll
! come often. You brighten up the place
wonderfully"
Ann drew herself up. 81 don't under
stand you, Mr.
"Call me cook-Mr. Cook. Anything
goes out here"
They were now squared before each
other, he with malicious smile Turk
ing at the corner of bis mouth, she
with dark and puzzled brow.
"Of course, you cowboys are all
strange to mel mean your manners
and custOms-but my roommate at col
ege told me good deal about this life.
She was from Colorado"
He betrayed new interest. what
was your college? Smith,
Ann lifted her eyebrows in surprise.
"No. What made you think it WASP"
Raymond began to retreat. "Oh, /
don't know. You seemed about that
style mean to say, you carry your
self like Smith college girl that came
down here once with Mrs. Barnett"
He caught up the water bucket. Eek
cuse me minute I'll run down to the
spring and get some water" His go
ing was equivalent to fight.
Ann smiled composedly as she slipped
her coffee, which was very good in
deed.
Louis burst in at the door, isis, you
ought to see the corrals out here. They
have ninety head of horses! Think of
that! And Pm to ride all want to-"
Baker, who appeared just behind
him, put in drawing word: "'Peared
like he wanted to ride four to once,
like circus man. Are you gettin'
somethin' to eat, miss?'
ooh, yes, indeed"
Louis, throwing down his cap in imi-
tation of Raymond, cried out, Ella
hungry
Ann turned to Baker. "Afr. Fore.
man, isn't there something mysterious
about your cook? Part Of the time he
speaks like man of the world and
part of the time like rancher. l
think he's playing part, and playing
it badly"
"What makes you think so?" asked
Louis. "They say he's bully rider"
"Tbey amt none better, miss" re-
piled Baker, who began to look little
uneasy.
Ann pursued her point. II think
he's one of those romantic cowboys
who have seen better days-perhaps an
English nObleman in disguise"
Baker was always ready when
chance to get even with Raymond Of
fered itself. He puckered his plump
face into frown Of deep concern. Il
guess you're some right, miss, but he
amt no English lord, don't think.
We never inquire very close into q
mans pedigree out here if he can ride
a cayuse and flip gun. But he's
American, all right, and good cook"
sis Cook his real name"
Baker became cautious. "Did he say
his name was Cook? If he did, that
goes. I'm not in the habit Of disputing
him.,
''No, he didn't tell his name, but he
intimated that / might call him Cook.
Your name is Raymond, isn't it?"
Baker was again slow to answer.
did he intimate that my name was