Gunnison news-champion., 1908-01-24
CHAPTER VIII.
Fhe County ATTORNEY

i too am going to Wind City, said
pleasant voice at her side You will
let me help yoa with your things. win
you not
The slender girl standing before the
ticket window. stuifing change into
her coin purse. turned quickly.
Why Mr.. Gordon" she said. hold
ing out a small hand with frank pleas
ure. How very NICE Thank YOU. will
YOU take my rain-coaf' n has been
such bother. ] would bring il right
IN the face Of Uncle Hammond's OBJ
1ectiOns. lie said it never rained out
this way. But J surely have suffered a
plenty for my waywardness Don't YOU
think so?"
1t behoeves a tenderfoot like YOU
TO sit and diligently learn of such ex-
perienced and toughened old-timers as
we are. rather than faunt your un-
tried ideas in our faces. responded
Gordon, with smile that transformed
the keen gray eyes Of this man OF
much labor. much lofty ambition. and
much sorrow, so that they seemed
for the moment strangely young.
laughing, untroubled: as clear of taint
of evil knowledge as the source of q
stream leaping joyously into the sun
light from some mountain solitude 1t
was a revelation to Louise.
Il will try to be good and dill
gent seeker after knowledge of this
strange land of yours" she wered.
with a little laugh. half of embarass-
ment. half Of enjoyment of this play
OF nonsense, and leading the way to
her suitcase and Mary outside. When
] make mistakes. will you tell me
about them? Down east. YOU know,
our feet travel in the ancient. pre-
scribed circles Of our forefathers. and
they are apt to go somewhat uncer-
tAinly II thrust into new paths
And this laughing. clever girl hal
cried with inconsistencies, Well, 10
wonder. The worst of 1t was, she
could never hope to be acclimated.
She was not-their kind. Sooner or
later she must go back to Gods coun-
try.
To her surprise, Gordon, though he
laughed softly for q moment, answer
Gu ratner grAVely.
II my somewhat niggardly fate
should grant me that good fortune.
that l may do something for you. l
ask that you be not afraid 70 trust to
my help. 1t would not be half-hearted
i assure you"
She looked up at him gratefully.
His shoulders. slightly stopped. betok-
ening the grind at college and the bur
'den-bearing in later years, instead OF
suggesting any inherent weakness In
the man, rather inspired her with an
intuitive faith in their QHiet, unswerv-
Ing. utter trusthworthiness.
Thank you," she said. simply. II
much that day in the courtroom We
worried-Mary and l."
Thank you. There was not the
least danger. They were merely vent
ing their sote on me. They would not
have dared more"
There's my brakeman said Louise,
when she and Gordon had found a
seat near the rear. Mary had gone and
a brakeman had swung onto the last
car as it glided past the platform. and
came down the aisle with . grin Of
recognition for his little white lamb"
How nice it all seems, just as II
I had been gone months instead Of
days and was coming home again. 1t
would be funny il l should be home
sick for the range when l get to
Wind City. wouldn't it?''
Let us pray assiduously that it
may be So" answered Gordon. with
one OF his rare smiles. He busted
himself a moment in slowing away
her belongings to the best advantage.
1t gets in ones blood-how or when.
one never knows"
They rode in silence for a while.
Tell me about your big fight" said
Louise. presently. The roadbed was
fairly good. and they were spinning
alonc on down grade. He must needs
bend closer to hear her
She was good to look at. fair and
sweet and it had been weary years
since women had come clsse to Cor
don's life In the old college days, BE-
ore this hard, disappointing, unequal
hght against the dominant forces Of
-reed against tolerance OF might over
coming right. had begun to sap his
vitality. he had gone too deeply into
ais studies to have much time left
OF the gayeties and gallantries Of the
social side in university life. He had
rot been popular with wothen They
ID not know him. Yet. though
-ubbed . dig" BY his fellow collee-
ians, the men liked him. They liked
hin for hss sr.stwortAisess. sAnirsS
hin FOR his rugged honesty, desired his
hssoAsAip for tho fAspiratSoa q ~
1:xA .e-.--