The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-28

twemy-nine years to consider serious
~ a representative of the genLer
sex.
III that's a telephone you're max
ing tor, | don't believe Id touch
it. X would goom nc all up to have
you make a wrong play at this stage
of the game
Rufus guessed that the young lady
was twenty-three. Her hair was red
he could think in exact terms.
even If he did not always so eX-
press himself-anil her eyes were
washed-out blue; yet for all that,
and in spite OF the fact that she
was flushed and angry, the young
ladys face was rather attractive.
The ideal" she exclaimed, in a
voice with an edge to it.
IF yol're George Augustus sis
ter,s pursued Rufus. Il want you
to know that George Augustus is a
lrien1 of mine and that nc invited
re to come here"
Il haven't the slightest idea what
you're talking about" came the re
ply.
Then you don't know George Au.
gustus?"
"No; and | guess you don't eth
err"
Rufus drew a long breath.
Honest" he went on, I'D hate
to think you came breezin' in here
TO pick up any little gimcracks that
are lying around loose. Youf3 bet
ter go | reckon. I'll not allow any
tampering with the property of
George Augustus while he's away
from the ranch
Such impudence, such brazen i'm
pudence!"
The words were muffled, but Rufus
heard them.
You ask anybody that knows me, &"
said he, grimly, ''and they'll tell
you that I'm the peacefullest man
vest of Dodge City, but | know my
rights and always stand up for them.
Now, you remarked once that you
didn't believe | knew any such man
as George Augustus. You're wom-
an. and I passed it by. That other
think about being impudent, I'll pass
by, too. I'll just say once more,
kin;!y but respectfully, that | think
you've fingered in this vicinity long
enough. You've annoyed me right
along, but you're beginning TO make
me nervous"
He seated himself once more and
studied the tip of his fireless cigar.
He eXpected every moment to hear
the door open and close. but his
expectations were not realized. Al
ter an interval of oppressive silence
he looked Up. The girl was again
leaning over the back of the chair
and staring, her face white and a
strange sparkle in her eyes, at the
photograph on the table.
"Where-where did that come
iromT' she demanded, breathlessly
oh, no" exclaime! Rufus, with a
new thought. Have you seen that
moharrie before?"
Where did you get that photo
graph?" she insisted.
You tell me something first. and
then I'll obige with the details. III
bleed a ten for that lady's New
York address" and Rufus pointed to
the photograph.
The girl drew back and seemed In
a quandary. She looked at Rufus, she
iOked at the telephone, she looked at
the photograph. Her face expressed
suspicion desire, and amazement in
quick succession. Then her head low
cred. she tottered around the side
OF the chair and collapsed weakly
into It's depths, at the same time COW
ering her eyes with handkerchief.
She was weeping. This made Ru-
fus uncomfortable. He had been as.
tonished from the first, but the
knowledge that he was well within
his rights hal, given him a certain
peace of mind. Now his calm seren.
ity was going.
What's that for?" he inquired,
helplessly.
The weeping became almost I'M
controllable. What if George Angus
tus had happened IN at that dis
tressing moment, Rufus drew his
sleeve across his forehead and
| thanked his lucky stars that the
upstate man woull keep George Au'
sustus busy for several hours.
Il wouldn't do that" he suggest