Putnam patriot., 1911-03-31
CHAPTER V
VIRGINIA TAKES ANOTHER MOTOR RIDE. yEE ViRGINiA's efforts 10 refine

the little hotel produced an
 amazing change in Eliza Weth- A erford's affairs The dining room swarmed will those seeking food and as the news of fine girls beauty went out upon The range the cowboys sought excuse 10 ride in and get q spuafe meal and q glimpse of the 'qucen" Wbose hand had Witebed The ,Id shack" Into marvel of eleanlIaess- t,eneralIv they failed of 70 much ITS q glance at her for she kept away from inc dining rooH at mealtihe
 Lee Virginia WIS fully aware of this male curiosity and vaguely conscious af fine light which shonc in the eyes of some of them meu like Gregg. She had begun to understand, loo. that her mother.s reputation WIS barrier between tbe better class of folk and herself Bat as they came now and again to take a meal they permitted themselves word in her praise, which she resented "l don't want their friendship now" she declared bitterly
 As she gained courage 10 look about her she began To be interested in some Of her boarders
 So far as the younger men were con cerned. she saw little to admire and much to hate. They were crude and uninteresting rowdies for the most part She WIS put upon her defense by their glances. and she came 10 dread walking along the street. so open and coarse were their words of praise.
 Few of these Ioafers had the courage to stand on their feet and court her favor, but there was one who speedily became her chief persecutor. This was Neil Ballard, celebrated tand made impudenb by two years travel with n wild west show He was tall. iean manship was marvellous and his skill with the rope magical
 He had lost his engagement by req son of drunken braWl. and he was now living with his sister. the wife of a small raneher near by. Virginia de- spised the other men. but she feared this one, and quite justly
 The Greggs father and son. were In open rivalry for Lee also but in diff fercnt ways The older man. who had already been married several times, was disposed to buy her hand in what he called honorable wedlock." but the son, at heart lbertne, approached her as one who despised Inc west and who. being kept in the beastly coun- try by duty to a parent, was ready to amuse himself at any ones expense He had no purpose in life but to feed his body and escape toll
 The chivalry of the plains. of which Lee had read 80 much and which she supposed she remembered, was gone. She doubted if it had ever existed among these ceutaurs Why should 1t inhere in ignorant brutal plainsmen any more than in ignorant. brutal fac tory hands2
 There cane to her now and again gentle old ranchers "graugers. they would be called and shy boys from the farms but for the most part the men she saw mbittered her. and she kept out of their sight as much as pos sible Her kceuest pleasures, almost ner oulY pleasures lay la ihe occasion. al brief visits of Gayauagh as he rode in fer hts U3jl
 Iize perceived all these attachs on her daughter ond vas iufWtated by lhem Her broWs were kueued with care aS well as with pain. and she in ressautly urged Virginia to go back to sulphur "Ill send you money to pay your board till You strike toh But to this the girl would not agree, aud the business by reason of hee presence went on Increasing from day to day
 To Redecld Ilze one day confessed her pain. ''l ought te send for that doctor up there but the plain truth ls I'm afraid of him. don't want tC know what's the matter of me. It's his job to tell me I'm sick. and Tn scared of his verdict"
 "Nonsensec he replied You can afford to put or getting him mucl longer I'm going back tonight. hu I'll be over again tomorrow Whl don't you let the bring him down? will save you SIP And. by the way suppose you let me take Lee Virgini, home with me. She looks a bit de pressed. An outing will do her good She's taken hold here wonderfully"
 Hasn't she? But | should have sen her away the very first night I'm get ling to depend on her I'm pluml foolish about her now-can't let he out of my sight. and yet I'm or n, feed worrying over her Gregg k get ling dangerous You can't fool m, when it comes 10 men Curse 'em They're all alike every one of them l won't have my girl mistreated. tel you that Pm not it to be her mother Now. that's the truth. Reddy. and thi rotten little back country COW town | no place for her RHt what can l do She won't leave me so long as Tn sick. and every day ties her closer {, me. l don't know what I'd do withou her. lf I'm going 10 de I want he by ne when l take my drop. so vol see just how I'm placed"
 She looked yellow and drawn as sh,