The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-31
THE EVENING STORY
Ines Claim.
(By lola Forrcster.)

Who's the kid in ruff1es?"
Lewis turned quickly at the ques-
ton. He had been SO busy answering
the agent from the Porcas that his
at a glance. the new rancher at Ajados
took in the general get-up of one who
he knew must be neighbor.
Barty turned likewise, and smiled at
him guilelessly.
ct mean this one in the photo.
Snapshot, amt it? Looks like red
woods behind her there
1T is,'' Lewis returned, briefly.
''That was taken in camp near Sereni-
ia, in California. had a place over
there last year.
Seems like I've seen the girl be-
fore up this way
Hardly. She is an easterner."
as she? What's her manner"
Lewis looked over at Hawks, the
agent, with lazy good nature.
why don't you introduce your
friends, Hawks -
ooh, can introduce myself, if
that's what troubles YOU" broke in
the big chap. I'm Barty Axtell.
Channing's outfit-next to yours. That
sure does look like kid that's took
up homesteading claim northeast of
us. She's a girl from the east, too"
, Lewis dismissed the matter simply
by not replying. He bent over the
boundary map the agent had brought
over, and went on with his work. The
words of the big. blue-eyed youngster
from Channing's never even fingered
in his memory. The very idea of COM
pairing Ines with any kid" as he had
expressed 1t, up in these heaven-for-
saken hills. He grinned once, think
ing of her face If she knew of the
comparison.
He had met her at Serenita the pre-
vious year, slim, lovely California
| girl, who seemed to embody all the
glamour and dreamy charm of her ma
tive state in her own personality. He
had loved her from the first, and had
at least had thegswit and knowledge
not to tell her of It, not to force him.
self on her. She could not under
stand how he. a fortuneless chap with
| only his wits to travel on and a bound
less ambition to buoy him up, had
landed at the gorgeous summer home
Of the Barringtrons. Billie harrington
had been his pal at Berkeley, that was
all, and when they heard he had come
west to hunt luck they had simply
| been kind enough to recall the old
days and send him out an invitation
to spend week or two at Serenita.
The snapshot Billie had given him
from his own collection. He loved it
of her, taken leaning against a rock
with the suggestion of the great red
woods back of her. and her dear face
sunny with happy smiles.
No, he had not told her he loved
her. Where was the use? To give a
girl who was naturally expecting
| wealth in her future husbands cate
CORY of virtues, a chance to laugh and
turn him down.
He turned around, Barty's shadow
fell across the open doorway.
II didn't want to speak out before
that pin-headed, knock-kneed cadger
from the Poncas," he remarked cas-
ually. But I think you're either an
Internal liar or an evader of the truth,
SO to speak, friend and neighbor. That
girl there is in big trouble. and If you
do know her you're blasted dog not
to get into your buckskin boots and
come where she lives
How do you know that know
her? ?" demanded Lewis.
Because" said Barty calmly, and
effectively, there's a snap shot of you
nailed to the wall of her cabin, and
knew you as soon as I ever laid eyes
on you"
Lewis gasped. Not a word did he
ing northeast from the valley.
straight up into the hills above Ajados,
| then he asked. whats the trouble %
"She's sick, that's what. She ain't
been strong ever since she came out
| here in the spring. and the summer
the women from Channing's to help
her, a halfbreed chink, and she's try
ing to be game. and stick out her
time. and hold the claim down."
Why did she take it up?" Lewis
stared ahead of him. why should
she, of all women in the world. take
up a homestead claim"
ASK her yourself" retorted Barty.
"She don't like me. I worked for her
| IN the spring, cutting out timber. and
building her shack for her, and fixing
things to rights. and I didn't want to
take any money for it,
| why not?"
| Because, ! asked her to marry me
| instead. So she don't believe in my
good intentions no more"
"I eee," said Lewis. He could imag-
| inc Barty proposing to Ines Condell.
| They reached the little clearing at
| high noon. The spruce trees grew
| close up to the very edge of 1t. and
| from the front door one could look out
/ over miles and miles of the sweeping
| valleys about Ajados. Molly, the wo-
| man from Channing's, sat in the door
way. half asleep. She looked worn out.
/ and tired, but reused up as the men
| dropped from their horses, and hob
l bled them.
She's better" she told them. "She's
been mighty sick, but the fevers gone
| now, and she's thinking of going home
/ and giving up. She amt here in the
house She's gone down yonder to the
pines there on the edge OF the gulch.
| It was there that Lewis found her,
sitting on the rocks, beneath the
spruces, her dear, clear cut face turn
/ ed toward the far off spot where the
Lewis ranch lay. And just for once,
Lewis found the way clear. He had
often wondered just how he should ask
the woman he loved to marry him
Just what tender, dearest words In al
- o. ~