Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-14
CHAPTER VIII.
A Morning Ride.

Morning Ride.
When at length ! reused myself, called
for horse and, following Rrams example,
went for a ride. As yet l had hardly had
time to go over my" land.
It was a charming day in the early fall,
and felt a pleasant, hut. under the cir
cumstances. a aeluding sense Of power. to
see the estate, stretching a good two miles
in every direction from the house-crowned
hill To the eyes Of one of Henry Nor
vans English friends the property might
have looked wild enough, for full half OF II
was clothed in shaggy forests. and about
the rest well kept roads and trim lawns
were none too plentiful. But the Bob White
was calling In the buckwheat and down
by the lake where the uplands melted
into the pines some wild ducks were preen-
ing themselves in the sun.
At wide intervals in the great forest.
columns of smoke went straight up in the
air. Charcoal burners" l reflected
Bram's toast occurred to me- Here's
to the b-ownest beauty that ever showed a
neat bare ankie-heres to Sue Puckaloo"
Impelled by a vague curiosity, 1 marked
the location of the nearest column of
smoke, and picked my way toward It
through the pines l judged that the
charcoal kiln, II 1t were really such, was
within my bounds-I might as well ride in
that direction as any other.
So shortly i came upon a little cottage
home OF the poorest sort, but astonish-
ingly neat and well kept. There was even
a split rail fence, serving TO mark off a
small flower garden-a thing beyond the
ordinary In a piner's homestead.
No one seemed 10 have noticed my APP
proach. While sat my horse rather at a
loss, heard voices on the other side Of
the cottage. dismounted and sauntered
around the corner.
man whom I recognized as Brams
friend, Mr.. Lawrence Arnold. was talking
earnestly to a girl, The girls face, eyes.
and hair. were brown as a berry. A calico
frock, cut rather short disclosed a neat
pair OF ankles. 1t was Sue Buckaloo, be-
yond a doubt.
At the moment I appeared their CONVEX
sation was brought to a peculiar close. As
Arnold leaned eagerly over her. she struck
him smartly on the cheek with her open
hand.
''There!" she cried. Go talk to one OF
your own people. who can't help herself
You amt my landlord. You can't turn my
; dad out 10 starvs, like you did Lefty
Miller's."
Arnold was by no means abashed. Come.
come. grill Know your place." he re-
turned, rubbing his cheek angriy. rs this
, the way yous treat a gentleman? Your
pretty face has spoiled you. Sue"
You better get out O. here before dad
gets back" said the girl. frowning Hes
mighty quick with his scatter gun"
He'll repent 1t II he takes a high hand
= with me-" said Arnold. NOW Sue be
reasonable. You'd a deal better agree"
Good morning" I interrupted, advance
/, ing MAY 1 venture TO ask what's the
matter in dspute2 I hope my tenant
q hasn't been disrespectful to you, Mr. Arm
old"
The girl fell back with a muttered cry:
The new squirrel and stood watching me
= curiously. Arnold's face grew red. but he
lost nothing OF his self-possesson
"ohi Good morning, Mr.. Morvan. No,
. no! It's all right I'm willing to make al
n lowance for the whims Of a spoiled beauty.
y know a little about women Sue, here.
: is pretty and she knows It, Too much at
G tSntion has about turned her little head,
;, by gedl"
Q Very likely" 1 rejoined pleasantly. THE
g best remedy is to leave her alone isn't it2
You remember the old song?-'if she be
! not fair TO meT
y My easy going manner had completely de-
ceived the man. He fumbled in his pocket,
u and producing a clay pipe. began TO I'LL II
with CANISTER.
u mo doubt that would serve her right to
a leave her in the sulks, but. dye see, Mr..
u AoFVan, she's too pretty to let alone. II
would be q crime. no less, TO let figure
and face like Sues go TO waste. She's
worth some trouble-you understand, eh?''
Tn not sure I do
y He gave a careless laugh. II mean rye
10 just been telling Sue she's wasting herself
81 down here In the Barrens. I've offered to
le take her to the city for a month or So
J. let her see the world and live like lady
r. I'll look out for her afterward. too. That's
u fair enough, take II. AS a man OF the
world, Mr., Morvan, Sou'll understand a
Or gentleman doesn't expect a girls temper
I over such a chance will last. Eth? what
do you think7
Q saw the girls eyes flash. She opened
ie her lips as II TO speak, but at a sign from
NJ me, closed them again.
Sir" said deliberately, II think sucf
an action as you propose. more suited to
ne Don Juan than to an American gentle
70 man"
he What do you mean"
er Il mean you are playing the part OF 1
he scoundrel. sir"
BE careful what you say. Mr.. Morvan
A I'm not a patient man"
" "As impatient as you choose, sir.
81 mean what say"
ou He gave me a very ugly look. The pip
snapped between his fingers. There's
er way for satisfaction between gentlemen
ny Mr.. Morvan. You understand me2"
70 Certainly. I'm at your disposal an!
hour OF the day. No-not earlier than
IS o'clock. l never could endure a meetin,
l at dawn"
MY cooiness-my contemptuous attemp
at humor--nonplussed him. Perhaps had
clustered more, he would have known bet
ter how to deal with me. As It was. hi
face turned purple. He gulped down hi
e. wrath.
You're a newcomer in the county, Mr.
Morvan-you don't understand our ways
us I'm willing to overlook your words"
an (IO n ContinuedA