The Parker post., 1912-10-26

same, Sdlu rtOSc TdIu0I uduSACAAJ' .
but afterwards when she was in her
own room she laughed heartily and
later on grew quite sober.
"He looked very grave and harm
less-except for his blue eyes. won
der"
After that Rose did not seem to
care to ride out even under the pro-
lection of Mr. Phinney. although she
gave no reason for her sudden resolu-
tion
After supper one night while Rose
sat at the piano playing very softly
there came the heavy tramping or feet
from the piazza and Mr.. Riddle en-
tered the room accompanied by the
desperate, Duke Henderson. Rose
flushed and gave her hand to the
stranger as Mr.. Riddle performed the
introduction.
"Tll go and bring Mrs. Riddle" said
Uncle Rob, and he hastily departed.
leaving Rose alone with the desper-
ado
Rose found herself avoiding the
glance of pair of sparkling eyes. eyes
that under happy circumstances might
be very gay indeed; now they searcned
her face eagerly as if looking Tor
something, and at her air of con-
straint the eyes fell to moody con-
temptation of the carpet
Rose wondered if he knew how
handsome he looked sitting there IN
his cowboy costume, his strong brown
fingers twisting his felt hat into a
dozen shapes. If he did know 1t, IL
gave him no pleasure for once he
sighed heavily and again he glanced
swiftly at her, and as their eyes met
he resumed his stare at the floor.
1T is a glorious night" he said at
last.
Charming"
Mr. Riddle says you're going out
for a ride with him-he has been
kind enough to say that I may accom-
pany you | hope you don't mind?
"Oh. no." she said hastily 'If you
will excuse me I will go and put on
my riding skirt"
He held open the door for her and,
as she passed him. there might have
been the slightest toss of her head
He smiled ruefully and sat down
again
When Rose came down again she
was a fair picture in dust-colored
habit with a felt hat perched on the
back of her head.
Mrs. Riddle waited in the piazza un-
til the three had galloped out of sight,
and she smiled with satisfaction as
she returned to the parlor.
THE little mink" she chuckled
throati1y.
Henderson rode beside Mr. Riddle
and left Rose in peace on the other
side of her uncle. None of them
talked much save the men, who spoke
now and then in monosyllables. COM
menting on the condition of the coun.
try, and the abundant rainfall. Over
head the moon rode high in the blue
arch of sky and before them, stretched
boundless plain.
All at once Mr.. Riddle uttered a
sharp exclamation and dismounted to
discover that his horse had gone sud
denly lame There was nothing for
them to do but to return to the ranch.
This Mr.. Riddle would not hear of.
81 was going to take you on to Sill
yer Springs, Rose. Now Henderson
will escort you and will wait here.
1t is only a couple of miles farther
on"
But Uncle Rob, I'd rather not go"
protested Rose, but Mr.. Riddle insist
ed. and so while Duke Henderson rode
beside her in grim appreciation of her
grudgingly given companionship they
covered the rest of the distance to Sill
yer Springs, and pulling in their
horses looked together into the spark
ling silver waters at their feet.
Witches are abroad tonight" re-
marked Mr. Henderson.
Nonsense" returned Rose sharply.
Ghosts may walk"
"Fiddlesticks."
'T knew a girl in New York who
had her fortune told one day-the seer
prophesied that the girl would marry
a bandit! What do you think of
that?"
Rose started violently as she re-
membered the remark of Mr. Phinney
the first time they had met Duke Hen
dersOn.
81 am a bandit, according to Ben
Phinney," went on Mr.. Henderson.
"He takes pleasure in pointing me out
to strangers as the prototype of Jesse
James"
"He told me that Jesse James would
have been proud to have had your
record" murmured Rose. looking down
at the silver pool
"Yet you do not seem alarmed" OBJ
served Henderson,
"Of course not"
THAT of course not Is the first