El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-15
HUMAN NATURE
By Leslie Thomas.

ITO HERSELF the girl admitted
that Dick Morant approached
l. her ideal. She had never been
accustomed to acquaintance who
spoke of little else but sport; and the
menfolk Of the society into which she
was thrown Jared upon her without
exception. Therefore Richard 8Iorant,
quiet in voice and manner who sympa-
thized with her tastes, attracted her of
necessity.
James Clifford had been called to
town by the lat mail train, and his
daughter begged TO drive with him to
the station. Now she was returning
Just before midnight. The chauffeur
drove at medium pace. A sudden
confused noise arose from the wooded
ground on their left. There were shouts
and the sound of a scuffIe.
stop" she cried
The chauffeur slowed down the car
and turned
L wouldn't wait. miss. Best get
on. It's those pOachers. They're
But Betty Clifford was moving near
er to the roadside She reached the
hedge at a portion lower than the rest
In the moonlight she could see strug-
glng figures. TWO broke away from
the rest and ran toward her. Fright
ened, she held her breath.
The runaway pair stopped to face
their pursuers. One raised his gun.
but 1t was knocked from his hand. A
Keeper seized him and they wrestled.
His companion struck out wildly with
a cudgeL His antagonist staggered
then recovered and hit with clenched
fist
The poacher went down heavily: but
the other had thrown the keeper and
crept up from behind. He had his gun
again Betty Clifford tried to shout
warning, but she could not speak The
young man swung round just in time.
Inc moonlight shOne on his features.
She saw Richard Morant plainly.
He ducked and sprang forward as
the pOacher's gun was leveled Next
instant. its owner fell. There was a
look on MOrants face at which Miss
Clifford gasped- He was on top Of
me man and had seized him by the
throat The girl screamed as he banged
his prisoners head on the ground
Other keepers came running No
rant rose, and walked in a puzzled
fashion towards the hedge.
Betty Your
Il saw" she faltered.
We've trapped the beauties at last"
1t was the keepers work That you
you should fight"
I thoroughly enjoyed it," Morant
protested.
You actually stunned that man
who -"
He was going to fire at me. Yes;
and broke his friends jaw, I fancy"
He forced a passage through to her
side, but she drew back markedly
away.
''You-you're like all the rest. after
ALL She broke off with a kind Of
sob. You deceived me"
In a way. I was afraid Of losing
you. I thought you disliked-7
Il asked you about such things. You
said you'd given them IN"
so 1 had-for the time. 1t was a
bubble, I know But Betty, I was
afraid that you wouldn't want to talk
TO me any longer"
I've been quite mistaken" she in
terrupted with quiet firmness. Were
still friends, If you like; but just
friendly neighbOrs, that's all. I've told
you, 1 think, that a certain type of
that you belonged to the type your
self. You've been a hypOcrite all
along"
His two letters remained unan-
sWered, and when he heard her name
coupled with Philip Theyden's he mere
" set his lips grimly. Theyden's fam
lily was the oldest Of the country, but
his reputation was none of the best.
It's no affair of mine" declared
Dick Morant through his teeth.
Later he ventured to give a hint to
James Clifford, who sighed and
wrinl1led his brOws.
Yes. we know Mr.. Theydon. At
least my daughter does. I've met him
once or twice Between ourselves. I
detest the fellow. I really can't think
what's come over Betty. Lately she's
seemed to change. She smokes cigar
cts openly. And her whole manners