The evening world., 1912-02-29

IN F.--SMITH
Biggest Cow6ov Story Since 1.-The Nirginaan"
By Caroline Lockhart
49,
949t

Dora'g point OF view. a subject ~
a test for many trtte
theories: an erring human to be re-
by "A woman's benign influence.
Naturally. these thoughts had not sug-
themselves TO Smith.
Raiston looked forward eagerly TO The
evening meal. since II was almost NE
only limo at which n could exchange q
word with Dora. Breakfast was a hur-
rled analr. while both she and Susie
were absent from tho midday dinner.
The shy. fiutter!ng glances which he oc-
cas.onaliy surprised from her. h lool;
Of mutual appreciation which sometimes
passed between them at a quaint bit OF
Philosophy or naive remark started his
pulses dancing and set the whole world
SINGING a woriles> song Of toy.
Somehow. eating seemed n vulgar
function in the Schoolmarm's pres nee.
and he wished with all his heart that
the abominable grammar lessons which
filled her evenings might some time end;
In which case he would be able to con-
verse with her when not engaged In
rushing bread and meat to and fro.
HIS mos carefully laid plans to or
tain a few minutes alone Wits her were
invariably thwarted by smith. And from
the heights tn wrhidh no had been traac-
ported by some more than pashng
MN ~US ne kSoC 1 we
6rayged each evening TO the depths BY
the Aght Of Dora and Smith with their
heads togsther over that sccuosed
grammar.
He commenced 10 feet . dlstaste for
tAs bunkhouse assocIatss. and took to
wandering out Of doors. pausiny most
frequently In his meanderingo just out
side the 0arcae q light thrown through
the window by the dinins.room lamp.
Dora's gu~iisAeeonsss In believing that
Smiths interest in his Lessons was due
TO . dsairs for KNOWLEDGE Sh not make
| the <abaeau less tantaiisins to Ralston.
but Il would have been against every
tenet in bis code to suggest to Dora that
| Smith was not the misguided dissnoud.
in-ths-rovgh which ne beloved ham,.
Smith. on the contrary. hid no sucs,
scrupies. He lost no opportunity to
sneer at Ralston. when he decoveeed
! Dora wearing ora OF the hr4 Movers
! Of spring. which Raiston had brought
her, smith said das&ly:
THAT fresh u 10 a dead rinoer ~
q Teller that quit his wife and Nv ~
In Livinsston and run oil with . hlssuss.
shooter"
Dora laughed aloud. The Nlaa-0A
| and youthfua RaIston DESIRING Q ~
and five children for . ''biscu1t-e sootog'
was not q convincing ptctufA. Inst -
did not receive his i~nslnuation eerteedy
but added fuel to h unreas0nlng JoA1-
ousy beginning to fams In om0fs
breast.
Yet smith treated Raiston with Q ~
slderation which was surprising In vooW
Of the wantOn insults he freQuSu4H N
iicted upon those whom he dAolx1o0.
Susie guessed the reason for his 0QDog.
fieial courtesy. and Raiston. orhaoa.
suspected " also.
In his heart. Smith was afraid. ySBot
and always. he was a judge OF moo-
rather. Of certain qualities In msn. -
knew that should he give intentional
offense to Ralston he would be Obliged
either to retract or 10 back up hao -.
suit with a gun. RalstOn w0uld % u
last man to accept Al anront WSeh
meekness.
Smith did not wish affairs to seAoh
this crisis. He did not want 70 eogoo
an Issue until he mad demonstrated -
his W satisfaction that he Wa tho
better man Of the two with words -
fists or weapons. But once he Sound
the flaw in Ralston's armor ne would
speedily become the asgressor. 0
were Smiths tactics. He vas reckless
with caution; daring when It WAS safe.
Tn role no was playing gave HIM 10
concern. Though the Indian woman's
spells OF s%ullenness irritated him. BE
conciliatsJ her with ondeaYing words,
caresses and tho promise OF a speedy
marriage. lie appelscd her Jealousy Of
Dora telling her that he studied the
foolish book-words only that he might
the better work for her interests; that
tie was fitting h2mself to cope with the
shrewd cattlemen with wnom there
were constant dealings. and that when
49,. .r rnnril fh. AAha,tpnurt VN
should live else here. Like Others Of
her sex. regardless ~ race or color. the
Indian woman believed because she
wanted 20 believe.
Just where his actions were leadinS
hin,. Smith lid not stop to consider. He
had no fear Of results. With Al over
weening confidence arlsing from pist
successes. he believed piat matters
would adjust themselves as they always
had. Smith wanted a home, n the
Macdonald cattle, horses AMI hay: but
more than any Of them he wanted Dora
Marshall. How he was going to obtain
them al was rot tAsn clear to him.
hut that when the time came 10 could
make "A way. he never for a momeat
SMITHS confidence II himself was su-
II he could nave expressed IDS
belief In words. ne mlaflt have said that
he could control Destiny, shape events
and his own itfo AS he liked. He he'd
been shot at, pursued ty posses, all but
lyncAel upon an oceasion, and always
he had escaped In some ~unlooked-tor
manner little snort of miraculous.
As a result, he had come to cherish .
superstitious belief that he bore .
charmed lite. that no real harm could
come to him. so he courted each
woman according to her nature az Ae
read It. and waited blindly for success
(To BE Continually