The evening world., 1912-08-22
~ The&
Triangle Cupid
By Charles Alden Seltzer
tAufhor of "The Two-Cun Manly
An Adventure Romance OF the Big West
no Two-Cun MANY

Tho girls eyes flashed. But you're
going to try very hard to prove that ~
Is a rustierr' she declared.
His eyes seemed to snap: there was
an eagerness In his voice that caused
her to redden with confusion.
There's one thing that would keep
me from workin' very hard to hstch
him with tho goods on" he said.
She looked sharply at him. trying 70
keep him from seeing the understaad-
ing In her eyes.
"well7' she questioned.
That's for you to Say you'n 20 rtatn'
with NO." he "nswsred' |"
Mas Gates did 90 riding with The
stranger For many days following
the incident at the windmill Oates was
troub lsd over the turn things had taken.
As the days passed II seemed TO him
that his daughter Grew more familiar
with the stranger. Many times he saw
them riding together.
0atss began 10 regret the presence OF
the stranger. He regretted also the alb
ssnos Of the outfit. The wagon was
forty miles Down the river. and at least
once q week he found II necessary TO
70 out During his absences his daush-
ter was left alone With the STRANGER.
Tue latter had 20 far refused to act
company him. sayinE that he had nd
business with the men Of the outnt.'
0atso "a not press this point for . GER
tain dgsrish oppression In the mans
eyes warned him
0atss had not SEEN Dan. though sew
sral timas he had observed the stranger
hiding up the river toward the formers
ranch. several times he had approached
the stranger with questions CONCERNING
- A,sN tn aAk ln0 q mr.
answer had been the same: "Sothin'
doin'."
But aatss had one eonsoiing thought.
The days were passing: the month that
he had given Dan in which to discover
tho rustler was nearing its end. and ap-
parentiy Dan had done nothing. 0ates
could not conceal his satisfaction over
this One night over the supper table
he spoke to his daughter.
Dan amt runnin' that rustisv im
here very fast" he vsntured.
To his surprise Miss Gates seemed
not perturbed. There are stiil Q few
days left" she returned.
Gates frowned. you took Q shins 10
that gun-man7" ne Questioned.
Miss Gates's eyeiashes dropped. II
don't think that have taken . 'shans'
20 him." she replied.
But . few days following this en-
versation he saw her and the stronger
looping their ponies toward the Gotten
wood where he and the young lady ~
nrst met.
The stranSsr's experience with Mo-
Gates had taught him one thing-thot
his attitude toward her must be one q
respect. raton-perhaps some
thing strongsr>-shone In HE eyes whom
ever ne looked at her. but 40 yst -
had made no advances.
On tho day. however. on which shsy
had bean seen by Gates ~ they seds
out the stranger was more demou1tSa-
tive than usual. He had been q ths
Diamond Dot nearly a month: had bssn
much IN Miss Gatess company. AMI his
admiration for her had deepensd sa0h
day.
But be had said nothing Of yhiD uHtfi
they had dismounted 10 tho cottonwood :
and were sitting on q nat rock noar
tho base Of . tres. Then he loodAs1 q
her steadily with . grave smils.
You WIS settin' here when ~ ~
the nrSt time" he said. .
She nodded. looking out over ths 6at.
dead pdainA
That was . month ago." he en-
dnued.
she glanced swiftly at him. her face
u
turned.
He laughed You've got q eecd
memory" ne said. He leaned cioser TO
her. sudden fiush On his face You've
been countin' the daysr' he added. 90
rnficantly.
Yes" she returned. abstractediy.
I've been countin' them. too" he said,
his eyes gAttsrtnS.
She turned slowly and faced him. TO
see the passion IN his eyes. "Ohw shs
exclaimed. riding and standing before
him; you have been placing wrong
construction on my words. You havsn't
been thinking She hesltated and
looked at him with startled eyes. her .
face whitening.
The npsh died out OF his face, leaving
II slightly pale. and his lips straight
ened with . sudden. grim disappoint-
ment. lie rose and stood before her.
his TIPS curvins with slight bitterness
as he spoke.
u reckon that rye been thinkin'." ne
returned. . little hosrsely-"rvs been
thinkin' that mobile you'd got 10 tkin'
me a little. ia sure try awful hard to
make you
Don't. pleasei' she said. turning her
head slightly and looking out over the
plains. II was afraid that you would
look at Il like this" she added. turning
again and looking at him With ssd- 4
denly moist eyes. her lips trembling
httls. u shouldn't have becams
friendly with you at all; I sheua6n't
have Sons riding with YOU"
Che raised hsr eyes pleadingiy. So,
eTe % coutnusO "a