The evening world., 1912-08-21
- Til e Is
Triangle Cupid

(Aufhor Of "The Two Gun n

oooo000O0oo0oo
There was no need 10 reply TO this ana
20 she sat silent. tapping one booted
foot impa ticntly and wishing earnestly
for Dams return. She stole Q furtivH
glance at him and was surprised to ma
him stu watching her. his syss SWIM
ming WITH an expression that she could
not doubt She lowered her eyes quick
~ and with confusion. her fAcs crdmson-
Ing.
II am soh' to the Diamond Dot now"
he SAID gently. 'CMsbbs you wouldn't
have any objections to ridin' with me.
I've sot an extra cinch buckle in my
situecsr en- patton up that leather In .
MY"
He saw q sudden smiis Illuminate her
face. and fonowinS her case he Jaw o
dust oioud rise from behind . ridge.
SIN Watching h saw the head and
shouddsrv OF . man appear. and then
his body and . saii0ping pony. Miss
Gates sighed aud sfsot . triumphant
glance toward The stranger. she would
not have to think Of the ivory hAu'disd
- again. 0hs turned TO the stranger.
her sy0 aAsht With defiance.
Il thank you W.T. much." shs sa3l
NY oinch 0uo1ls 10 ooming now. And'
-she could not wetAhosd the thrugt-
II shan ride homo Win the man whs
- bringing ~
He seraightsnsd Q ntus. TWISTING
GROUND and rspiacins he foot IN me
stirrup. Tor . little time hs sat silent.
watching panAs approach with mar
rowed. interested syUs Then IN MO
again wrsathsd into the odd smsis mat
she had noted previously.
80 the man that's comm = goin' -
ride homo With your" he said presently,
Q chill Of mockery IN nj voice. 4
reckon. to be acquainted with you. he
must DO pretty much Of . man"
Dan Miller u pretty much Of . man.
she returned. hooking him, defiance n
her eyes.
He settled heavily into his saddla M
eyes filiins with . cold humor.
Dan Miller" he repeated SLOWLY -
looked at her. his lips straight. his svss
glittering. We'll. hats . nice nnma.
ma'am: It sure 10. hut rm some sorry
that you can't ride back with ma"
He DOTTED his broad hat and bowed
deeply 20 her. Then. before she could
repiy. he had touched the spurs to his
ponys flanks and was off down the
traii toward tho Diamond Dot. Hak .
mile away she saw Dan and the stran.
ger pass. saw Dan turn IN ME saddle
and glance nc tho stranGsr's back: saw
the stranger return the compliment
Then she mcditated. thinking of the
mans uniqueness: the odd smile that
had fitted no often over his face: os
his bold insoience-svsn rsct1sssness. 4
few minutes later. when Dan returned
with the buckle. tho stranger was Just
dlsappearin behind the ridge which haA
concealed Dan shortly before.
Miss Oates was Watching the ridge
intently. Apparently she did not see or
hear Dan as the latter rode up with
flourish and dismounted within q few
feet OF her. But she turned when ne
said shortly:
Here's tho buckle" l
Dan" she said slowly. mischief siint.
ing In her eyes. do you know who
that man is7"
NO" he returned. his eyes lighting
jealousy. WAS he tsikin' to your
Yes" she returned. her expression
ono OF defiance and mocksry; "he said
that you had II nice name"
III.
For two days following the appear
ance OF tho stranger at the Diamond
Dot. Oates said nothing to his daughter
concerning him. Nor had Miss Gates
mentioned to her father a word about
her meeting with him In the cotton
wood. Miss Gates had seen the
stranger; several times she had seen
him down near the bunkhouse. or riding
into tho corral. or ioung,ng about with
the other men.
on the third day Oates sent the entire
OUTFIT forty miles down tho river with
the wagon. leaving only himself and
tho stranger at the ranch. on this day
Miss Gates saw the stranger mount his
pony and ride up the river toward Dan
Miller's shack. From behind the kitchen
window In the evening she observed his
return. Later she saw her father in
earnest conversation with the stranger
down near a corner OF the blacksmith
shop. After supper she heard their
voices on tho porch. and a sudden doubt
smote her. What was the reason OF her
fathers interest In the new man?
Toward the other men OF the 'outiit Ne
was reserved. eyen ;ac.turn. giving his
orders sharply and main tanning an
aloofress which she felt the men re-
sented, But with the new man he had
adopted new attitude. She would
have given much to have learned some-
thing OF the subject OF their conveva-
ton as they sat on the porch. but pride
forsbsde eavesiropping and modes,y
porch.
For long time she sat at the Kitchen
window, looking out over the stast!t
plains, wondering. determined 10 dts
cover the reason OF her fathers peculiar
attitude toward the stranger.
This opportunity came In the morning
OF the following day. She had finished
the breakfast dishes and was drawing
water at the windmill when she became
aware Of the stranger standing near.