The Parker post., 1912-10-26
Desperate Duke
By CLARISSA MACKE
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary
Press.)

Ito think that | should come back
to Montana again!" Rose Carson
sighed blissfully as Mr.. Riddle drove
into the yard of the ranch and skill
fully turned the spirited horses around
by the side door.
I'VE hope to keep you here this
time. my dear!" he said as she sprang
to the ground and rushed into the am
pie embrace of his wife
"My dear child. It's delightful to
think that your foolish mother de-
cided to go away again, and that you
are sent back to us so soon. I am
glad that your mother decided to go
abroad-otherwise we would have had
lonely winter! Tell me, is Agatha
going to marry that good-looking Eng
lishman?"
Rose Carson laughed merr1ly at
Aunt Ruth's eager questioning. TO
both of them, Mrs. Carson's numerous
love affairs were a never-ceasing topic
of interest Roses mother was young
and ridiculously pretty for widow
with a grown up daughter She was
indeed a frivolous, rather selfish per-
sui, UuI WlLudl 81 CudI mug III AOi
self-interest that one could not be en-
tirely vexed with her This was the
second time she had sent her daughter
out to spend the winter with the Rid
dies in Montana-Mrs. Carson had
been a Riddle-while the little widow
calmly appropriated her comfortable
income to purposes of pleasure.
will
marry that Englishman?" repeated
Mrs Riddle sitting down in Roses
room while the girl removed the dust
of the long ride from the railroad sta
ton
Dear Aunt Ruth. | really believe
that mother will marry Mr.. Chicester
before she returns to New York.
confidently expect to receive from her
a perfectly charming little letter an
nouncing that she has decided that 1t
would be best for her future happiness
and hoping that will not feel too bad
ly about it," Roses eyes were very
bright as she brushed her brown hair
into shiny coils around her head.
Mrs. Riddle was perturbed. 81 hope
you-you really would feel badly.
wouldn't you. dear?"
"Yes. and no." answered the girl
slowly Mother and are so very
different. you know. We don't care for
the same person or the same things. |
could be perfectly happy here with you
and Uncle Rob the rest of my life
while mother would be miserable if she
had to stop here one night. There's
the whole description of our charac-
ters in a nutshell"
"And you cont care for New York
1T does seem as though people had
such a good time there!" sighed Mrs.
Riddle.
"They do and they get bored with it
ALL The people who really have
good time in New York are the Wis
itors. | would rather live out here
and be one of the visitors sometimes.
Really. Rose?"
"Cross my heart!" She smiled sun
nily at Mrs. Riddle.
81 am so glad, dear, because If your
mother does marry her Englishman,
why Ralph and l want you to come
out here and make your home with us
but hope you will marry one of our
splendid men and make home for
yourself"
Rose threw her arms around her
aunt and kissed her tenderly.
81 shall be so happy If you really
want me-somehow l seem to be
misfit in New York Out here, feel
as though had come back home, that
l am breathing my native air. that
have come into my own!"
"Then If you marry one of our
neighbors you will belong to US en-.
tirely hope there isn't anybody
back in the east"
Rose laughed light-heartedly. mo
body there or anywhere else. auntie!"
"Then that's all right" declared
Mrs Riddle so emphatically that the
girl laughed once more
Two months passed and October
came with crisp mornings, sunny
moons. and long golden and purple af
ternoons. Rose Carson rode every day
day. sometimes alone and occasional
ly accompanied by her uncle or one
of his trusted men.
One of these men from the Riddle
ranch was a long. lean, sandy-haired
individual. named Phinny. who usual
ly wore a dissatisfied frown as though
the escorting of lovely young women
along meandering trails bored him ex-
tremely On the contrary he was i'm
mensely flattered that Mr.. Riddle had
chosen him as body guard to his niece
Mr.. Phinney was fond of joke.
WHO is that?' inquired Rose one
day as they met a man riding up the
trail
Mr.. Phinney favored the stranger
with a scowl and received in return
look of amusement from pair of dark
blue eyes.
That" he said after the stranger
had passed beyond hearing, that
there gent is none other than the