The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-06-14

want me-somehow seem to be a
misfit in New York. Out here, | feel
as though | had come back home, that
| am breathing my native air. that |
have come into my ownl"
"Then II 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, auntiel"
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 fiattered that Mr.. Riddle had
chosen him as body guard to his niece
Mr.. Phinney was fond OF a Joke.
'Who is thatP 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 a
look Of amusement from a pair OF dark
blue eyes.
"That," he said after the stranger
had passed beyond hearing, that
there gent is none other than the
greatest desperate of the plains. His
name is Henderson, Duke Henderson,
and he's got record that Jesse James
would have been real proud to have
owned"
Indeed" gasped Rose. what has
he done?"
What hasn't he done? There you
have the answer" returned Mr. Phin-
ney.
Look out for him, ma'am," he
warned gloomily. why he would
steal the very horse you're riding on
If hadn't been along!"
II would run that risk Just th3
same" said Rose rather haughtily.
but afterwards when she was In her
own room she laughed heartily and
later on grew quite sober.
He looked very grave and harm.
less-except for his blue eyes. won
der"
After that Rose did not seem to
care to ride out even under the pro-
lection of Mr.. Phinney, although she
gave no reason for her sudden resolu-
ton.
After supper one night while Rose
sat at the piano playing very softly
there came the heavy tramping Of feet
from the piazza and Mr.. Riddle en-
tered the room accompanied by the
desperate, Duke Henderson. Rose
flushed and gave her hand to the
stranger as Mr.. Riddle performed the
introduction.
"Tll go and bring Mrs. Riddle" said
Uncle Rob, and he hastily departed.
leaving Rose alone with the desper-
ado.
Rose found herself avoiding the
glance Of pair of sparkling eyes, eyes
that under happy circumstances might
be very gay indeed.
Rose wondered If he knew how
handsome he looked sitting there In
his cowboy costume. his strong brown
fingers twisting his felt hat into a
dozen shapes. If he did know 1t, 1t
gave him no pleasure, for once he
sighed heavily and again he glanced
swiftly at her, and as their eyes met
he resumed his stare at the door.
1T is glorious night" he said at
last
Charming"
"Mr. Riddle says you're going out
for a ride with him-he has been
kind enough to say that may accom-
pany you. hope you don't mindf"
"Oh, mol" she said hastily. "If you
will excuse me l will go and put on
my riding skirt"
He held open the door for her and,
as she passed him, there might have
been the slightest toss OF her head.
When Rose came down again she
was a fair picture In a dust-colored |
habit with felt hat perched on the
back of her head.
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