The Washington herald., 1913-12-05
DAILY SHORT STORY

, four miles farther down the river. You
can see the red chimneys OF their h9use
o.. clear day. And then there are two
places above US on the river bank. the
Carterets and the Jamesons, but they
are closed in winter"
Geraldine leaned her chin on her palms
seriously. Who wears a military cloak
and rides horseback
The slice OF toast dropped from Phil
omeias hand
when on earth did he get backg.-
she demanded. and Geraldine laughed
Then you know him? I've seen him
every single day when I've been out
riding, and once when my girth was
loose and Butterfly started to dance as
/ was Tightening It, he came along and
fixed It for me-and helped me mount"
'oh, my dear, my dear, and the bish-
ops gone" exclaimed her cousin. You
must not even talk to Jack Carteret."
What's he done?" asked Gerry,
fatty.
Nothing, but he's not one Of us. He's
very ultra sort of person. Gerry, ana
you won't get tangled up with him.
will you? When Col. Carteret died last
year, IL turned out there wasn't a soul
left OF the old family. and this person
came from somewhere out OF the
West-'
81 came from there. too" put in Gerry,
mildly.
But, dear, he had been a cowboy, I
believe, or something quite as-as un-
controlled and unbusinesslike"
Geraldine's eyes sparkled. Memories
of some OF the glorious old days at her
fathers ranch on the old Belle Fourche
River up in Wyoming swept over her.
Il like him." she declared, and he's
coming to see me. and you'd better al
low it, Phil, for it's absolutely the only
diversion I can see"
PhilomeIa gave in hesitantly: but that
afternoon. as the clouds broke over
Smoky Mountain. Jack Carteret sat be-
fore the blazing fire in the long old library
drinking tea and telling Gerry that he
knew every ranch along the Belle
Fourche and had been foreman on old
Bill Merritt's XOX OUTFIT above Shelby.
81 knew the way you rode you belonged
out home she said joyOusly. And the
way you fixed my girth strap for me-
Come often"
He did. Every day they rode together
and every afternoon Miss Elliot played
chsperon unwilIingly over the tea table.
And someway Paris faded away into a
distant dream to Gerry. and all she
lCnged for was a return to the dear old
ranch that had lain idle since the death
Of her father. two years ago.
Then came one early morning when the
big bay horse refined at the veranda II
was before breakfast and Gerry was out
trimming off dead slips from the rose
bushes. He looked more daring and full
OF repressed energy than ever.
I'm going back home" he said, with
out preliminaries. The other chaps
turned up
What other chap? don't understand
''Seabury Carteret, my cousin. He went
TO Japan eight years ago, strolled around
the Orient. and succeeded in losing him
self 80 well that the report of his death
was sent in. and the location Of his grave
Last night l rode down to the pust-ofice
after l left her, and found thAre was
A telegram for me. He's in New YorI.
ready TO take this whole thing of my
hands, and I'm going back to Wyoming
VIII you come along, Gerry"
1t was asked quickly. He swung from
the saddle and stood beside her. all his
hearts love in eyes and voice, and Gerry.
without even looking up at Cousin Philo-
meIa's windows. laughed softly, happily.
She knew every blessed thing that he
had meant TO tell her. and she answered.
I'D love TO, Jack"
Back to the ranch life. dear?"
Back to everything. bless it," said
Gerry