Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-12-12
CHAPTER Ix.-(continued.)


and is to get 1T II he stays sober year.
CHAPTER Ix.-(continued.)
At dinner that evening Gene was
very talkative. He told of his life on
the ranch. of its methodical monot-
ony, of its seclusion, for he saw little
OF his neighbors and seldom went in
to the town. Rose listened with eager
interest, and the old man with a sulky.
glowering attention. At intervals he
shot piercing look at his boy, eying
him sidewise with cogitating intent
ness of observation. His remarks
were few, but Gene was SO loquacious
that there was little opportunity for
another voice to be heard. He pratt
tied on like a happy child, recounting
the minutest details of his life after
the fashion of those who live much
alone.
In the light of the crystal lamp that
spread a ruffied shade OF yellow silk
over the center of the table, he was
seen to be quite unlike his father or
sister His jet-black hair and uniform
ly pale skin resembled his mothers.
but his face in Its full, rounded con-
tours. slightly turned-up nose. and
eyebrows as thick as strips OF fur.
had n heaviness hers had lacked.
Some people thought him good-looking,
and there was a sort OF unusual, Latin
picturesqueness in the combination Of
his curly black hair. which he wore
rising up in n bulwark of waves from
his forehead, his white skin. and the
small, dark mustache, delicate as an
eyebrow. that shaded his upper lip. 1t
was one of his fathers grievances
against him that he would have made
q pretty girl. and that bis soft, affec-
tonate character would have been
quite charming in a woman. Now.
listening to him, It seemed TO the
older man as II It were Just the kind
Of talk one might expect from Gene.
The father had difficulty in suppress
ing a snort OF derision when he heard
the young man recounting to Rose his
troubles with his Chinese cook.
Before dinner was over Gene ex-
cused himself on the plea that he was
going to the theater.
I'm such a hayseed now" he said
as he rose. that don't want to miss
\ thing. Haven't seen a play for six
months and I'm Just crazy to see any
thing. Monte Christie" Uncle Toms
Cabin" East Lynne" I'm not par
ticular. anything1l suit me-"
Don't you go over to San Luis?"
growled his father sulkily. They
have plays there sometimes. l sup
pose"
"oh. yes. but I'm keeping out OF
harms way. The boys in San Lui i
don't understand and I'm not going to
put myself in the way of temptation.
You know, father. I want that ranch"
He turned n laughing glance on his
father; and the old man, with a sheep
ishly-discomfited expression, grunted
an unintelligible reply and bent over
his plate.
He did not raise his head till Gene
had left the room, when. looking up,
he leaned back in his chair and said
with a plaintive sigh:
What a damned fool that boy Isl"
Rose was up in arms at once.
why. papa, how can you say that,
Especially when you see how he's i'm
proved. It's wonderful. He's another
man. You can tell in a minute he's
not been drinking, he takes such an
interest In everything and is. so full
OF work and plans
is he?" said her father dryly.
Maybe so. but that don't prevent him
from being a damned fool"
You're unjust to Gene. Why do
you think he's fool?"
Just bsssGse he happens to be one.
You might as well ask me why think
the sun rises in the east and sets in
the west That's what 1t does, and
when say It does. I'm not criticizing
or complaining, I'm only stating the
plain facts"
Rose made a murmur of protest and
be went On.
You're queer cattle, you women. I
suppose a feller could live in the
world a hundred years and not under
stand you. There's Della Ryan, for
example, the brainiest woman know.
could give most men cards and spades
and beat 'em hands down. Last night
at Rocky Bar they were telling me
that she's written to the operator there
and told him she'll get him posi-.
ton here in the Atlantic and Pacific
-.hYa TOvnpanv IN which ehafa "a large