The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-09-17
CHAPTER II.

into the mountains was well made
and well kept up. The canon through
the foothills was not very deep-for
Colorado-and the ascent was gentle.
Naturally it wound in every direction,
following the devious course OF the
river, which it frequently crossed from
one side to the other on rude log
bridges. A brisk gallop of half mile
or so on a convenient stretch OF COM
paratively level going put the two In
the lead far ahead OF the numbering
wagon and out of sight of those others
of the party who had elected to go a
horseback There was perhaps tacit
agreement among the latter not to
break in upon this growing friendship,
or, more frankly, not to interfere in =
developing love affair.
The canon broadened here and
there at long intervals and ranch
houses were found in every clearing.
but these were few and far between
and for the most part Armstrong and
Enid Maitland rode practically alone
save for the passage of an occasional
lumber wagon
"You can't think" began the man.
as they drew rein after a splendid
gallop and the somewhat tired horses
readily subsidad into walk, how |
hate to 60 back and leave you"
And you cant think how loath am
to have you return" the girl flashed
out at him with side!ong glance from
her bright blue ewes and witching
smile from her scarlet lips.
Enid Maitland" said the man,
"vou know | iHst worship you, ia
like to sweep you ont OF your saddle,
lift you to the bow Of mine and ride
away with YOU | can't keep my hands
off you, /"
Before she realized what he would
be about he swcryed his horse toward
her, his arm Went around her sad
denly. Taken completely off her guard
she could make no resistance, indeed
she scarcely knew what to expect un-
til he crushed her to him and kissed
her, almost roughly. full on the lips.
How dare you cried the girl her
face atlame, freeing herself at last,
and swinging her own horse almost to
the edge of the road which here ran
on an excavation some fifty feet above
the river.
"How dare II" laughed the auda-
cious man, apparently no whit
abashed by her Indignation. When |
think Of my opportunity am amazed
at my moderation"
"Your opportunity; your modera-
tion?'
"Yes, when | had you helpless I
took but one kiss; might have held
you longer and taken a hundred"
"And by what right did you take
that one?' haughtily demanded the
outraged young woman. looking at
him beneath level brows while the
color slowly receded from her face.
She had never been kissed by man
other than blood relation In her
life-remember, suspicious reader,
that she was from Philadelphia and
she resented this sudden and unau-
thorized caress with every atom and
instinct of her still somewhat conven-
tional being.
"But aren't you half way engaged to
me?' he pleaded in justification. see
Ing the unwontcd seriousness with
which she had received his impudent
advance. Didn't YOU agree to give
me chance"
Il did say that / liked you very
much" she admitted. no man better.
and that | thought that You might"
well, then" he BEGAN.
But she would not BE- interrupted.
Il did not mean tn, you should en-
Joy all the privileges Of a conquest be-
fore you had won lac, will thank
you not to do that a@ain, SIR"
ut seems to have had a very diff
rerent effect upon you than 1t does
upon me" replied the man coolly Il
loved you before, but now, since I
have kissed you, worship you
ut hasn't affected me that way" re-
torted the girl promptly, her face still
frowning and indignant. Not at all,
and"
Forgive me, Enid pleaded the
other Il just couldn't help 1t. You
were so beautiful had to- | took the
chance. You are not accustomed to
our ways"
rs this your habit in your love az
fairs?" asked the girl swiftly and not
without spice of feminine malice.
T never had any love affair be-
FORE" he replied with a ready mascu-
line mendacity, at least none worth
mentioning. But you see this Is the
west; We have gained what We have
by demanding every inch that nature
offers, and then claiming the all.
That's the way We play the game out
here and that's the way We win"
"But have not yet learned to play
the game as you call it, by any such
rules, returned the young woman de.
terminedly, and it is not the way to
win me If am the stake"
What is the way" asked the man
anxiously. SHOW me and I'll take II
no matter what its difficulty"
"Ah. for me to point out the Yay