The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-21

come or without her. You and me
will go on ahead, because I've got some
things out there on the ranch tbate
got to be tended to and I've arranged
for her to start In an hour or 10.
says she's got to get her house In
shape before she'll start. Wonderful
housekeeper-got to leave everything
Just SO or she'll be In misery all
the time she's gone. Oct your hat
on and jump in
Nan hesitated.
she'll be along right enough
there's her trunk In the wagon"
When Nan turned to 70 back into
the hotel Fritz Poth was staring
hard at her with an expression so
darkly disappearing that 1t startled
her. She had a half-formed impulse
TO ask him II there was any reason
why she should not go. but Ignored
II, and went on to her room. His
attitude annoyed and vaguely dis
turbed her. but she told herself as
she pinned her hat that no was pre-
sumptuous; that her movements
were certainly not Fritz Poth's az
fair and she said goodby to him
with a shade less friendliness in her
manner. He responded CURLY. glow
ering from the doorway as they
drove OF.
people on the long drive to the ranch
house on the Esmeraldas In some
thing of the manner Of u feudal lord.
That he considered himself all
powerful, omnipotent almost, In this
sparsely settled country was obvious
from the tone OF his conversation.
And with some reason, Nan opined,
judging from the obsequious saluta-
lions Of the sullen MeNicans and half
breeds whom they passed. and the
Unwilling, yet fAlf fearful mods OF
impecunious homestenders who pulled
TO the side Of the road to let him
go by.
hut why. even a. manager OF the
largest ranch In the county. he should
receive such consideration, rrudGing
~ II evidently was, Nan could not
exactly understand.
His manner toward her was respect
itself. yet she was conscious That he
eyed her covertiy when he thought
himself unobserved--that not
change Of expression escaped him,
and that her slightest word had his
entire attention.
This interest might have been con-
!, sidered flattering from man like
Spiser, yet Nan did not regard II so,
!. Rather, she felt a growing uneaslness
. as the miles heightened between her
self and Hopedalc. and there was no
) glimpse OF Miss Spiser on the various
: rises In the road behind them.
Noting her disquictude. which evil
denced itself In turning frequently
, he assured her that there was nc
cause for alarm.
, shes always an'hour or two after
!, the fair" he declared h,jnorously
: but she'll pike In by dark"
q Surprising she shouldn't: suppos-
ing something serious should happen
\ TO detain herr" Nan asked nervously
: We'll. what Of II? Nothln' or no
= body would eat you"
= The long road over the mesa drop
r ped abruptly into gulch. In the bot
tom OF which. where It widened int
IA a small nat. was a cluster Of adob'
z houses with n tiny general merchan
< disc store rising In the centre.
THE city OF III Orc explained
: Spiser: ALSO my post-office."
lie drove to the high platform II
a front. and called.
4 A grixxled, deliberate old man cam'
h out, finaily with a handful OF mail 20
I the first Individual. Nan thought, t.
q make no undue haste when Spise
> spoke. ,
. The old man nodded carelessly
. without looking at her.
A ''If any mail In forwarded here fol
q her, put II in with mine. She vii
4 be my guest for time"
!. There's mail here yet for YOU,
i last-guest." the old man answere,
I In n tone Of III concealed contempt
4 and he added with a touch Of malice
"She left NO sudden she didn't give
=, me no forwardin' address
=, Spiser gave him n furious look. bn
:, explained glibly enough to Nan: -
J, >lady friend OF my sisters that go
u homesick.''
!, The old post master looked up u
/, some surprise as though WONDERING
= why Spiser took the trouble to lie
. Then for the first time he reall!
:, looked at Nan.
Nan felt herself coloring under TN
scrutiny Of his QuizzIcal gray eyes
- feeling exceedingly uncomfortabi
q without knowing why,
:, "If you should et-homesick. too
Miss" he said sign ficantly and Will
4 new respect in his voice, why
. don't forget that I'm your neares
neighbor."
Nan looked from one to the othe
|. wondering what II all meant.
You talk too much. MacNeil. 10
a a Government official." Spiser lift"'
n the lines and brought the remnan
nr whip down hard on the horses
= backs.
II don't talk enough for Govern
" Ihent ofiicial." returned tho old ma
quietly. and no looked at Nan.
- ~ med6lesome old fool rye 20
!, 10 get his scalp" Spiser did not fee
II incumbent on him to explain tina
l. he already had tried, and had learne
l. that the Government appeared I
think uncommonly we'll ~ "Old Man
!" MacNeil, as he was designated In tn
n community.
70 Tho afternoons sun was wanin
:" when Spiser pulled the tired horse
., to a standstill on tho edge or IN
" mesa and. with the butt OF his Will
" pointed in, real pride TO tho vale
- below.
~ "Ain't that some picture"
y" And indeed, after tn" long, dust
ride OF the afternoon. II did look I
Nan like 1870 acres ~ paradise.
-. small stream ran like "A silver ribbo
.r along the emerald green OF an affair
4. field, while steep BLUFFS 81 red sand
n stone on either sldo ~ the valley re
a hectcd the glow OF the setting sun.
The air which rose from the blos
OF soming. freshly irrigated alfalfa mel