The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-12-04

breakfast with them. but her changed
bearing and the cool treatment accord
ed to him by the condescending noble
man had nettled Layne. He took the
very next train back to the land of
sunshine, where people were not proud
and stuck up and did not forget old
friends.
On his return the cowboys Of Circle
Fl had besieged him eagerly for news
of their little chum of the ranch.
Eyes, | saw her." he answered, veil
ing the bitterness in his heart "and
she's great belle in her society toys.
She has beau, Lord Percy Ellington,
one of those plug hated chaps, and
she seems to like his attentions all
right. The boss says he followed them
back from Europe"
Having impaired this information to
the news hungry men, Ned had gone
off by himself under the starlight and
finally abandoned all his old plans and
hopes.
Ever since that night the young man
had been formulating plan for his
future, which he kept strictly to him
self, resolved to execute the first step
toward it when the owner Of the ranch
returned to his own again According
ly he mounted Muggins, his own pony
and rode rapidly away across the
brown mesa before the party could ar
rive.
From an eminence his well trained
eyes caught the blur of rising dust far
up the trail. Nearer approach enabled
him to recognize the ranch blackboard
driven by Bobcat Nick. Seated by
the driver was the trim figure Of Gyp-
sy, while the stout form of Harrington
and a slender man wearing q derby
occupied the back seat. Trailing be-
hind or galloping proudly on either
side of the vehicle rode the adoring
cowboys. chatting merrily with their
old friend
At sight Of the derby hat frOwn
crossed Ned's face. and, putting spur
to the unoffending Muggins, the dis
gruntled young horseman rode or
down the gulch.
Ellington alongw he exclaimed.
"Yet what right have to be surprised
or care for that? No doubt Harrington
wants to show his prospective son-in-
law what o fine ranch he has for his
daughter
When he had reached the live oak
thicket, quite a distance away, he let
Muggins rest. Throwing himself upon
the ground, he surrendered his mind to
a train of miserable thoughts.
He had lain there long time, when
suddenly he was aroused from his bit
ter reflections by the clatter Of hoOfs
over the rocky trail.
Pushing back his sombrero from his
eyes, he looked up into the smiling
face of Gypsy. seated upon Slap Dash,
her favorite pony.
"And this is the way you keep your
promise?" she said reproachfully.
He scrambled to his feet and, throw
ing one arm across the saddle on his
pony's back. leaned there till he could
summon self mastery.
"What do you care, Gypsy% he
finally Intercepted, his eyes stubborn
ly refusing to meet hers.
Some of the brightness left the girls
face as she noted the misery on his.
TELL me what it all means. Ned"
she begged. why are you not your
self? Why do find you so changedT
Changed? Heavens!" and he could
not forbear gesture of impotence.
"You"-
Here" she interrupted in the scold
ing tone of her privileged girlhOod,
1--WE come all the way from New York
to pay you visit at Circle II, arrive
and find this on the table," and she
held up a letter. "What do you mean
by resigning? Why do you want to
leave fathers ranch? He is wild over
1t and sent me to find you"
81 should think Ellington might OBJ
ject to your riding after me-" he re-
marked, his bronze cheeks reddening
with scorn.
"Ellington?" Then light broke over
her face. "That funny lord? Why.