The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-03-19
shamafaced though brazen knowledge

, shame faced though brazen knowledge
that the girl who rode it had seen.
She sat moveless, her head high
one hand on the hunters foam-heckeC
neck, and their chances met like
crossed swords. The look stirred
something vague and deep within him
For an unforgettable instant their
eyes held each other, in a gaze rigid
challenging, almost defiant; then il
broke and she turned to the rest OF
the party squirting in a galloping zig
gag: a genial-faced man of middle age
in khaki who sat his horse like a
cavalryman, a younger one with a
reckless dark face and straight black
hair, and following these a half-dozen
youthful riders of both sexes, one of
the lads heavily plastered with mud
from a wet cropper, and the girls
chiefly gasps and giggles.
The elder of the two men pulled up
beside the leader, his astonished eyes
sweeping the house-front. with its
open blinds, the wisp of smoke curling
from the kitchen chimney. He said
something to her, and she nodded.
The younger man, meanwhile, had
flung himself from his horse, wild
eyed roam, and with his arm thrust
through its bride, strobe forward
among the welter of hounds, where
they scurried at fault, hither and
thither, yelping and eager.
What rotten lucki" he exclaimed.
! Gone to ground after twelve miles!
After him, Tawny! You mongrels
DO you imagine he's up tree? After
him, Bulger! Bring him here!"
He glanced up, and for the first time
saw the figure in tweeds looking on.
Valiant was attracted by his face, it's
dash and generosity everything its in
herent profigacy and weakness. Dark
as the girl was light, his features had
the same delicate chiseling, the in
breeding, nobility and Indulgence of
generations. He stared a moment,
and the somewhat supercilious look
travelled over the gazer, from dusty
boots to waving brown hair.
"Oh!" he said. His view slowly
took in the evidences of occupation.
The house is open, / see. Going to
get it fit for occupancy, l presume?"
yes"
The other turned. "Well, Judge
Chalmers, what do you think of that?
The unexpected has happened at last"
He looked at the porch. Who's to
occupy it?'
The owner"
Wonders will never ceaseH said
the young man easily, Struggling.
well, our quarryNis here somewhere. !
From the way the dogs act / should |
say he's bolted into the house. With
your permission I'll take one of them
in and see" He stopped and snapped |
leash on a dog-coliar.
I'm really very sorry" said Valiant, |
but I'm living in it at present"
The edge of a smile lifted the care
fully trained mustache over the
others white teeth. 1t had the per-
fectly courteous. air of saying, "Of
course, if you say so. But"
Valiant turned, with a gesture that
included all. IF you care tc dismount
and rest" he said, Il shall be honored,
though I'm afraid l cant offer you
such hospitality as l should wish
The Judge raised his broad soft hat.
Thank you. sir" he said, with a soft
accent that delightfully."- disdained the
letter "r" But we mustn't intruGe
any further. AS you know, of course,
the place has been uninhabite6 for
any number of years, and we had no
idea it was to acquire tenant. You
will overlook our riding through, l
hope. I'm afraid the neighborhood
has got used to considering this a sort
of no-man's land. It's a pleasure to
know that the Court is to be re-
claimed, sir. Come along, Chilly" he
added. Our fox has a burrow under
the house, reckon-hang the cunning
little DEVIL"
He waved his hat at the porch and
turned his horse down the path, side
by side with the golden chestnut.
After them trooped the others, horses
walking YEARLY, riders talking in low !
voices, the girls turning often to send !
swift bird-like chances behind them ,
TO where the straight masculine figure ,
still stood with the yellow sunshine on /
his face. They did not leap the wall '
his time, but filed decorously through c
he swinging gate to the Red Road. I
Then, as they passed from view be- !
lind the hedges, John Valiant heard
he younger voices break out together 6
ike the sound of bomb thrown into 4
! poultry-yard. t
John Valiant stood watching till the n
asst rider was out of sight. There c
vas warm flush of color in his face. =
AT length he turned with a ghost !
II sigh, opened the hall door wide {,
md stalking hundred yards away, Ii
at down on the shady grass and be- c.
IAN to whistle, with his eyes on the S
Ioor.
Presently he was rewarded On
udden, around the edge Of the sill -