The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-04

rem anu crushed II III his OWN dig,
rough paw. Once he rode near enough
to bend over and kiss her cheek.
When they reached his shack at last
Bonita had become diffident.
She protested feebly that they ought
not to go in, but she was tired and hot
and allowed herself after all TO be
lifted down from her saddle and al
most carried in the house
1t was a one-room shack of rough
lumber, with a lean-to kitchen in the
rear.
There was a bed in one corner with
a decent quilt and two pillows with
snowy slips. The floor was brushed
clean, and two empty cracker boxes,
in lieu of chairs, was all the room con-
tanned. except small zinc trunk.
Beyond, in the kitchen. dilapi-
dated stove. a small table with brown
oilcloth cover, on which We're some
porcelain dishes. and the simplest
cooking utensils, hanging on the
rough pine walls. completed the fur
nishings of this typical "baching" out
fit
Jim went for a fresh bucket Of
water. and as Bonita stared about her.
the last remnant OF romance slipped
away and she was seized with ,oui-
plete revulsion OF feeling.
She pictured the big low -cciled
rooms of the ranch house of her "a
Their, the dainty muslin curtains, the
piano. the comfortable rocking chairs,
folding bed of which she and Mil had
been SO proud.
Jim returned with the water For
want OF chair, the weary girl had
dropped down on the side of the bed
and half-reclined against pillow He
~lpp,G a. :. Gtipb,ne cHlsul aid save
it to her, setting the bucket on one of
the boxes
She drank long and deeply, and as
he watched her there in his house, sit
ting on his bed, all the hunger and
loneliness and untutored desire in his
being swelled up
lie dropped on his knees beside her,
and threw his arms about her. holding
her close, drawing her face down to
his and covering it with kisses, which
in his rough tenderness, he rained on
cheek and lips, and eyes and brow.
You are mine-mine," he said
softly and huskily.
At another time she would have sur
rendered happily, but in her present
mood, the remotenCss of the spot, their
absolute aloofness from human con-
tact, the baroness of this, his home,
alarmed her
In panic she fought him off.
She flung the cup across the room.
scattering the clean boards of the
floor with the remaining drops
oh" she cried. Il want to go back.
jim. I'm afraid! | cant cook a.I
wash, and-and all the re uon't
want 10 marry you a. anybody.
want to ride ard h Jeaux and sleep
with Nh
10 49, IN his feet beside her now,
with a different look on his strong
fea'u res, 'i3 crooked mouth was H.
most a straight line. His eyes were
serious with purpose.
Little girl, he said in a SLOW hurt
voice, well go on to the Pitchfork
ranch tonight If you are of the same
opinion tomorrow, III take you home.
AS for the work here, and-and the
rest. hadn't thought Of your mindin'
that.
Il had meant to help. I had ex-
pected to give you every minute of my
time that | could spare from maxim a
Twin for us both. | had wanted to
devote it all to maxim you happy.
love you, But it's up to you"
And so they rode on in silence until
shutdown, when they came to the home
ranch of the Pitchfork outfit and
Bonita was taken into the arms of old
Mrs. Durkin, who thought they were
there to make her friendly visit, and
mildly demonstrated with them for
not coming sooner.
Bonita was tired and distraught, and
went to bed early. Good night" was
the only thing Jim had said to her
from the time they arrived. She was
homesick and penitent
Next morning after breakfast she
was on the back porch watching the
group of men at the hitching post.
In fringed chaps" and with blue
bandanna knotted about his neck, jim
was leaning against wagon wheel
with his hat pulled down over his face
and an air of utter detection about
him.
Are you goin' to try Old Eagle,
Jim?" asked heavy-set man.
Il don't know" said Jim, but | can
ride him.
1t behooves man to talk discreetly
in country where he has to prove
every boast and threat. But he was in
no mood to fear danger.
So he flung down his cigarette, took
his rope from where it was fastened
to his saddle which lay on the ground.
and turned toward the corral without
a word
What you goin to do?" called one.
Ride him." answered laconic Jim.
And suiting the action to the word, he
roped the old sorrel, and, after some
trouble, got the saddle on him, and
The outlaw plunged and pitched a
few times, then reared on his hind legs
and fell back. jim hit the ground on
his-feet.
And when Old Eagle rolled over, he
set his high-heeled boot on the sad
~ a LII