Gilpin observer., 1916-03-23
HE WAS THE MAN
By PERcivAL KANE.

around after the fortunes of the fam
ily,' declared Lot emphatically.
Don't trail. Locate" Phelps sug-
gested mildly.
"Here?" Dots glance took in the
whole radius of valley and buttes
climbing up into foothills. For PHYS
sake. Ruddy. do have some discrimi--
nation. l don't belong out here. Can't
you see that?'
Not with the naked eye. think
you fit into the landscape mighty
we'll" He looked her over apprecia-
lively as she rode beside him. 'Wyom-
years. and it's treated me fine and
dandy"
You mean you've treated it fine
and dandy. You had money when you
came out here, and you could afford to-
play with the whole ranching PROPOSE
ton where to Max it's a serious af-
fair. We've got to live off the pro-
ceeds OF his place right now. and the
pickings are pretty small, can tell
you"
Il don't see what he wanted to come
for anyhow. He knew better"
He was the biggest rancher out
there and Max's friend, but he was
likewise sheriff, and she wondered
just how much he knew Of Max and
why Max had chosen to come out
there right in the midst of his career.
The shame and agony of it all were
still fresh in Grace's mind. Grace was
oil OF cd ohn
could remember there had been no
mother hand over her, only Grace, and
she had grown up with love and loyal
ty toward her. After her marriage, it
had been understood that Dot was to
' live with them. and she had liked
Max, too, for all his easy-going ways.
Max had played the market bit
too heavily one day and had found
himself called to produce cash when
he had none He had used, money In
trusted to him Just overnight intend
ing to replace it. and there had been
none coming in to replace it with. The
market dropped with slump, ap5aa
haggard, gray-faced man had returned
to Grace that night and told her the
fiat truth.
Grace had money Of her own, money,
too. that was Dots. from their father,
and they had dubbed together and
had pulled Max over the crisis. He
had never seemed to get back his
nerve. though and finally they had
| sold everything and put the cash into
| the little ranch next to Rudyard
Phelps place.
DO you know why Max came.
Sure" he said easily He'll get all
| over that. Just lost the reins a few
moments down there. And his wife
will get used to it"
"Oh, Grace likes It. Shed be salts
fed anywhere Max was"
"Im glad Of that. I rather thought
she was more of a city woman That's
all this place lacks-the right woman.
Amt 1t funny?" he didn't look at her,
but ahead Of them. Here you're
wanting to pull away from here, and
I'm wanting to stay. and wish to God
you'd marry me, and you wish you
could escape and take up the old
life"
Dot stopped her pony with a sudden
grip on the reins. her gray eyes meet
ing his without evasion. She had only
known him three months. but It
seemed years.
II had a chance to sell out and 90
East couple Of weeks ago. and
didn't"
why not?" /
because wanted to live next door
n nh I vvntlo
over, but it's next door Just the same.
I didn't think you'd be trying to run
away before l roped you" His tone
was low. II never did any real court
ing in my life-that is. with definite
object in view-and know you Just
look at me as a sort of easy-going pal.
but I've hoped some day you'd get
tired Of Max's ranch and step over the
line to mine. You said the other day
you hated to live next door to no
where. It's been next door to paradise
for me since you came. Dot" Dot was
silent. weighed problems within her
self, asking herself questions.
II know you can't be sure.' he went
on. I'm Eastern By birth, played on
the same football team with Max
years back; we belong to the same
fraternity. You like me we'll enough. l
know that but the point is would the p
whole world look black to you II you
knew you never were going to see
me again?"
"Why-why, don't know, Ruddy. 1t
doesn't seem as II could ever bear
that. Maybe I've grown used to you"
I'VE wouldn't stay here all the time,
you know. I've got plenty Of cash to
drift around on when you felt like q
change" =
Her eyes filled with tears.
Listen. Ruddy. II 1t were only my
self-but how would Max feel to think !.