The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-12
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goin' to take any chancSt on McVea KNOWN
me-" His lips curled into slow, unhumor-
Gus smile. L shore wouldn't git no lob if
he knowed mt"
Disposing of the mustache was a slow.
laborious process. But it was off finally. and
then he lathered his chin and shaved as close
as the scraping razor would permit When
the task was completed he stood for mo-
ment gazing into the mirror at the trans
formation. If he had not been positive of
the fact, he would have doubted his own
identity. The face that he knew had been
skeptcal, snarling, insolent. The face that
now looked out at him from the glass was
lean, strong, and clear cut-and rather more
handsome than he cared to admit Yet he
was strangely pleased, for as he looked the
hard lips loosened and smile flashed back
at him.
IT reckon that's changed" he said He
Redeemed as he took a last glance into the
glasS-embarrassed over the contemplation
of his own comeliness. g reckon that no
body could tell that Bill Nevins had come
here an that Lon Dexter was goin away"
Approaching his pony, he opened the
slicker and deposited the tonsorial kit within.
Then he rolled the cylinders of his two
guns and hitched at the cartridge belt that
sagged over his hips. For moment he
stood gazing into the shimmering, Western
distance Somewhere in that unfeatured
waste was the struggling, adobe headquar-
tiers of the Bar Cross ranch-where he was
to ask for a job. He smiled grimly, strobe to
his pony, and threw the reins over the
saddle-horn.
II reckon I'll be gittin' along"
The pony single-footed for an instant, re-
luctant to depart from the shade of the trees.
Then the spurs rolled imperatively, and the
animal broke into a slow canter.
Swinging around sharp bend in the
trail, the pony snorted with surprise and
went back upon its launches As in the
case of the RATHER, Nevins frightened the
reins and swung one of his heavy pistols to
poise, searching rapidly with his eyes for
the cause
cts only me" said passionless voice
Il don't think you need to shoot won't
hurt you, think"
Nevins flung his weapon back into the
holster with snap of disgust. Then he
rested both hands upon the saddle-horn and
gazed with dropping jaws at the apparition
that had suddenly confronted him.
"Shucks! It's wornan!"
Framed in the dust-laden brush that
skirted the trail was young woman. The
wide felt hat that set jauntily upon her
head was covered with alkah dust; her
riding skirt and boots were thick with it.
Trouble swan deep in her eyes, and her
lips were pressed firmly together to keep
back some strong emotion.
ButfNevins could not see this sign He
was too intent upon taking an inventory of
the girl herself. And this task required
only a brief instant When 1t was COM
pleted Nevins was still gasping, and his
composure had settled down into his boot
legs. He suddenly felt like boiling. Had
he not been afraid of her laughter he would
have done so. But certain appeal in her
eyes held him.
Bad man2 It was not Nevins. Once,
perhaps, he had been. Yesterday he knew
himself as one-ironic, deliberate, sneering
reckless of life and law 1t had slipped
away If there was anything of the bad
man in this embarrassed, awkward, sur
prised puncher, whose wide eyes shone with
frank, unalloyed admiration, it was only
memory.
The young woman sat on a rock, her lips
still tightly pressed, her eyes red and tear
stained She was pale through the alkali
dust. Nevins dotted his broad hat and
bowed smilingly at her over his pony's name
He was rewarded with frown and sharp
rebuke from the tear-stained eyes, Her
voice followed.
IF you are going to sit there and make
faces at me, you might just aswell go awayP'
"Sorry, ma am, but / reckon that meetin'
up with girl like you sorta sudden, would
make any man make faces. But | amt
tryin' to scare you"
Her glance was almost malign. ''You
wouldn't need to try. Just seeing you is
enough" An expression OF pain crossed
her face. eff you are human, you might
ask what has happened. Has it occurred to
you that while you are sitting there, grin
ming and trying to say smart things, that
might be su-suf-fer-ing9 The pain In her
face deepened; repression ceased, and she
placed both hands over her lips to hold
back the sobs that suddenly shook her.
And now a thrill of compassion shot
through Nevins and brought him of his
pony with businesslike rapidity. In an in
slant he was beside the girl, all traces Of
levity replaced by an expression of grave
concern.
| "What is it, ma'am9 I'm sorry that
II
, eff you were you'd be doing something