Gilpin observer., 1917-11-01
eleventh EPISODE
Lovers Leap.
THE BoRDERLANp.

THE BoRDERLAND.
Ever since earliest dawn the train
had been alternately climbing with
stertorous respiration the Strengthened
passes and sweeping down in wild,
free flight through the widening val
leys of great and spacious land Of
haggard beauty.
And since her eyes had first opened
to this new day 1t had not been possi-
BILE for long to distract Patria's atten-
tion from that endless panorama Of
grim, stark hills, painted desert and
boundless plains.
And in Patria's eyes, while she
watched, a gladness shone deep and
tender; and ever and again her young
bosom would lift and fall with a gen.
tie sigh Of happiness.
For this, to her, was homecoming /;
she was returning, after a long So
journ in a strange far country, to the
land which held first place in her
heart.
Toward mid-afternoon the train
pausel at a little station.
Here there was uncommon hustle Of
life. In addition to the customary
groups Of idle Mexicans and half
breeds, squaws with crude pottery to
sell to the avid tourist, and assorted
loafers, company Of hard-riding cow
people had gathered, and couple Of
rough-coated motorcars stood wait
ing.
As Patria, with her little train Of
servants and companions, descended
to the platform. high-spirited cheering
greeted her; the horsemen and women
yelled piercingly. and tossed aloft their
hats; and from one Of the motorcars
q man whose heaviness of stature as
sorted oddly with his alertness of ges-
ture strobe forward sombrero in hand,
then paused, stared and said in a
voice of wonder:
"Patria Channingw
The girl identified him after mo-
ment Of perplexity, during which her
memory harked back to days decade
ago. Her characteristic little frown of
thought was dispelled by a smile and
a laugh Of joyful recognition.
"Rodman Pillsburyl" she exclaimed
and gave him both her hands.
He took them awkwardly, shaking a
still bewildered head.
II don't know you at all, Pat" he
said. II was waiting for a little girl
"a freckled, long-legged tomboy who
could beat me riding and shooting and
most every way. And here you're
q woman grown Lord! how
antique you make me feel"
you needn't" she told him gayly
you've grown up every whit as much
as but no more, not the least bit
When l went East you were as sturdy
and husky as a stringbean and now
you're as slim and lssome as a water
melon! Heavens! don't accuse me Of
having changed! But forgive
Swiftly she made Pillsbury knowr
to her chaperon and Captain Parr.
II want you to be great friends" sh,
said with just hint Of embarrassment
as these last clasped hands. "Rodmar
was the first sweetheart ever had
Don-and Donald" she added charm
ingly to Pillsbury, 'is my last; we ar,
engnged."
To her immense relief there was n,
trace of hostility in the greeting whicl
Rodman accorded her betrothed.
Mr.. Pillsbury had grown up In NOR
than physique in the course of tel
years. The ability to mask his feel
ings with impenetrable dissimulatiol
was only one Of the accomplishment
which he had acquired, and which al
ted him 80 admirably to command q
once the friendship and respect Of tn
small army Of employees who locke
up to him as the local representativ
Of the Claiming interests-as, in shor
what Rodman Pillsbury really wal
Patria's viceroy, ruling dominions Q
land and men-broader, II less popr
lous, than many European principa
ity.
That exhilaration which had bee
mounting In Patria ever since he
awakening that morning grew sti
more intense as her motorcar swun
sway from the station and over
winding highroad. Now she was tho