The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-07-13
CHAPTER vIl-continued.

CHAPTER vIl-continued.
-
II Smith hesitated. 1t was only partly
on his own account. He was thinking
again Of the young woman with the
honest eyes when he said: 'Do you
know why I turned Williams down
when he spoke to me the other dayf"
Colonel Dexter Baldwin had his
faults, like other men, but they were
not those Of indirection.
II reckon I do know, son." he said,
with large tolerance. you're lame
duck Of some sort. But that's our
lookout. BARLEY il ready to swear
that you are not a crooked crook what
ever else 1t is that you're lodging for.
Besides, there's yesterday"
I'VE agreed to forget the yesterday
Incidents" the lame duck reminded
him quickly. And then: II ought to
say No. Colonel Baldwin; say it
straight out, and stick to it. II don't
say it-if ask for a little time-it is
because I want to weigh up few
things-the things can't talk about to
you or to Williams. II. In the end.
should be fool enough to say Yes it
is only fair to you to say that, right in
the middle Of the scrap, may fall
to pieces on you"
Baldwin was too shrewd to try to
push his advantage when there was,
or seemed to be, a chance that the
tained. And it was purely manful
prompting that made him get up and
thrust out his hand to the young fel-
low who was trying to be as frank
as he dared to be.
"Put 1t there, john" he said heartily.
Nobody in the Timanyoni is going to
pry into you an inch farther than you
care to let 'em; and II you get into
trouble by helping us, you can count
on at least one backer who will stand
by you until the cows come home.
Now, then, hunt up your coat, and
we'll drive over to Hillcrest for bite
to eat. I had my orders from the
missus before left town, and I know
better than to 60 home without you.
Never mind the commissary khaki. 1t
won't be the first time that the work.
Ing clothes have figured at the Hill
crest table-not by long shot"
And because he did not know how
to frame a refusal that would refuse,
Smith got his coat and went.
Given his choice between the two.
Smith would cheerfully have faced
another hand-to-hand battle with the
claim jumpers in preference to even
so mild a dip into the former things
as the dinner at Hillcrest foreshad-
owed. The reluctance was not forced !;
it was real. The primitive man In him
did not wish to be entertained. On
the fast auto drive down to Brewster,
across the bridge, and out to the Bald
win ranch, Smiths humOr was frankly
sardonic. He cherished a small hope
that Mrs. Baldwin might be shocked
1t the soft shirt and the khaki. 1t
would serve her right for taking man
from his job.
At the stone-pillared portal he got
out to open the gates. Down the
road horse was coming at smart
gallop, the rider, Corona Baldwin,
booted and spurred and riding mans
saddle.
Smith let the gray car go on It's
way up the drive without him.
$50 you weakened. did you? I'm
disappointed in you," was Miss Bald
wins greeting. you've made me lose
my bet with colonel-daddy. said you
wouldn't come"
II had no business to come" he an
swered morosely. "But your fatner
wouldn't let me on.
"Of course Re wouldn't; daddy never
lets anybody off, unless they owe him
money. Where are your evening
.clothes?"
Smith let the lever Of moroseness
slip back to the grinning notch. They
are about two thousand miles away.
and probably in some secondhand
shop BY this time. What makes you
think I ever wore a dress suit7" He
had closed the gates and was walking
beside her borse up the driveway.
"Oh, I just guessed it." she returned
lightly, "and If you'll hold your BREATH
I'll guess again."
"Don't," he laughed.
At the steps a negro stableboy was
waiting to take Miss Baldwin's morse.
Smith knew how to help a woman
down from a side-saddle; but the two
,stirruped rig s-umped him. The young