Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-07-18
CHAPTER VII.-continued.

II smith neSltaISu. III was only paitiS
on his own account. He was thinking
again of the young woman with the
honest eyes when he said: DO you
know why | turned Williams down
when he spoke to me the other day.
Colonel Dexter Baldwin had his
faults, like other men, but they were
not those of indirection.
II reckon l do know, SON." he said,
with large tolerance. you're lame
duck of some sort. But that's our
lookout. BARLEY is ready to swear
that you are not crooked crook, what
ever else 1t is that you're lodging Tor.
Besides, there's yesterday"
I'VE agreed to forget the yesterday
Incidents" the lame duck reminded
him quickly. And then: Il ought to
say No. Colonel Baldwin; say it
straight out, and stick to 1t. If don't
say tiff l ask for little time-it is
because / want to weigh up few
things-the things can't talk about to
you or to Williams. If, in the end, l
should be fool enough TO say Yes it
40 Ouiy Ian ~ you W say eiitf AAsh' "a
the middle of the scrap, | may fall
10 pieces on you"
Baldwin was too shrewd to try to
push his advantage when there was,
or seemed to be, chance that the
desired end was as good as half at
tanned. And it was purely manful
prompting that made him get up and
thrust out his hand to the young fell
low who was trying TO be as frank
as he dared to be.
"Put it there, John" he said heartily.
Nobody in the Timanyoni Is going TO
pry into you an inch farther than you
care to let EN-: and if you get into
trouble by helping us, you can coGnt
on at least one hacker who will stand
by you until the cows come home.
Now. then, hunt up your coat, and
wen drive over to Hillcrest for bite
TO eat. / had my orders from the
mlssus before l left town, and | know
better than TO 90 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
10 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
fn4
as the dinner at Hillrrest foreshad-
owed. The reluctance was not forced;
1t 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
at the soft shirt and the khaki. 1t
would serve her right for taking a man
from his job.
At the stone-pillared portal he got
out to open the gates. Down the
road a horse was coming at a smart
gallop. the rider Corona Baldwin,
booted and spurred and riding a mans
saddle.
Smith let the gray car go on its
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 coloneI-daddy. l said you
wouldn't come
Il had no business to come" he an
swered morosely. But your father
wouldn't let me off,
"Of course he wouldn't; daddy never
lets anybody off, unless they owe him
money. Where are your evening
ciothesg'
Smith let the lever of moroseness
slip back to the grinning notch. They
are about two thousand miles away,
and probably IN some secondhand
think l ever wore a dress sult?" He
had closed the gates and was walking
beside her horse up the driveway.
@Oh. just guessed it," she returned
lightly, land 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 horse.
Smith knew how to help a woman
down from a side-saddle; but the two
stirruped rig stumped him. The young
woman laughed as she swung out of
her saddle to stand beside him.
ssThe women don't ride that way In
your part Of the country" she queried.
'Not yet"
I'm sorry for them, she scoffed.
And then Gene on in and meet NAM
ma you look as If you were dreading
1t. and, colonel-daddy says, its always
best tc have the dreaded things over
with"
smith did not find his meeting with
the daughters mother much If trial.
She was neither shocked at his clothes
nor disposed to be Historically CRATE
ful over the railroad-erossing incident.