The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-27

MY aunt he began, ana az
tho grin on Briggs face widened, he
stopped short. and fell into a sulk.
mo use telling you anything,
Brig" he said. at last. You can
guess by the color OF my eye"
sure" said Brig. after mo-
ment OF baffled silence. "Yore
aunt seems TO think a whole lot Of
you. And. speakin' about women
folks. what's this comm down off
tho hlll2"
lie nodded AZ the foothills 20 the
west. and as Bowles gazed he saw
Dixie Lee coming down the broad
slope like an arrow. She was riding
Wa-ha.lote. too. and AT sight OF that
noble charger the heart OF Bat
Wing Bowies became sad--or per
haps II was nj sight OF Dixie. How
ever that may be. he continued on
his way with melancholy reslgna-
ton: while Brig viewed her coming
with alarm.
Here's where ketch hell for
somethin'i" he muttcred. az she
sighted him from affair; and when
che rode up and faced him be hung
his head like n truant.
You Brig" she said. at last.
whipping the hair from her eyes
with ono hand. you haven't got
git.up enough in you 10 win an In
dian squaw, Youll make lovely
husband for somebody. and that's
a fact.-the way you do your court
ing. Who do you think ID up TO
the big house waiting for your
"Huh?" demanded Brig. now
suddenly all attention.
Well. she's been there for more
than a day. What she sees In you
is more than ! can say. but
Who're ye talkin' about?" bark
cd Brigham. throwing loose his
leadingrope.
I'm talking about your girl" an
swered Dixie. with Spartan direct
ness. Here. III lead your pack
70 ahead and show her your dust :"
I'm do that" said Brig. leaning
forward as she spoke: and. pass
ing over the rope. he went spur
ring up the road.
Dixie Lee gave Bowles a level
look from beneath her tumbled
hair. and touched Wa.ha-lote with
the spur.
Well, look at that crazy fool
ride" she observed. as Brig disap-
peared in his own dust. You'd
think from the way he travels he
Vas the keenest lover in the
world" She paused here and
laughed TO herself
Yes. indeed" responded
Powies. with certain brotherly
pride. "old Brig thinks a lot OF
that girl"
We'll. maybe he does" conceded
Dixie. but he certainly makes me
provoked. I declare. the way some
OF these men---" she paused again
and bit her lip. Mr.. Bowles was
one OF those men. too.
Il reckon it's all right" she con
tinucd. resignedly. but when a
woman has TO ride clear oyerto the
ella. and propose for a man. and
steal his girl for him. and then
round him up and send him in.
guess she has some excuse TO speak
her mind. Don't you think so. Mr.
Bowles7 Well. then, II your friend
Brigham had had his way. he would
have hit for the summit OF the
White mountains. and his girl
would have been married TO Nor
mon,- 1t makes me mad. Mr.
Bowles. declare IT does, The
idea OF leaving that poor little girl
over there and never going near
her. when all the time she was beg.
ging him TO come back. and her
folks were reading her letters.
She couldn't write It TO him
she had TO tell him-.and he never
showed up at all. Please don't apol-
ogize for him. MIR. Bowles: I'm sure
there's not a word 10 be said"
Mr.. Bowles bowed his head and
felt very humble. indeed. as II he.
too. In some inexplicable way had
erred and been rebuked.
"Im sorry" he said. at last. Its
my own fault should have ex.
planned at the beginning. But now
your mother has written to her sis.
ter. and she has told my aunt. and
so I've got to move on. She's tele-
graphing already. lie showed her
the yellow message and IL slipped
back into his pocket.
"Oh. dear" pouted Dixie, yanklng
at the reluctant pack horse. Il just
knew she'd do Il. Mother means
well, but she's n New Yorker. and
well. hope she's satisfied"
"Yes, hope so. too" added
Bowles. Il never did have anything
10 be ashamed OF. but--do you know
who ann"
"No. don't" answered Dixie
May. And don't care. either"
she added, glancing across at him
with clear-seeing eyes. And say.
what's the matter with that pack?"
She dismounted quickly as she
spoke. and Bowles dropped off to
help. Then, after ropes had been
frightened they stood silent within
the circle OF their horses
mir. Bowles." began Dixie. with
sudden frankness. You've done
well out here. but there's one thing
I'm disappointed in--you don't
keep the customs OF the country"
"Why. what do YOU mean, Miss
as n