The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-09-20


toe to the flagstones for the swinging
push. From Smiths point Of view she
had for n background the gorgeous
sunset, but he could not see the more
distant glories.
1--WE owe you much, and we are go-
Ing tn owe you more" she said. "You
mustn't think that we don't appreciate
you nt your full value. Colonel-daddy
thinks you nre the most wonderful
somebody that ever lived, and so do a
lot of the Others"
"And your" he couldn't resist saying.
'I'm just plain ashamed-for the
way I treated you when you We're here
before. I've been eating humble-pie
ever SINCE"
Smith breathed freer. Nobody but n
most consummate actress could have
simulated her frank sincerity. He had
Jumped too quickly to the small sum-
in-addition conclusion. She did not
know the story of the absconding bank
cashier.
~ don't know why you should feel
that way" he said, eager, now, TO run
where he had before been afraid to
walk.
II do. And I believe you wanted to
shame me. believe you gave up your
place at the dam and took hold with
daddy more to show me what an incon-
sequent little idiot was than for any
other reason. Didn't you. really?"
He laughed In quiet ecstasy at this
newest and most adorable Of the
moods.
Honest confession Is good for the
soul: did" he boosted. "Now beat
that for frankness, If you can"
II can't" she admitted, laughing
back at him. "But now you've accom-
plished your purpose, I hope you are
not going to give up. That would be a
little hard on colonel-daddy."
"Oh. no; I'm not going to give up
until / have to-"
"Does that mean more than 1t saysT'
"Yes, I'm afraid 1t does.'
She was silent for the length of time
that IL took the flaming crimson In the
western sky to fade TO salmon. The
colonel had mounted the steps and was
coming toward them. The young WON
an slipped from the hammock and
stood up.
"Dont CO." said Smith, feeling as III
he were losing an opportunity and
leaving much unsaid that ought to b,
said. But the answer was n quie'
"good night" and she was gone.
Smith went back to town with th'
colonel the next morning PHYSICAL!
rested, TO be sure, but in frame o
mind bordering again upon the sar
donic. One thing stood out clearly
he was most Enthusiastically In low
with Corona Baldwin.
Hence there was another high re
solve not to go to Hillcrest again unit
he could go as a free man; n resolve
which, 1t is perhaps needless to say
was broken thereafter as often as tn
colonel asked him TO go. Why, in tn
last resort, Smith should have flnall.
chosen q confdant In the person o
William Starbuck, the reforped COW
puncher, he scarcely knew. But IL wa
TO Starbuck that he appealed for nd
vice when the sentimental situation
had grown fairly desperate.
'Ive told you enough so that yo'
: can understand the vise-nip of II
Billy" he said TO Starbuck one nigh
when he had dragged the mine owne
, up TO the bathroom suite in the Hophr
House, and had told him just little
enough TO merely hint at his condition
"You see how 1t stacks up. I'm In
fair way to come out of this the big
gest scoundrel alive-the piker VIII
takes advantage of the innocence of
5 good girl. I'm not the man she think
am. am standing over a volcano pl
> every minute OF the day. If 1t blow
: up. I'm gone, obliterated, wiped out"
A SIS 1t aiming to blow up?" aske
StarbuclS sagely.
: IL don't know any mere about thG
e than you do. 1t is the kind that usua
ly does blow up sooner or later. Ty
0 prepared for It as well as l can. Whf
Colonel Baldwin and the rest of 20
o needed was n financial manager, an
d Timanyoni High Line has its fightin
! chance--which was more than Timal
yoni Ditch had when / took hold. If
e should drop out now, you and Maxwe
Q and the colonel and Kinzie could 90 Q