The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-08-23
CHAPTER VT.-contlnued.

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 turned Williams down
when he spoke to me the other day o.
Colonel Dexter Baldwin, had his
faults, like other men. but they were
not those of indirection.
II reckon 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 for.
Besides, there's yesterday"
1--WE agreed tssforssts the yesterday
Incidents" the lame duck reminded
him quickly. And then: II ought to
say No. Colonel Baldwin; say 1t
straight out, and stick to 1t. If don't
say it-if ask for little time--it Is
because I want to weigh up few
things-the things I can't talk about to
you or to Williams. II. In the end, I
should be fool enough to say Yes 1t
II only fair to you to say that, right In
the middle Of the scrap, I may fall
to pieces on you" =
Baldwin wns too shrewd to .fry 20
push his advantage when thfre was.
or seemed to be. a chance that. the
desired end was as good. as halfint-
tained. And It was a purely ,maiful
prompting that made hiih get up and
thrust out his hand to, the young fel-
low who was trying to De as frank
~ he dared to be. y y-.s,
"Put 1t there. John" Rs said heartily.
Nobody In the TimanSSnt. IL going. to
pry into you an inch farther than you
care to let 'em; and ifSyon get into
trouble by helping us, you can count
on at least one hacker who will stand
by you until the cows come home.
Now, then, hunt up your coat, and
well drive over to Hllfcrest for atbite
to eat. ! had my orders from the
missus before I left town, and l know
better than to go home without you.
Never mind the commlssary khaki. II
won't be the first time that tke'worlS-
ing clothes have figured at thh Hill
crest table-not by long shot, 4,
And because he did not know how
to frame n 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 dip into the former things
as the dinner at Hillcrest foreshad-
owed. The reluctance was not forced;
Il was real. The primitive msn.ln him
did not wish to be entertained. On
the fast auto drive down TO Brewster.
across the bridge. and out TO the 'I,atd-
win ranch, Smiths humor was frankly
sardonic. He cherished 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 horse was coming at n smart
gallop, the rider, Corona Baldwin,
booted and spurred and riding mans
saddle.
Smith let the gray car go on Its
way up the drive without him.
$50 you weakened, did your I'm
disappointed In you" was Miss Bald
wins greeting. you've made me lose
my bet with colonel-daddy. i said you
wouldn't come"
II had no business 10 come" he an
swered morosely. but your father
wouldn't let me off,"
"Of course he wouldn't; daddy never
lets anybody of, unless they owe him
money. Where are your evening
clothesf"
Smith let the lever of moroseness
slip back TO the grinning notch. "They
are about two thousand miles away, |
and probably in some secaBa;hantf |
shop by this time. What makes yo,f |
think ! ever wore dress suit?" lie
had closed the gates and was walking !
beside her horse up the driveway.
'Oh, just guessed it," she returned |
lightly, "and II you'll hold Your breath
I'll guess again."
Don't" he laughed.
At the steps negro stableboy was |
waiting to take Miss Baldwin's horse. |
Smith knew how to help a woman
down from a slde-saddle; but the two
Dtirruped rig stumped Linn. The young |