Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-20

not a smile OF amusement, but oil
queer brand OF amazed wonder.
Doc. you sure do speak up" he
said under his breath. " An You sure
are maxim a mistake, dealin OUT pills.
You ought TO be an outlaw" And
after moment he added: "or q
deputy"
Hardy looked back a moment before
speaking further. for Il wonder which
had been with him for weeks crept in
through me INDIGNATION that permeat-
ed his whole being. II grew and crew
until II found vent in the query
Sears. tell me: What sort OF q man
do YOU think Bob Mitchell is?
He sat down or the bed with man
rer lat proclaimed him sure OF The
others confidence.
The outlaw threw back his head
head with a dry laugh.
Say doe, he's no man; he's ioke'
around here for ten years and never's
come 10 showdown. Listen TO
me-
When we tried III bank in Kiheka,
he wasn't out OF hearin', And did he
! show up? Not much.
"ifterward did he work hard 10
pick M our trail? Not by damn
sight.
Ibid he work in the country he'd
ought 10 have knowed we'd followed
out? No. he did not,
lie waited until we quit town be-
fore he stuck his head out OF his hole
He started out with posse and Just
passed tn time. He knew We wouldn't
20 south after maxim that break. he
knew we'd light for Kansas, 10 the
/ north but did he come this way? Not
on your life,
| know every move he's made, and
! noi onea boon right. Don't get lhlnkih'
/ that he's With rs. though, | wouldn't
| tic w with coyote like him.
And ii IIaray's mind. shutting out
/ the last words OF the outlaw, was q PIC
tore OF Ruth Mitchell and her flashing
pride HAT always went with mention
OF her father
The n surance that the big deputy
wts unworthy OF his daughters deto-
lion chung clammil: in his conscious
moss aud threatened to take from the
next evening much OF its charm,
Ruth had asked him 10 ride out with
her and cat their evening meal in the
open. He responded gladly. but was
unusually absorbed as they rode slow
" side by side up the hill north of
town and out OF sight Of the buildings,
The girl seemed to notice. however
but talked easily, freely, with her vivid
quality Of entertainment as keen as it
ever had been and gradually he shook
Off the unpleasant thoughts and bore
his share OF the conversation.
They selected the flat rim OF a little
cliff which poked up from creek BOT
ION into 1 post oak forest Hardy
tied the horses, spread the blankeI
Ruth carried behind her saddle and
built q fire on The rock.
NOV we'll play Indian" he said ir
relcvantly.
you may | don't have 10. am,
she responded and looking up. he
thought he caught something like
look of pain in her eyes, where hen
In Ia
be light
Then she switched the theme anc
forced him to be busy with the meals
preparation.
When it was over they sat by the low
fire. watching purple shadows come
into the valley. seeing daylight wah'
and the stars prick out sinely, then II
whole consultations.
Their talk drifted with the com
Portable amessness whichdenotes ;
complete understanding between pe>
ple They were gently serious, an'
after time the comment bore oI
purposes. Hardy told her much o
his training in the East. intimate
things. which heretofore he had neve
considered interesting TO another, an'
from that he went TO his hopes. hi
ambitions. rambling on and on. dream
Ing aloud until darkness had final!
settled down.
But here is Hardy. wearing Oh
the pronoun first person, singular.
he laughed. Cant you manage Il
drag me away from talk about my
SELF"
She did not answer his banter: di
not even appear TO hear it-her ben
was serious, and she took up III
theme where he had left it, sltiin
crosslegged. palms together, finger
tips into the fire.
She began TO talk. gravcly and sin
ply bearing on deep, fundameha
distractions, il seemedfas though sh
spoke with all the wisdom OF III
, ages. and yet her manner was Ia
from anything assuming maidenl
and modest
Hardy had never heard woma
!, talk so before; at once she was $
, fully alive to grim realities, and )
tender 80 acutel, emotional.
, strange attempt II would have hcel
!, that which might strive to reconei
. this Ruth MITCHELL with the one VII