The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-09-25

'tsS AS JoiA VI AAtS Y LII
a and h bright rays of hills-land
sunshine. She was young-in years;
young. too, in looks. as Kurt saw VIXEN
she raised her Eyes which were sof,
and almond shaped; but old, he assum-
ed, in much that she should o have
been.
She had found IT a long, hard ride
across the plains, and the end Of her
endurance had been prefaced by IRE
quent signs. changes OF position and
softly muffled ordinations, all Seem
g unnoted by the man beside her
whose deep-set eyes had remained
ike on the open space ahead, his slim
brown hands gripping the wheel, his
lean, sinewy body bending Slightly
forward.
His t~enseness relaxed; a startled, re-
morseful look came into his Eyes as he
saw two tears coursing down her
cheeks. They We're Enthusiastically real
tears-though, as he was we'll aware.
they came from physical causes alone.
Still, they penetrated the armor of I'M
concern with which he had girded him
self.
What for?" he asked CURLY.
What fort" she echoed, her mouth
quivering into pathetic droops. "For
rest, of course. You may be used to
this kind of locomotion, but I'm not
very well upholstered. and I'm shaken
to bits. Fact is. I'm just all pegged
out, old man. Have a heart, and stop
for repairs. What's your rush, any
way? l can't get loose hereabouts,
and l haven't anywhere to &c, any
how. Didn't mind getting took at all,
at all. How many more miles is it
to the end OF you trail? This is a
trail, isn't it?"
"A great many miles" he replied,
and 1t was on your account more thar
any other that l was hurrying to get to
the"
JAIL" she answered supinely, as he
hesitated.
NO. he said grimty. Y was goirg
to take you home-for tonight, any
way"
"Home! Oh. how you startle me! !
didn't know there was any of those
home stuff places left except in the
movies. l never was much stuck or
home, SO o needn't be afraid to call
it Jail for fear of hurting my feelings"
You can't work on my sympathy
that way" he said coldly.
Dear mel" she replied with a silly,
little giggle. II gave up trying to
work the sympathy racket long ago.
Honest, I've no %longings for home.
feel sorry for anyone who's tied down
to one. Why don't you kick over the
traces and come off your trail and see
what's on the other side of your hills ?
I'd hate to take root here. Say. Mr..
Sheriff Man, you look a good sort, ever
il you have played you were deaf and
dumb for the whole of his awful ride.
Let's sidetrack the trail and go--home
by moonlight"
His eyes remained rigid and relent-
less, but there was a slight twitching
of his strongest feature, the wide, mo-
bile mouth.
He looked at his watch.
We can wait for a few minutes -
he said in a matter of fact voice.
Please. may I go u and stretch?'
she asked pleadingly.
Taking silence for consent. she
climbed out of the car.
De you want a drink" he asked,
as he poured some water from an i'm
provised thermos bottle into q travel
ing cup,
Thanks for those first kind words
l Sir tACttlJIlSd, ldhlIlS lie cup IIOIn MIN
and drinking eagerly.
Why didn't o say you were thirs-
ty?" he asked in a resentful tone. with
o. looking at her. He had, in fact,
studiously refrained from looking at
her throughout the journey.
TIM not used to asking for anything
she answered with a chuckle. II take
what comes my a Taking is your
JOB, too, isn't it,"
ITO hell with my tob!' he broke out
f1ereely. I'D have taken It If
III knew it meant this"
TITS your own fault" she retorted.
TT wouldn't have been this if you
hadn't been SO grouchy. We could have
had q chummy little gabfest,s If you
hadn't been bunging holes in the land
scape with your lamps all the way
He made NO response but began to
examine the workings of his car.
Does the county furnish it to you %
she asked. 1T doesn't seem as If you'd
pick out anything like this. Was it
made in American Funny. outfit for
a cowboy country, anyway
Get in" he commanded cnrtIy. I'VE
must be away"
"Oh. please. not yet she implored.
IIS so aWIul not, ana 1 won't rave all
this outdoors for a long time. I D
I see there's q tidy little bit OF shade
yonder. Let's go there and rest awhile.
I'll be good; honest, I will, and when ]
get rested, you hit a faster gait to
even up. I get tired just the same as
honest folks do. Come, now, won't
you"
In a fash h had taken advantage OF
this oasis OF shade that beckoned en-
ticingly to the passer by.
He followed reluctantly.
''This is Heaven let loose" she said
Flolling hlxuriously against the trunk
of a tree. You're the only nice sheriff
man that ever run me in"
He sat down near her and looked
gloenlily ahead.
"Cheer ul,!!" she urged. after a shor,
silence. ut may not be so bad. An,
one would think you were the prisoner
instead OF poor little me-
II wish / were" he said shortly.
She looked at him curiously.
.Say, what's eating you, anyway? Il
you hate your job. what did you AXE II
tfor?"
ut was forced on me. I'm only sworr
in as acting sheriff for the county unit