The evening world., 1920-04-29

Hilton seated hlmSef, holulnB MS
hands toward the fire. He looked
about the one room of the cabin. In
two corners we're beds on the earthen
! floor, table made from a packing
box contained dishes, Dutch ovens
and frying pan were on the hearth.
The roof leaked.
The girl sat cycling the fire, rather
sullenly. He held his gaze on her,
watching the play Of life over her
throat as Ii threw a vclvety sheen
on the wind kissed skin. Her shirt
was open at the neck and he could
see the easy rise and fall OF her
breast as she breathed. He noticed
that her fingers were slender and
that her wrists, bronzcd by exposure,
Indicated with all their dclicacy, wiry
strength. Another thing: She was
clean.
Suddenly the girl looked up.
Think you'd know me againY she
sold bruskly, and rather staggered
as she moved.
II don't think / shall ever forget
YOU" he replied. II knew I should
not the first time 1 saw you. 1 shall
never forget the way you gave that
| fellow what hc deserved. 1t was
great!"
His manner was kindly, showing no
resentment at her belligerence, and
| though her only reply was a sniff he
know that what he had said pleased
her.
IT wouldn't want you to think Pm
staring at YOU" he went on. "A man
shouldn't be blamed for looking at
YOU closely"
Flows that?"
You are very beautiful"
She poked at the fire with stick.
II reckon that'n be enough OF
that" she said as she walked oack
toward the door.
The man smiled and followed her
with his eyes, which squinted specuIa-
lively. .
you'd better unsaddle that horse,
she said. Hell roll with your kaK
II you don't"
Hilton looked about the room again.
Are you alone?" he asked.
She whirled and looked at him
with temper. Her hand, perhaps IN
consciously, was pressed against the
wall near that rine.
"What II 1 am?"-sharply.
! "Recause II YOU are / shall not IN
saddle my horse. I'll have to go on"
| When she put her question she had
been rigidly expectant, but at his
| answer she relaxed and the ferceness
ttat had been about her yielded to a
curiosity.
ego on in the rain? How's that?'
in a voice that was quite dinerent'
no though she had encountered some
thing she did not understand:
He looked at her lengthy lnterVal
before replying. .I
| BECAUSE | respect you very nuch'
] Do ,-ou understand thatY
/ She moved back to the fireplace,
eyeing him questioningly, and ne met
| that look with an easy smile.
"No, l don't understand that" she
said. mo,
the other day because he didn't respect
| YOU. No one but that type OF man
would refuse to respect you lts
wise, perhaps, for you TO take down
| that rife when strangers come az
niqht but 1t isn't always
necessary. Some men might stay here
with YOU alone, but couldn't"
"You mean that you'd ride on in
the rain7"
Surely" 80, ,.,. -,
the gun, are your
He laughed outright.
nm IT'S not thati It's because I'd
ride any distance rather than DC
somethinR that might bring you un-
hardness, Don't you seer! he leaned
forward, elbows on knees, looking up
into her serious face. Don't you Sec
that IL I stayed here with you alone
and people heard ABOUT u 'neS ms Nv
not respect your"
"Ita none of their business!
"Neither was II any business OF
that man to insult you in town the
| 49, day Tl1It he die"
"But it's rainin' and you're cold
nin't afraid OF you.
n was raining, but he was not cold
TYbo IRE was close and, besides, an
other warmth was seeping through
Sts h.odv as he looked earnestly into
he face of that daughter of the
Fountains. The ready defiance was
rome from It and the features, in re-
pose, gave it an expression that was
little less than wiS1ui.
"And you are a young girl who
deserves the admiration OF every man
| that walks II l stayed here with you,
you would know It's all right: and so
would l. Others might not
understand"
She sat down abruptly, leaned back,
| claRped one knee With her hands and
smiled for the first time. 1t was a
beautiful smile, in great contrast to
her earlier sullen defiance.
IT like YOU" she said simply. and
Hilton's face grew hot.
'If you like me, my nights ride
hasn't gone to waste" he replied and
! laughed.
She looked him over again. calcu-
! latingly. as closely as she had at first,
but with q different interest. Her