The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-04-20

ulun drink. lIlefe arc lOlkS ike
that, who think it's smart to do GER
tain things, and maybe there are
lot Of 'cm like you, who don't need It,
don't even want it, but they do it be-
cause Of their regulations.
You see, it's the same rule worlin'
backwards out here"
The girl moved to face the fire
again. She scowled a trifle and the
glow on her checks was not wholly
due 10 the reflection OF the blazing
logs.
"Did It ever occur to you that there.
might be people who gave little at
tention 70 what others think OF
them" she asked rather coldly.
"Sure thlng!" There are lots like
that"
II can see where, II a stranger were
to plan to stay in place like this for
long IL might be eXpedicnt 10
cater to the community morals.
don't intend TO be n permanent resi-
dent. That is, ! won't II ! can help
it. / don't expect that I'd ever come
up to your notion Of worthy Wom-
ana bitterness creeping into the
voice---''sO perhaps 1t Is fortunate that
/ look OH this ranch only as means TO
an end"
"You mean, money ma'am?". he
asked, and when she did not reply 81
once he went on: Folks generally
come west for one Of three reasons:
money or health or because they like
the country. l take it your health.s
all right and that you amt
Just struck with the country"
She made a slight Erimace and sat
forward, elbows OH knees.
Yes, money! she sud under her
breath. 81 came here to get it. I'm
going to-" She looked up at him
quickly, eyebrows arChed III "a some
what defiant query, and, after pause
went on: You don't seem to ap-
proven"
mo. nIa'arn," candidly. that smile
only half hidden in his eyes.
And why not? What else Is there
out here for Il woman like me|
That's hard question. One thing
she might tnd Is herself. Tor in
stance"
She gave startled laugh and
asked: -
"Herself?"
"The same. nia'am. s'pose there
are folks who live for money and
what it'll bring 'em. Cities must be
full OF 'em or there wouldn't be so
many cities. Folks do work pretty
hard TO make money an pile 1t up.
but I've never seen any of EN- that
got to he very successful in other
ways. The more money they made
the more they seemed TO depend on
maxim money to attract attention
They don't seem to think that 1t
amt what n man does that really
counts so much as what he is. The
same goes for woman
He looked into her eyes and their
gazes were for the moment very
serious. Jane Hunter was meeting
with "A new sense Of values: Tom
Beck had sensed a faint reCklessness,
a despair about her and, behind all
his mockcry and lightness, was
warm heart. Then she terminated
the interval Of silence by saying i'm
patiently:
That's all very interesting. but
what you said about my needing my
brains and my grit is of greater in
terest. Do you mean that it's just
big job naturally or that there are
complications"
Both"
How much of both?"
Beck showed n hand into his pocket
and gave his head a skeptical twist.
THAT remains to be seen. It's a
| mans job to run this place under
favorable conditions. Your uncle.
| Col. Hunter, sort OF got shiftiess in
the last years, He let things slide. |
don't know about debts and such, but
I suspect there are some. There are
other things, though. You've gSt-
some envious neighbors and
some that amt particular how they
make their money,"-with Just a
shade of emphasis on the last.
You mean that they steal?"
PLENTY, ma'am."
But how? Who?
IT don't know, but It seems TO be
gettin quite the custom here to get
| rich off the II c especially
since the place changed owners"
"Why at that particular timer"
"Since 1t got noised about that a
woman was goin' to own it there's
been a lively interest in crime. ! told
| you that your uncle was a man who
was respected lot. Some feared him,
| too"
And they won't respect me be-
cause I'm a womanP'
That's about It, It's believed,
| ma am, that a woman, specially an
Eastern woman, can't make a go OF
it out here, so what's the use of giVin'
| her a fair shown"
He waited for her to speak again.
| bue she did not and he added with
that experimental manner:
80, maybe, if you want to make
money it'd be well to find q buyer
Maybe If you was to taken an interest
IN this ranch and did want to be g..
to stay in this country, you couldn't
make IL CO."
do you think that's impossible?"
| He waited a moment before saying:
| 81 don't know. You don't mako a
very good start, ma'am."
AT least you are deliciously frank!"