The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-04-23
By John Nelson Cole, Jr.

you were being left. He told me how
sorry he was. And only just few
moments ago he promised me To-
Don't ask anything of Decker" in
terrupted Alkali, coming closer.
Don't ask anything. And there's just
one other request I've got to make.
Tell him that he's not to put his foot
in this house again Either you've got
out The girl l come to see can't have
hunk of meat like that hanging
around. If he had had his way I'd be
sitting in camp now, wishing to see
you alone, Virginia, and tell you all
about it. Send him away now"
If there is one thing fatal it is to
try to force a woman's hand in the
presence of rival 1t isn't the nature
Of the sex to submit to being forced;
they have to be persuaded and coaxed
by countless little attentions And
when a woman chooses, she chooses
gracefully, which is to say gradually.
Alkai Richards, cowboy, couldn't be
expected to know this. He wanted
Virginia Dargan above all things else.
On the ranch he had always gotten
what he wanted by the force of his
fists, his lariat, or his gun.
Miss Dargan trembled, but answered
calmly, as if she cared not whit.
"Alkali," she began, 81 think you're
horrid and rude. l think you're hor-
rid to even think I'd have any one
here you wouldn't be glad to have me
see. l don't think you ought to come
to see me at all unless you're willing
to be civil to my friends"
Alkali's voice was husky.
Virginia, it amt question of being
civil to your friends. But if you like
him guess it's all right with me. If
you want to see him you cannot see
me. and that's all can say.
The girl turned her face away.
81 don't think you are fair to me
Alkali You aren't fair to yourself,
either. But if you can't trust me to Sc
lect my own friends 1 suppose You
don't have to worry about it any
| more"
Decker stood by, listening and
watching, with the assurance of man
| who had stacked the cards and waits
calmly to see the expected results.
Pride welled up in the heart of Al.
kali-that sort of pride that comes
of life in the open, of the freedom of
broad acres. When it's question OF
pride or love with strong man who
feels that he has been injured, pride
always rules. Alkali would have bit
| ten off his tongue before saying an
| other word.
He turned and walked out.
Soon afterward Miss Virginia sen
he reached the little bamboo gate il
front of the house she crumpled tt
the floor in tears.
Alakli walked in a daze. = He was
PAST the power of thinking.
An impenetrable gloom seemed tc
envelop all things Out of the chaos
and confusion of his suffering on
thought repeated itself over and ovel
i'll his brain.
He had lost Virginia! After thai
nothing seemed worth while.
He continued aimlessly through the
dirty streets of the village. He heard
boisterous singing and followed the
sound of the swinging doors of the
only saloon in Candeleria.
Inside, the greater part Of Squad
SO were sprawled drunkenly over the
tables and chairs. Alkali paused be
fore the doors. through which issued
the reek of stale beer andsmoke. Two
girls stumbled out and bumped square
ly into him.
Padding me, subj" said one; "my
frien' here is slightly under the wea
ther. Padding me-" And then Tilly
Cameron turned roughly to hel
"frien' Say, you Lizzie, why don't
you look where you're goin' ?"
The strong perfume and the painted
beauty of lilly Cameron smote Alkal
like blow. For moment he swayed
dizzily with an impulse to follow her.
Then he seemed to see Virginia
standing before him and all that
was genuine in Alkali responded tc
that vision. He turned and walked
toward the station.
The next evening Alkali and two
negroes alighted at Camp 33 after q
second 60-mile journey on hand
car. An hour later the work-trair
ruffed in, bringing Foreman A. Decker
and the squad.
Any one except Alkali, who had
ridden so miles on a hand-car would
have been sleepy when night came
But hours after the rest were stretched
on their canvases Alkali lay awake.
Fifteen PAGES up the ragged line lay
the foreman, breathing hard. Alkal
watched him with all the hate that
a man can feel for fellow.
The foreman seemed the only thine
between him and happiness! Alkal
had come to work for Virginia ant
Himself; he had given up all only tt
have this man step in and take al
from him.
Alkali found his hand resting the
handle of his gun-the gun that never