The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-02-12
Rim in o;ff'|hI!s World Nor! !!
B.M.BOWERs NNNI1M1, ,rr, >. n enouuoco
LITTLE. RPOWNdCO.

~ -
nitely sweet 20 Belle. II know" he
'said quietly. and kissed her com
fortingly.
That helps" whispered Belle
you've changed. too--but not like
tho rest. thank God. And I thought
maybe you had noticed things"
II have noticed that the Devils
Tooth In mighty busy chasing dollars
on the hoof." roothcd Lance. "it
has left our Belle alone too much.
and II has gotten on her nerves. Go
TO bed. woman--and dream OF pleas.
ant things."
Tho next morning Lance was
drinking his first cup OF coffee when
Belle appeared In thin blue kimono
and a lacey breakfast cap. lie
reused himself from scowllng modi-
tation and gave her u smile.
"sieep any7"
mot much sighed Belle.
'-rom--" nhc stopped and looked at
Lance hcsitatingiy. ''Tom had 20
push the cattle back from Lava Bed
way---he says this wcather's drying
up Lava Creek and IN. stock'li suffer
II they're left drifting up and down
the mudholes where they've watered
all summer. lilo took the boys and
started about ? In the mornins--to
get out Of the heat. III didn't
think you'd want 10 80. honey
You thought right. l didn't want
TO go. IT'S too hot" Lance assured
her. and refraincd from looking at
her face and the pathetic cheerful.
ness she was trying 20 hard 10 make
real.
'it's sultry. It's going TO storm
Yea. It's going 20 storm. 60
Lance set down his empty cup. II
may 70 fishing. Belle. Don't look
for mo back may ride over and
zee how tho Al is making out The
little Boyle girl ID not married yet.
I hopper"
'oh-no. No. she isn't Lance.
honey"
Lance waited beside her chair. but
BELLE secmod 10 forget that abe had
anything 70 say. Don't get caught
out" she said Alphabetically.
II won't" Lance kissed her light.
~. Go back TO bed. TIA too early
for you TO be up
At the stable Lance saddied coaIey.
tied on an emergency ration of grub
''Fishln's good t'day. Storms
coming. Uh.huh--you bet" Sam
Pretty Cow observed an Lance
mounted.
Maybe" Lance asaented noncom.
Mutually and rode away.
For nor- than an hour he rode
and tried TO fix his mind upon th.
thing he had set out TO do. ~. knew
perfectly well where he was going
and u was not to see Mary Hope
Certain cold facts stared a, him.
sibssercd their sinister m.a ming. and
dared him 10 ride on and discover
other facts. blood.brothern Of these
tina, haunted hun o. nights.
Coaiey. feeling his riders mood.
sensing also the poten, OF tho heavy.
heat. saturated atmosphere and the
rolling thunder heads. slowed his
springy trof 10 a walk and tousod his
head uneasily from side 60 side.
Then. quite without warning. Lance
wheeled tho horse around aud
touched tho rccklng TANKS with his
heels.
I'm seventeen kinds Of a damn
fool--but ! can't stand any more OF
this hs muttcred ssvagciy. and
rode nj sharp tros with his back to
the slow gathering storm.
He found Mary Hope half n mile
from the Douglas house. at the edge
Of tho meadow round which Hugh
was driving n mower. Mary Hope
was leaning against one lone little
poplar uco. her hat in her hand. and
her eyes staring duly into tho world
OF sorrowfui thoughts. Relief and a
great. hungry tenderness flooded the
soul OF Lance when he saw her. He
pulled up and swung off beside her
"Girl--thank tho good God you're
all right" he said. and took her In
his arms. tho veins on his temples
beating full with his hot blood. Il
had To come. ! had TO see you. oh,
girl. you're mine, The I>orrigan
does II mattsrr You're
minc-f love you. You'll love mo
III make you love me. Youli love
mo I'LL you won't care who I am or
who you are. Wen get married
wen mako a world OF our own. Just
you and I. Arc you gamer Are you
game to love Lance tho way Lance
loves your Oh. girl. tell nef'
A chill breath swept them like the
memory ~ her fathers hate. A.
deep. hasao rumble drowned what
ever reply she stanmered He
sheltered her In his arms. kissed her
lips. her eyes. her hair. went back TO
her lips asain.
spItungly tho thunder crashed
close behind them. a vivid white line
sharply the snarling clouds.
Like a sleeper Lance opened the
eyes no had closed against her hair
and lifted hIs head. Il must take
you home" he said. TITS going 20
storm-hard. But let me tell you.
can't storm as hard
as can love you. I'll take you
home. and they you'li marry me-"
Mary Hopes face was pale and
radiant She did not say that she
would marry him--nor did she say
that she would not Her eyes were
misty with tears until she winkcd
hard. when they shone softly. Lance
haA h.t kl,tA kha