New Britain herald., 1921-08-11

hilltop she stopped, unaware of his coming and looked back. He waved his hat; she waited.
 Have you been sick, Duke?" she inquired, after greetings, looking him over with concern.
 My horse bit me- said he, passing it off with that old stock pleasantly of the range, which covered anything and everything that man didn't want to explain.
 I'd like to have that horse. Dc you want to sell him, Duke?"
 There's not money enough made to buy him!" Lambert returned
 She lifted her brows as she studied his face openly and such a directness that he flushed in confusion, then turned her eyes away slowly.
 T liked him that day he outran the fier; I've often thought of him since then.''
 landscape, the distant buttes softened in the haze that seemed to presage the advance of autumn, considering much. When he looked into her face again it was with the harshness gone out of his eyes.
 T started out on him to look for you. expecting to ride him to the Pacific, and maybe double back ] didn't know where I'd have to go, but intended to go on till found you.'
 Tt seemed almost a joke,' she said that we were so near each other and you didn't know it.'' He leaned a little nearer, laying Ri her saddle-horn. you, Grace?"
 1T hoped you might. come some time, Duke"
 to return home to the little valley where he had interposed to prevent a tragedy between her and Vesta Phil brook. Neither of them spoke of that encounter. It was avoided in silence as a thing of which both were ashamed.
 Grace? he asked when he stopped T expect viii: 1Rs,ke."
 Tomorrow do you think? ?''
 'Not tomorrow" shaking E,er head
 
 when she spoke in negation, like san earnest child. 5,
 Maybe the next day?" II expect I may come then, Duke or what is your real name?''
 Jeremiah. Jerry, if you like that better
 'I'll just call you Duke"
 He left her with the feeling that he had known her many years. Blood between them? What was blood :? Thicker thar water? Nay. impalpable as smoke.
 That night Lambei. felt an unusual restlessness. He was in DO mood for his bed. He left Taterleg in the bunk house and went out into the moon light in search of solitude. There was a sound of falling shale on the slope, following the disturb ance of a quick foot. Vesta was com ing She had approached within ten rods of him before he saw her, the moonlight on her fair face glorious in her uncovered hair. She came scramb bling up, taking the hand that he hastened forward to offer and boost her over the last sharp face of crumbling shale. 'I don't like the notion of your leaving this country whipped, Vesta,' y he said.
 II don't like to leave it whipped Duke" she said, calm of voice. But I'll have to go to end this trouble and strife"
 l I've been wondering, since I'm kind of pledged to clean things ul here, whether you'd consider a busi- ness proposal from me in regard to taking charge of the ranch for you while you're gone, Vesta'' ] Well, what sort of a proposal were you going to make, Duke?" 1 Sheep"
 | I'm willing to consider sheep Duke. Go ahead with the plan.'' l She spoke with such eagerness such appeal of loneliness that he knew it would break her heart ever to SC at all. So there on the hilltop the, plahned and agreed on the change from cattle to sheep. l Lambert rode to his rendezvou. with Grace Kerr on the appointed day believing that she would keep it although her promise had been incon elusive. She was not in sight wheI he reached their meeting place. He went on, over the hill from which sht used to spy on his passing, into thu valley where he had interfered be Itween the two girls on the day tha he found Grace hidden away in thi unexpected place. There he met hel coming down the farther slope. l "Id have gone to the end of thu fworld to find you, Grace" he said, hi: voice shaking as if he had chill hi hands cold. his face hot. a tingllns in his body. q sound in his ears like bells. "I want to tell you how,