New Britain herald., 1921-08-15
profitable outcome of his dealings fo

profitable outcome of his dealings for his employer.
 AS For himself his great plans were at an end on thu Bad Lands range. lhe light at Glendora had changed all that. The doctor had warned nlm that he must not attempt another winter in the saddle with that tender spot in his lung, his blood thinned ooWn that way, his flesh soft from be- ing house-bound for nearly six weeks. ne advised a milder climate for sev- eral months of recuperation, and was very grave in his advice.
 So the sheep scheme was put aside. The cattle being sold, there was noth- ing about the ranch that old Ananias could not do. and Lambert had planned to turn his face again toward the West. He could not lie around there in the bunkhouse and grow strong at Vesta's expense, although that was what she expected him to do. f
 Vesta had said nothing further of her own plans, but they took it for granted that she would be leaving, now that the last of the cattle were sold. Ananias had told them that she was putting things away in the house, getting ready to close most of it up.
 Do you reckon she'll ever come back to the ranch any more when she goes away?" Taterleg asked as they neared the ranch.
 ''What?" said Lambert, starting as if he had been asleep.
 ''Vesta; do you reckon she'll ever come back any more?'
 Well" slowly. thoughtfully, there's no tellin', Taterleg." , Tatcrleg seemed to be thinking deeply; his face was sentimentally serious.
 "Purty girl" he said in pleasant voice of musing.
 Which one?"
 "Vesta. I like 'em with a little more of fgger, little thicker in some places and wider in others, but she's trim and she's tasty. and her hearts pure gold"
 You're right it is, Taterleg,' Lam pert agreed, keeping his eyes straight ahead as they rode on.
 You're aimin' to come back in the spring and go partners with her on lthe sheep deal, ain't you, Dick?" T don't expect I'll ever. come back, Taterleg.'
 We'll" said Taterleg abstractedly, T don't know"
 So they arrived at the ranch from their last expedition together. Lam pert gave Taterleg his horse to take to the barn, while he stopped in to deliver Pat Sullivans check to Vesta ! and straighten up the final business, and tell her goodbye. 4 Lambert took off his hat at the door and smoothed his hair with his l palm, frightened. up his necktie, looked | nimsef over from chest to toes. He | irew deep breath then, like man certifying himself for a trial that called for the best that was in him to come forward. He knocked on the door. @
 Vesta came to the door herself. 1 with such promptness that seemed to i tell she must have been near it from 1 the moment his foot fell on the porch. .,
 i've come to settle up with you on our last deal, Vesta,'' he said.
 You mean our latest deal, not our last, hope, Duke" she said. sitting at the table, with him at the head of it. like a baron returning to the
 areside after a foray in, the field.
 I'm afraid it will be our last I'm going away" he. said, looking out o1 Ithe window down upon the tops o1 the baked cottonwoods along the river. -
 T will be SO lonesome here on the tranch without you, Duke-lonesome as it never was lonesome before
 You've been square with me on every
 thing, from the biggest to the least I never knew before what it was tc lie down in security and get up ir !peace. You've fought and suffered flor me here in @ measure far in ex-
 cess of anything that common loy alty demanded of you. and I've giver you nothing in return. It will be like !losing my right hand. Duke, to sec tyou go."
 "I thought with you gone away
 old half invalid might pick up ano get some blood put into him again.
 You came out of the desert as il
 God sent you. when my load wa:
 heavier than I could bear. It will
 be like losing my right eye, Duke, tt
 see you go."
 "A man couldn't sit around and ca
 out of a woman's hand in idlenes
 and ever respect himself any more
 My works finished"
 "All I've got is yours-you saved
 it to me, you brought it home.
 The world expects a man tha
 hasn't got anything to go out ant
 make it before he turns around ant
 looks s-before he lets his tongue be
 tray his heart and maybe be mis understood by those he holds mos
 dear.'
 Its none of the worlds bushes there isn't any world but ours!" II bought with you gone away
 Vcsta, and the house dark nights
 and me not hearing you round an, more, it would be so lonesome an' bleak here for an old half invalid II wasn't going. I couldn't hay been driven away! I'd have staye,
 as long as you stayed, till you foun' till you knew! Oh, it will tear tear-my heart-my hear out of-m