The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-05-29
CHAPTER ~
Clay Takes a Transfer.

Clay Takes Transfer.
While Beatrice Whitford waited In
the little library for the Arizonan
to Join her, she sat in deep chair.
chin in hand, eyes fixed on the. letting
flames Of the gas-log. A little flush
had crept into the oval face. In her
blood there tingled the stimulus of ex-
element. For into her life an adven-
ture had come from faraway Cattle
land.
A crisp, strong footstep sounded In
the hall. Her fingers flew to pat into
place the soft golden hair coiled low
at the nape of the neck. At times she
had a boylike unconcern of sex; again.
q spirit wholly feminine.
The, clothes of her father fitted
Lindsay loosely, for Colin Whitford
had begun to take on the flesh of mid
die age and Clay was lean and clean
Of build. as an elk. But the westerner
was one of those, to- whom clothes are
unimportant. The. splendid youth, Of
him would have sh9ne through the
rags Of q beggar. - e.
=. my name Is Clay Lindsay" he told
her by way Of introduction.
"Mine is Beatrice Whitford," she
answered
They shook hands.
I'm. to wait here TIL my clothes dry.
yore man says"
'"Then you'd better sit down." she
suggested.
Within five minutes she knew that
he had been In New York less than
three hours. His Impressions Of the
city, amused and entertained her. He
was quite simple. She could look into
his mind as though it were a deep,
clear WELL There was something in
.extinguIshably boyish and buoyant
about him. But In his bronzed face
and steady, humorous eyes were
strength and shrewdness. He was the
last man in the world bunco-steerer
could play for a sucker. She felt that.
Yet he made no pretenses Of worldly
wisdom he did not have.
A voice reached them from the top
of the stairs.
do you know where Miss Whitford
IL, Jenkins?"
"Hin the Red room, SIR" The an
swer was In the even; colorless voice
Of a servant.
The girl rose at once. If you'll ex-
cuse me-" she said, and stepped out of
the room.
"Hello, Bee. What do you think? l
never saw such idiots as the police of
this town are. They're watching this
house for a desperate who assaulted
some one outside. met sergeant Oh
our steps. Says he doesn't think the
mans here, but there's just a chance
he slipped into the basement. It's alb
surd."
"Of course it u.s." There was rip
ple of mirth In the girls voice. He
didn't come in by the, basement at all.
but walked in at the front door,"
''The front dcor!" exploded her faith
er. "What do you mean? Who let him
I'M" 49,
IT did. He came as my guest, at my
invitation 'e '7S.' W s'- 's>''.' 7r'
.'What?'' Ct <%'s "so''"'sse a's*s .. ''7f. ''+
"Don't shout, dad" she advised II
thought had brought you up better"
'But-but-but-wha do you mean?'
he sputtered. rs this ruffian In the
house nowr' Ss>5E Il 81 I
s'"oh, yes He's in the Red room here
and unless he's very deaf he hears
everything we are saying" the girl
answered calmly, much amused at the
amazement Of her father. "Won't you
come in and see him? He doesn't seem
very desperate"
i Clay arose, pinpoints Of laughter
dancing in his eyes. He liked the guy
audacity Of this young woman. -
A moment later he was offering a
brown hand to Colin Whitford. "Glad
to meet you, Mr.. Whitford. fore
daughter has Just saved my life from
the police" the westerner said,. and
his friendly smile was very much in
evidence. rs-.
..You, make yourself at home" an
) swered the owner Of n large per cent
Of the stock Of the famous Bird Cage
mine. - - = ~ : :