The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-09-08

''I'll say this" she cut back. The
men l know wouldn't invite a woman
to their rooms at midnight and pass
her Off as their sister-and then ex-
pect people to know her. They would
be kinder to themselves--and to their
own regulations"
"Wlll you tell me what else there
was to dor Where could ] have taken
her at that time ofrnightf Are repu-
table hotels open at midnight to lone
women, wet and ragged, who come
without baggage either alone or escort
ed by mani"
''I'm not telling you what you ought
to have done, Mr.. Lindsay" she an
swered, with touch Of hauteur. But
since you ask newly couldn't you
have given her money and let her find
a place for herself2"
Because that wouldn't have saved
her"
"oh. wouldn't it20 she retorted, dry
ly.
He walked over to the fireplace and
put an elbow on the corner of the
mantel.
"Lemme tell you a story, Miss Bea-
trice," he said presently. "Mebbe it'll
show you what mean. was runnin'
cattle in the Galluros. FIVE years ago
and got caught in STORM way up
in the hills. When 1t rains in my part
Of Arizona, which ain't often, 1t sure
does come down In sheets. The clay
below the rubble on the slopes got
slick as Ice. My hawss, a young one,
slipped and fell on me, clawed back to
Its feet, and bolted. Well, there was
with my laig busted, forty miles from
even a whistlin' post In the desert,
gettin' wetter and colder every blessed
minute.
"There wasn't chance In a million
that anybody would hear, but kept
firln' off my fohty-five on the off hope.
And just before night girl on a pinto
came down the side of that uncurrled
hill round bend and got ME. She
took me to cabin hidden in the bot
tom of q canon and looked after me
four days. Her father, prospector,
had gone to Tucson for supplies and
we were alone there. She fed me,
nursed me, and waited on me. We di-
vided one-room twelve-by-sixteen
cabin. Understand, we were four
days alone together before her dad
came back, and all the time the sky
was lettin' down terrible lot Of wa
ter. When her father showed up he
grinned and said, Lucky for you Myr-
tie heard that slx-gun of yore's popP
He never thought one evil thing about
either Of us. He just accepted the sit
uation as necessary. Now the ques-
tion Is, what ought she to have donef
Left me to die on that hillsideT
''Of course not. That's different"
protested Beatrice, Indignantly.
you're trying to put me in the
wrong. Well, won't have 1t. That's
all. You may take your choice. Mr..
Lindsay. Either send that girl away
give her up--have nothing to do with
her, Or"
Or
"or please don't come here to see
me any more"
He waited, his eyes steadily on her.
do you sure enough mean that, Miss
Beatrice?"
Her heart sank. She knew that she
had gone too far, but she was too I'M
periOus to draw back now.
"Yes, that's just what I mean"
"rm sorry. You're leavin' me no OPP
ton. I'm not Il yellow dog Sometimes
I'm most man. I'm goin' to do what
1 think is right"
"Of course" she responded, lightly
eff our Ideas of what that is differ
"They do"
"It's because we've been brought up
differently, | suppose" She achieved
4 stified little yawn behind her hand.
you've said it." He gave 1t TO hel
straight from the shoulder. "All yore
life you've been pampered. When you
wanted thing all you had to do was
to reach out a hand for 1t. Folks were
born to wait on you, by yore way of it
You're a spoiled kid Ask me to turr
my back on friend, and I've got Il
say, 'Nothin' DOM And II you was
just a few years younger I'd advise
yore pa to put you In yore room ant
feed you bread and water for askln
it."
The angry color poured into he
cheeks. She clenched her hands til
the nails bit her palms. Il think your
the most hateful man l ever met" sh
cried, passiOnately.
His easy smile tainted her. "Oh
no, you don't. You just think you thinl
it. Now, I'm goin' to light shuck
I'll be sayin' good-by, Miss Beatrice
until you send for me-"
"And that will be never" she fun
at him.
He rose, bowed and walked out 0
the room.
The street door closed behind hin
Beatrice bit her lip to keep fror
breaking down before she reached he
room.
CHAPTER xI
A Lady Wears Ring.
Clarendon Bromield got the shoe