Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-06-02

saving Bee. But you see he didn'
give me any chance. l never did learT
his name" concluded the mining man
.And of course we'd like him tc
know that we appreciate what he die
for me-" Beatrice added. She looked
at Clay, and a pulse beat In her soft
throat.
81 reckon he knows that" Lindsay
suggested. "You must "a thought hin
mighty rude for to break away like
you say he did"
1--WE couldn't understand 1t till after
ward. Mr.. Bromfeld had slipped him
q fftv-dollar bill and naturally he re-
sented it," Miss Whitford's face bub-
bIed with reminiscent mirth. She
looked a question at Clay. what do
o suppose that impudent young seal
awag did with the fifty?"
Got drunk on it most likely"
"He fed it to his horse. Clary was
furious"
"He would be-" said the cattleman
dryly, in spite of the best intentions to
be generous to his successful rival.
"But l reckon 1 know why yore grand
stand friend in chaps pulled such a
play. In Arizona you can't square
such things with money. So far as l
can make out the puncher didn't do
anything to write home about, but he
didn't want pay for it anyhow"
"Of course, Bromfield doesn't I'M
derstand the West" said Whitford.
81 wouldn't like that young puncher
half so well if he'd taken the money"
"He didn't need to spoil a perfectly
good fifty-dollar bill, though" admitted
Clay.
Eyes. he did," denied Beatrice.
'That was his protest against Claren-
don's m%isiudgment of him. I've always
thought it perfectly splendid in its
i~nsolence. Some day I'm going to tell
him so"
ut happened in your corner of Ar
iona, Lindsay. If you ever find out
who the chap was 1 wish you'd let US
know" Whitford said.
"I1l remember"
"If you young people are going rid
ing"
Wed better get started. Quite
right, Dad. We're off. Clarendon will
probably call up. Tell him I'll be in
about f%our-thirty."
She pinched her fathers ear, kissed
him on one rudy cheek, then on the
other, and Joined Clay at the door.
They were friends again, had been
for almost half an hour, even though
they had not yet been alone together,
but their friendship a to hold reser-
vations now. The shadow of Clarendon
Bromfield rode between them. They
were a little stiff with each other, not
so casual as they had been. A o n
seriousness of sex had obtruded into
the old boyish camaraderie.
After a brisk canter they drew their
horses together for a walk.
Beatrice broke the ice of their COM
monplaces. She looked directly at
him, her cheeks flushing. 81 don't
know how you're going to forgive me,
Clay. I've been awf'ly small and prig-
gish. 1 hate to think I'm ungenerous,
but that's just what I've BEEN"
Lets forget it," he said gently.
mo, 1 don't want to forget-not till
I've told you how humble 1 feel today.
1 might have trusted you. Why didn't
I? 1t would have been easy for me
to have taken your little friend in and
made things right for her. That's
what l ought to have done. But, in
stead of that-Oh, I hate myself for
the way l acted"
Her troubled smile, grave and sweet,
touched him closely. 1t was in his
horoscope that the spell of this young
Diana must be upon him.
He put his hand on hers as it rested
on the pommel Of the saddle and gave
1t a slight pressure. you're a good
scout, liz p%ardner."
But 1t was Beatrice's way to step
up to punishment and take what was
coming. AS a little girl, while still al
most a baby, she had once walked up
to her mother, eyes flashing with spir-
1t, and pronounced judgment on her
self. 1--WE tum to be spanked. 1 broke
Claire's doll an I'm glad of it, mean
old fing. So there!" Now she was not
going to let the subject drop until she
had freed her soul.
mo, Clay, I've been a poor sports
man. When my friend needed me /
failed him. 1t hurts me, because-oh.
you know. When the test came !
wasn't there. One hates to be a quit
rer."
Her humility distressed him, though
he loved the spirit of her apology.
Its oil right, Bee. Don't you wor-
ry. All friends misunderstood each
other, but the real anes clear things
up"
She had not yet told him the Whole
truth and she meant to make clean
confession.
i've been a miserable little fool
h stopped with a little catch of the
breath, famed red, and plunged on.
Her level ewes never finched from his