The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-09-15

Colin WhftfOrd had been telling
Clay the story of how young cow
puncher had snatched Beatrice from
under the hoofs of charging steer.
His daughter and the Arizonan lis
tened without comment.
"I've always thought I'd like to ex-
plain to that young man didn't mean
to insult him by offering money for
saving Bee. But you see he didn't
give me any chance. / never did learn
his name," concluded the mining man.
"And Of course we'd like him to
know that we appreciate what he did
for me-" Beatrice added. She looked
at Clay, and pulse beat in her soft
throat
II reckon he knows that" Lindsay
suggested. you must "a thought him
mighty rude for to break away like
you say he did"
ave couldn't understand 1t till after
ward. Mr.. Bromf1eld had slipped him
"a fifty-dollar bill and naturally he re-
scented it." Miss Whitford's face bub-
bled with reminiscent mirth. She
looked question at Clay. "What do
you 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 1 reckon I know why yore grand
stand friend in chaps pulled such
play. In Arizona you can't square
such things with money. So far as I
can make out the puncher didn't do
anything to write home about, but he
didn't want pay for 1t anyhow"
"Of course, Bromfield doesn't I'M
derstand the West" said Whitford.
II wouldn't like that young puncher
half so we'll If he'd taken the money"
HE didn't need to spoil perfectly
good fifty-dollar bill, though" admitted
Clay.
"Yes, he did," denied Beatrice.
''That was his protest against Claren-
don's misjudgment of him. I've always
thought 1t perfectly splendid in it's
insolence. Some day I'm going to tell
him So"
ut happened in your corner of Ar
izona, Lindsay. If you ever find out
who the chap was wish you'd let us
know" Whitford said.
"I'll 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 four-thirty."
She pinched her fathers ear, kissed
him on one ruddy 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 was to hold reser-
vations now. The shadow Of Clarendon
Bromfield rode between them. They
were little stiff with each other. not
so casual as they had been. A con-
seriousness of sex had obtruded into
the old boyish camaraderie.
After 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. hate to think I'm ungenerous,
but that's just what I've been"
Lets forget It," he said gently.
"No, 1 don't want to forget-not till
I've told you how humble feel today.
l might have trusted you. Why didn't
1? IT would have been easy for me
to have taken your little friend in and
made things right for her. That's
what 1 ought TO have done. But, in
stead of that-Oh, hate myself for
the way acted"
Her troubled smile, grave and sweet,
touched him closely. 1t was in mis-
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 slight pressure. You're a good
scout. li'P pardner."
But it was Beatrice's way to step
up to punishment and take what was
coming. As little girl. while still al
most baby, she had once walked up
to her mother, eyes flashing with srir-
it, and pronounced judgment on her.
self. 1--WE tum to be spanked. l broke
Claire's doll an I'm glad of it. mean
old fling. So therel" Now she was not
going to let the subject drop until she
had freed her soul.
mo. Clay, I've been poor sports
man. When my friend needed me /
failed him. 1t hurts me, because-oh.
you know. When the test came