The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-19
the bit of china broke.
Whereupon Kitty gently reproved
him, us was her wifely duty.
Il amt no society fellow" the dis

lICSSCu puICuCl CApl0AhOA " lily AHNSS
ess, tiny beads Of perspiration on his
forehead.
Beatrice had already guessed as
much, but she did not admit 1t to
Johnnie. She and Kitty smiled at each
other in that common superiority
which their sex gives them to any
mere man upon such an occasion. For
Mrs John Green, though afternoon tea
was to her an alien custom, took to
it as duck to water.
Miss Whitford handed Johnnie an
envelope. "WOuld it be too much trou-
BILE for you to take q letter to MIR.
Lindsay?" she asked very casually as
they rose to go.
The bridegroom said he was much
obliged and he would be plumb tickled
to take a message to Clay.
When Clay read the note his blood
glowed. 1t was characteristic two
line apology:
I've been a horrid little prtg, Clay ESQ
the letter RAM. Won't you come over
tomorrow and 90 riding with me?
bCA1 1k4SG
= .
Colin Whitford had been telling
Clay the story of how a young cow
puncher had snatched Beatrice from
under the hoofs Of charging steer
His daughter and the Arizonan lis
tened without comment.
1--WE 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 a 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"
I'VE couldn't understand 1t till after
ward. Mr.. Bromfeld had slipped him
a f1fty.dollar bill and naturally he re.
scented it." Miss Whltfords face bub-
bled with reminiscent mirth. She
looked a question at Clay. "What do
you suppose that impudent young seal
awag did with the tifty?"
"Got drunk on 1t 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, Bromheld doesn't I'M
derstand the West" said Whltford.
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.
Eyes, he did," denied Beatrice.
THAT was his protest against Claren-
don's misjudgment Of him. I've always
thought it perfectly splendid in its
insolence. Some day I'm going to tell
him So"
1T happened In your corner Of Ar
Iona, Lindsay. If you ever find out
who the chap was I wish you'd let us
l,nn,,,p NVI,itforH enid
"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 walk. -, ----'"
Beatrice broke the ice Of their com.
monplaces. She looked directlySa
him. her cheeks flushing. II donf
know how you're going to, forgive me;
Clay. I've been awf'ly small and prig-
gish. l hate to think I'm ungenerous,
but that's just what I've BEEN"
Lets forget it." he said gently.
mo, don't want to forget-not till
I've told you how humble feel today.
I 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 I ought to have done. But. in
stead Of that-Oh, I hate myself for
the way 1 acted"