The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-12

schooled voice that set him at dis
lance. "Your friend, Mr.. Green, has
carefully brought me the details l
didn't know"
Clay flushed Her clear voice carried
an edge of scorn. "YOu mustn't Judge
by appearances. know you wouldn't
be unfair. l had to take her home and
look after her"
II don't quite see why-unless, Of
course, you wanted to-" the girl an
swered, tapping the arm of her chair
with impatient finger-tips, eyes on the
clock. But, Of course, it isn't neces-
sary should see"
Her cavalier treatment Of him did
not affect the gentle imperturbability
of the westerner.
because I'm a white man, because
she's little girl who came from my
country and can't hold her own here,
because she was sick and chilled and
starving. Do you see nOw?"
"No, but it doesn't matter. I'm not
the keeper of your conscience, Mr..
Lindsay" she couutered with hard
lightness.
you're judging me just the same.
If you'd let me bring her here to see
:ou-"
"No, thanks"
"You're unjust"
"YOu think sO?"
"And unkind. That's not like the
! little friend I've come to-like so
much"
you're kind enough for two, Mr..
Lindsay. She really doesn't need an
other friend so long as she has you"
she retorted with flash of cOntemptu-
2us eyes. "ln New York we're not
used to being so kind to people Of her
sort"
Clay lifted 4 hond. "Stop right
there. Miss Beatrice. You don't want
to say anything you'll be sorry for"
t-''"i II '"sny tfris;;'' she cut back. 1.-THE
men know wouldn't invite woman
to their rooms at midnight and pass
her Off as their sister-ind. then ex-
pect people to know her. They would
be kinder to themselves-andt to their
own regulations"
"Will you tell me what else there
was to do? Where could have taken
her ut that time Of night? Are repu-
table hotels open at midnight to lone
women, wet and ragged, who come
without baggage either alone or escort
ed by a MANI"
"l'm not telling you what you ought
to have done, Mr.. Lindsay" she an
swered, with q touch Of huuteur. But
since you ask newly couldn't you
have given her money and let her find
place for herself?"
Because that wouldn't have saved
her"
ooh, wouldn't it," she retorted, dry
ly.
He walked over to the fireplace and
put an elbow OH the corner Of the
mantel.
"Lemme tell you a story, Miss Bea-
trice," he said presently. "Mebbe it'll
show you what mean. I was runnin'
cattle In the GaliuroS five years ago
and / got caught in, storm way up
In the hills. When II rains in my part
of Arizona, which Ain't often, it sure
does come down in sheets. The clay
below the rubble 4on the slopes got
slick as ice. My lnawss, young one,
slipped and fell oni me, clawed back to
it's feet, and bolteh Well, there was
with my laig bus tsd, forty miles from
even whIstliny post in the desert.
gcttin' wetter a1ad colder every blessed
minute.
There wasn't a ichance in n million
that anybody wouM hear. but kept
firm off my fohty-fiTe on the off hope.
And just hGfUte night a girl on pinto
came down tle side Of that uncurried
hill round a bend and got me. She
took me totl cabin hidden in the bot
tom Of Il ca non and looked after Inc
four days. Her father, a prospector,
had gone to Tucson for supplies and
we were ALONE there. She fed me,
nU'sed me, and waited on me. We d.
vided a 'one-room tv!elve-by-sixteen
cabin. u nderstund, we were four
days alon together before her dad
came bacft, and all the time the sky
was lettiny down a terrible lot Of wa
ter Whom her father showed up he
grinned sind said, Lucky for you Myr-
tie hear 4 that six-gun. ~ yore's pop y
He nevts. Thought one iexil thing about
either II us. lie just; accepted the sit
uation as nect.ssarya2 Now the ques-
tion is. what ought she to have done
Left me tu die .on that 1hilside?"
''Of corse nat. That's different"
protested Beatrice Indignantly.
you're trying to put me in the
wrong. Well. Iswont have it, That's
all. You may take your choice, Mr..
Lindsay. Either send that girl AWAY
give her up--haWe nothing to Up with
her, Or"
"Or-?"
COR please don't come here to \see
me any more"
He waited, hisGeyes steadily on her,