The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-08
TROUBLE--PLENTY
 By Charles Alden Seltzer.

her yield completely to the depress- ing knowledge that her uncles dead body was in another room She look ed at Shorty with the suspicion of a smile in her eyes
 What kind of men are you? Do you live around here.' she asked.
 "Why, I reckon we're regular men, na'am," grinned Shorty.
 He was blushing to the roots of his hair, despite the grin. for one look at Gail had done more damage to Shorty than had been wrought col lectively by all the women of his ac- quaintance. Shorty knew it, too: there was no mistaking the awful humping of his heart, nor that breathless, full sensation in the throat
 Shorty knew; and for the first time since he had known Redmond he yielded to pulse of bitter envy and jealously; and when he saw Gail turn to Redmond, as the latter returned from the shelf where he had placed the pistols, he scowled and paIed.
 He slipped outside. unnoticed, for Gail was talking with Redmond now, and he conquered the strange passion
 that had gripped him-fghting it with his love for Redmond. Meanwhile, Redmond was not making the progress Shorty was ex- pecting him to make. His words to the girl had been strictly businesslike and grave.
 "A while ago - when those men were here-you spoke about a note | that Gaylord Zone left. Could I see ."
 She got the note from the table and gave it to him.
 "H-m,' he said shortly as he fin ished. He absently stuck the note l into a pocket. So Jay Corwin is to be your guardian, eh? He can't be, | if you decide not to stay. Have you ! decided?''
 Uncle Gaylord wanted me to. it seems. I suppose I ought to stay and l look after my interests ''I reckon I would,'' he said slowly.
 You don't look like a girl that
 would run away because things don't | happen to go as you thought they I would. Besides, it looks to me as 1 though the Circle Dot might be worth l a heap of money; am accordin' to l what you've been tellin' me, there ain't no one-eXcept you-that Fane | could leave the property to. No rel | ative, that is. Accordin' to Fane's | note, everything is turned over to Jay l Corwin, an you won't come in for anything until you're twenty-one 1 I1O" OIO are you, now 1 She told him twenty. and he smil- 1 ed.
 '"That would give Corwin 8 year to
 run things. Likely it's arranged that I if you don't stay, Corwin will get the | place. You wouldn't want that to | happen, I reckon. You ain't seen | Corwin, yet?"
 1 One of those men said Corwin had
 gone to Dry Bottom, and that he I l -" "1 wouldn't believe those yaps, i noways," grinned Redmond.
 At that moment Shorty's voice came in through the door. | Do you reckon you're goin' to
 Larendo. any time, Billy?" he oalIed | out.
 1 There ain't no bit of hurry, l Shorty" answered Redmond. Miss Fane says Corwin ain't there'' Well then.'' said Shorty, appear | ing in the doorway. srinning widely, | 1T reckon we'll bunk somewhere
 around here tonight. An if you
 folks ain't got no objections, I'll be turnin' in.''
 Cit ain't sundown yet. shorty." ] objected Redmond.
 Shorty blushed under Calls direct gaze; her eyes seemed to reproach him.
 Please don't go-" she pleaded
 earnestly. You must be hungry; and
 am sure we shall find food in the l house. And T'-she blushed-"that
 is, folks had been kind enough to say
 that I am rather a good cook. And'' Her look was eloquent. You men must not leave me alone-tonight- for l am certain that if you did those
 other men would be sure to return. 1 And 1ll go over to Laredo with you
 in the morning, to see Jay Corwin' '' 1 Well, if you put it that way,
 ma am, why, reckon I won't go to
 getting sleepy" surrendered Shorty