The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-06-16

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been so big and red and freckled
Also he had an uncomfortable suspI
cion that his tow hair was tousiet
and uncombed In spite of his attempt.
at home to plaster 1t down.
He declined sugar and cream be
cause for some reason II seemed easi
err to say "No'm" than "Yes." though
he always took both with tea. And hi
disgraced himself by scalding his
tongue and failing to suppress the
pain. Finally the plate. with his muf
fin, carefully balanced on his knee
from some devilish caprice plunged
over the precipice to the carpet and
the bit of china broke.
Whereupon Kitty gently reproved
him. as was her wlfely duty.
Il amt no society fellew," the dis
tressed puncher explained to his host
ess. tiny beads of Precipitation 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
II as a duck to water.
Miss Whitford handed Johnnie an
envelope. "Would 1t be too much troc-
BILE for you to take letter to Mr..
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 message to Clay.
When Clay read the note his blood
glowed. 1t was a characteristic two
line apology:
I've been a horrid little prig. Clay ESQ
the letter RAM. Won't you come over
tomorrow and go riding with me?
BEATRICE.
Colin Whitford had been telling
Clay the story of how young cow
puncher had snatched Beatrice from
under the hoofs of a 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. I 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
81 reckon he knows that" Lindsay
suggested. "You must "a thought him
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
a fifty-dollar bill and naturally he re-
scented It," Miss Whitfords 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 1t most likely"
HE fed 1t 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 l 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
can make out the puncher didn't do |
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 well II 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-
ions misjudgment of him. I've always
thought 1t perfectly splendid In Its
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 wish you'd let us
Snow." Whitford said.
"Tll remember"
IF you young people are going rid
ng-"
Wed better get started. Quite
light Dad. We're off. Clarendon will
call up. Tell him I'll be In
bout four-thirty."
She pinched her fathers ear. kissed
lin on one ruddy cheek, then on the
'ther and Joined Clay at the door.
They were friends again. had been
or almost half an hour. even though
hey had not yet been alone together.
,ut their friendship was 10 hold reser-
atoms now The shadow of Clarendon
rode between them. They
rere little stiff with each other, not
o casual as they had been. A con-
ciousness of sex had obtruded into
he old lboylsh camaraderie.
After brisk canter they drew their
orses together for walk.
Beatrice broke the ice of their COM
lonplaces. She looked directly at
i'm, her cheeks flushing. 81 don't I
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