The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-02-01

else. I'm awful sorry I scared you.
I'd eat dirt II Il would do any good.
but 1t won't. I'm just a plumb idiot.
I reckon I'll be pushin' on my reins."
He turned toward the window.
stop right there where you're at"
she ordered sharply. take a step
to that window and I'll holler for q
harness bull like Bowery bride get
tin a wallopin' from friend husband.
I gotta have an explanation. And
who told you was scared? Forget
that stuff. Take 1t from Annie that
she amt the kind that scares."
II came to see some one else. but I
got In the wrong house." he explained
again lamely.
THAT'S twice l heard both them In
terestin' facts. Who Is this goil you
was comm through a window to see
In the middle O. the night. And what's
that gat for II 1t amt to croak some
other guyi You oughtta be ashamed
Of yourself for not pullin' better
wheeze than that on me-"
Clay blushed. In spite of the
slangy impudence that dropped from
the pretty red lips the girl was slim
and looked virgiRal.
you're way of. l wasn't CALM
on her to-" He stuck hopelessk.
"Whadya know about that?" she
came back with obvious sarcasm. you
soitainly give me pain. I'll say you
weren't calm to arrange no Sunday
school picnic. Listen. Look at that
wall minute. will you"
When he turned again at her order
she was sitting on the side OF the bed
wrapped In a kimono, her feet In bed
room slippers. He saw now that she
was slender-limbed slip Of girl.
The lean forearm, which showed bare
to the elbow when she raised 1t to
draw the kimono closer round her,
told Clay that she was none too well
nourished
II occurred to him that she might
give him information Of value. He
told her the story Of Kitty Mason. He
could see by the girls eyes TINT she
had jumped to the conclusion that he
was In love with Kitty. He did not
attempt to disturb that conviction. II
might enlist her sympathy.
Annie MIllikan had never seen a
man like this before, so clean and
straight and good to look at. From
childhood she had been brought up on
the fringe of that underworld the at
mosphere Of which Is miasmlc. She
was impressed In spite of herself.
Say. why don't you go into the
movies and be one Of these here screen
ideaisl You'd knock 'em dead" she
advised fllppantly, crossing her bare
ankles.
Clay laughed. He liked the insOlent
little twist to her mouth. She made
one strong appeal to him. This bit OF
n girl. so slim that he could break hei
In his hands, was game to the core
He recognized 1t as quality Of kin
ship.
| How do you know the girl amt
badger-worker7 You wantta go slow
when you tackle Jerry Durand. l car
tell you one thing. He's In this bust
ness up to the neck. seen his
shadow, Gorilla Dave. comm outa the
house next door twice today"
"Seen anything OF the girl7"
"Nope. But she may be there. Hon
est. you're up against tough game
Why don't you lay down on lt?" she
asked, her frank eyes searching his
You soItainly will II you've got good
sense"
"Im goin' through"
Her black eyes warmed Say, III
bet you're some guy when you gel
started. Hop to II and hope you gel
Jerry good. Say. listen! got q
bunch mebbe it's bum steer, but yot
can't be sure till you try It. Why
don't you get In through the roof In
stead o. the Window"
"Can l get In that way?"
"Surest think you know-if the trap
door amt latched. Say, stick around
outside my room half a sec. will you 2
The cattleman waited In the dark
ness Of the passage. II his enemie!