Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-08-28

for hlm-and what else had her eyes
told him In the golden glow of that
electric moment pa hundred Verin-
ders and Lady Farquhars could not
keep them apart
abruptly and left the room because he
was afraid he could not veil his feel
ing.
Joyce smiled happily. "where Ia he
goingT she asked innocently.
Moya looked at her and then turned
her eyes away. She had understood
| the significance Of what she had seen
and a door In her hart that had been
open for weeks changed shut.
Il don't know. unless to get the
horses" she said quietly.
A few minutes later he returned.
leading the animals. From the door
Of the shaft-house the Cornishmen
watched them mount and ride away.
The men smoked In sullen silence.
Before they had ridden q hundred
yards Joyce was In gay talk with XIII
meny. She had forgotten the very
existence Of the miners. But Moya
did not forget. She had seen the ex-
preston Of their faces as the horses
had passed. II chance ever offered
itself they would have their revenge.
II was q day winnowed from q life
time Of ordinary ones. They rode
through q world shot to the core with
sunlight. The snow sparkled and
cleaned with II. The foliage OF the
cottonwoods, which already had shaken
much Of their white coat to the ground.
reflected II In greens and Colds and
russets merged to q note of perfect
harmony by the Great Artist. Though
the crispness of early winter was In
the air, their nostrils drew In the
fragrance of October, the faint waited
perfume OF dying summer.
Beneath q sky Of perfect blue they
pushed along the. shoulder of the hill.
avoiding the draw into which snow
had drifted deep. Life stormed In
their veins. glowed in their flushed
cheeks, rang In the care-free laughter
| OF ut least two Of them. Jack broke
| trail, turning often In the saddle with Q
| little twist Of his lean muscular body,
TO suggest a word of caution at the bad
places. Always then he discovered
the deep violet eyes Of Joyce Seldom
with their smoldering lire. TO let
himself dweh upon her loneliness OF
ine-textured satiny skin, set or by
the abundant crown Of lustrous bronze
hair. was to know again a Quickened
pulse Of delight.
When he spoke Il was with the Ian
guild drawl OF the western plainsman.
In humor he feigned to conceal his
passion. but Joyce knew him to be
alertly conscious Of her every word,
every turn Of her plant body.
They reached the road, where two
could ride abreast. Sometimes he was
with the one. again with the other.
Moya, who had not much to say this
morning, made II easy for him to be
with Joyce. She did not need to be
told that he was under the allure Of
that young woman's beauty; and not
alone Of her beauty. hut Of that provoc-
alive stimulating something that can
be defined only as the drag OF sex.
All men responded to II when Joyce
chose TO exert herself. many when she
did not.
Once he turned TO point out to
Moya some snow-covered mounds
above the road.
Graves OF a dozen mule-skinners
killed by Indians nearly thirty years
ago. My father was the only one Of
the party that escaped"
Half a mile from town they met
two men on horseback and exchanged
news. All Goldbanks had been search
ing for them through the night. The
rarquhar party were Wild with anxiety
about them.
Kilmeny gave prompt quiet orders.
"Get back to town. boys. and tell
Lady FarQuhar that It's all right.
Wen be along In few Minutes"
The news OF their safety spread as
by magic. Men and women and chill
dren poured into the streets TO wei
come them. II was as much as Kill
meny could DO to keep back the cheer.
ing mob long enough TO reach the
hotel. verinder. Lady Jim. and India
came down the steps to meet them,
Captain Kilmeny and Lord Farquhar
both being away at the head Of search
parties. India and Lady Farquhar
broke down without shame and cried
as they embraced the returned wan.
derers.
we thought :. we thought -
India could not finish In words. but
Moya knew what she meant.
1T was very nearly that way, dear
but everything Is all right now" hel
friend smiled through a him OF tears
1T was Moya saved 'us-and after
ward Mr.. kilmeny," Joyce explained
between sobs.
The crowd below eheered again AM
Moya borrowed midas handkerchie
to wave. II touched her to see how
glad these people were to know the.
had been rescued.