The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-05
CHAPTER VIII. (continued)

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He was very boyish about this love
of his. Lacking confidence to make
known his feelings, he undertook to
conceal them and believed he had
succeeded. No doubt he had, 50 far
as the men in his party were con-
Cerned-they were far too busy to
give thought to affairs other than
their own-but the woman had
marked his very FIRST surrender and
now read him like an open page,
from day to day. His blind, unreas-
oning loyalty, his complete acquies-
cence to her desires, his extravagant
JOY in doing her will, would have
told her the truth even without the
aid of those numerous little things
which every woman understands.
Now. oddly enough. the effect upon
her was only a little less disturbing
than upon him. for this first boy
love was thing which no good
woman could have treated lightly:
its simplicity, its purity, its unself-
ishness were different to anything
she had known-so different, for in
stance, to that affection which Count
Courteau had bestowed upon her as
to seem almost sacred-thercfore
she watched its growth with grati6-
cation not unmixed with apprehen-
sion. 1t was fattering and yet it
gave her cause for some uneasiness.
AS a matter of fact, Phillips was
boyish only in this one regard; in
other things he was very much of a
man-more of a man than any one
the Countess had met in long time
and she derived unusual satisfac-
ton from the mere privilege of de-
pending upon him. This pleasure
was so keen at times that she al
lowed her thoughts to take strange
shape, and was stirred by yearnings.
by impulses, by foolish faacies that
reminded her of her girlhood days.
The bodybuilding had proceeded
with such despatch thanks largely to
Phillips, that the time for departure
was close at hand, and inasmuch as
there still remained reasonable
margin of safety the Countess be-
gan to feel the first certainty of Sue
cess. While she was not disposed
to quarrel with such happy state
of affairs. nevertheless one thing
continued to bother her: she could
not understand why interference had
failed to come from the Kirby crowd
She had expected it. for Sam Kirby
had the name of being a hard, con-
scienceless man, and Danny Royal
had given proof that he was not
above resorting to desperate means
to gain time. Why, therefore, they
had made no effort to hire her men
away from her, especially as men
were almost unobtainable here at
Linderman, was something that baf-
fled her. She had learned by bitter
experience to put trust in no man.
and this, coupled perhaps with the
natural suspicion of her sex, COM
bined to excite her liveliest curiosity
and her deepest concern; she could
not overcome the fear that this un-
spoken truce concealed some sinister
design.
Feeling, this afternoon, a strong
desire to see with her own eyes just
what progress her rivals were max
ing, she called Pierce away from his
work and took him with her around
the shore of the lake.
"Our last boat will be in the wa
ter Tomorrow" he told her. Kirby
can't hold us up now. if he tries"
Il don't know" she said, doubt
fully. He is as short-handed as
we are. can't understand why he
has ie1t us alone so long,"
Phillips laughed. "He probably
knows it isn't safe to trifle with you"
The Countess shook her head. Il
couldn't bluff him. He wouldn't care
whether I'm woman or not
"Were you bluffing when you held
up Royal? l didn't think so.'
Il don't think so, either. There's
no telling what l might have done-
! have furious temper"
That's nothing to apologize for"
the young man declared, warmly.
IT'S a sign of character, force. l
hope l never have reason to feel it"
"You? How absurd! You've
been perfectly dear. You couldn't
DO you think so. really? I'm
awfully glad"
The Countess was impelled to an
swer this boys eagerness by telling
him frankly just how we'll she
thought of him, just how grateful
she was for all that he had done,
but she restrained herself.
"All the fellows have been .splen.
did, especially those two gamblers"
she said. coolly. After a moment
she continued: "Don't stop when
we get to Kirby's camp. I don't
want him to think we're curious"
Neither father nor daughter wal
in evidence when the visitors ar
rived at their destination, but Danny
Royal was experimenting the final
work upon a stout scow the seams
of which were being calked and
daubed with tar. Mast and sweeps
were being rugged; Royal himself
was painting name on the stern.
At sight of the Countess the ex-
horseman dropped his brush and
thrust his hands aloft, exclaiming,
Don't shoot. ma'am!" His grin was
friendly; there was no rancor in
his voice. "How you gettin' along
down at your house?" he inquired,
"Vey WELL" the Countess told
him. i.
We'll get loaded tomorrow" said
Pierce.
Same here" Royal advised. "Bet-
ter come to the launching. Amt
she a bear?" He gazed fondly at
the bluf-bowed, ungainly barge.
I'm goin' to bust bottle of wine
on her nose when she vets her feet.
First rainy-weather hack we ever
had in the family. Her names
Romletta." /.
II hope she has a safe voyage"
Royal eyed the. speaker 'meditst-i