The Coolidge examiner., 1930-12-19
CHAPTER IV-Continued

s.
He snatched her into his arms
and kissed her. crushing her body
to his. To O'Hara it seemed that
the girl lay there a moment re
laxed, drinking in his savage kiss,
before she pushed him from her
with all the energy of her strong
arms. She flung one flaming lock
at him and turned and ran toward
the horses.
Ingram did not pursue her. He
stood in his tracks, laughing trium.
phantly. Wipe that out If you
can," he called to her.
Barbara Steelman did not an
swer. She pulled the slip knot ot
her horses bride rein and climbed
TO the saddle. Swinging the animal
around, she put il at the steep rock
ascent which led circuitously to the
top of the bluff.
O'Hara woke up to action. Pres
emily, emerging from the draw, she
would reach the clump of pines
where he had tied his horse He
was caught. He could not get away
without being discovered. Perhaps
he could deceive her into thinking
that he had not known of her pres.
ence.
Swiftly he ran for the pines. Just
before he reached his horse he
could see her head and shoulders
riding into view With fingers all
thumbs ne uncinched and dragged
the saddle from the COW pOny's
back. He did not look around, bur
made himself very busy examinin.
q CALLED spot on the animals back.
A Stifled little cry made dim turn.
Barbara had apparently come al
most upon him before becoming
aware of him. She had drawn up
her mount instinctively and was
looking at him That she had been
weeping was so plain that he
thought il better not to pretend to
ignore it,
''What is it, Miss Steelman? Can
| do anything for you?" he STAN
mered.
where did you come fromf
Where have you been?" she de-
manded
We've been hunting. | left Mr..
Smith-Beresford to see if there was
mule deer in the hollow maybe?"
And what did you see there?"
IL stopped toto look at my
horses back" he said. turning q
fiery red.
You're a poor liar" she told him
bluntly. You saw us down there
in the head of the hollow, Dave In
gram an l. Now you know what
kind of a girl ! am. that rode
nine miles tO throw myself at the
head of my fathers enemy"
He was actually distressed at her
proud shame. Desperately he took
the bit betweeL his teeth and trod
down his Shyness.
"YeS, Miss Barbara, | know what
kind of a girl you are how bravely
you've trIeG to keep peace between
your father and Ingram. II honor
you for everything heard and
saw"
Amazed she looked at him. the
stains of the tears still on her
brown cheeks
You don't think | came because
because | had TO see Dave In
gram-hecause | couldn't live with
out seeing himT' she demanded.
"NO. ! don't think that"
Then you're fool, for that's
Do
hlurted out in self-abasement
Her humiliation. the scOrnful ex-
preston of it. shocked him. He
could guess how much her pride
was hurt.
81 don't know why you came.
That doesn't make any difference.
All | know is that you are good and
and fine-and that I'd want my
sister TO be like you."
Tears swan in her eyes. His
words had gone to her heart as
rain does to the roots of thirsty
grass.
you're good" she said simply.
She knew that some men would not
have judged her so after what they
had seen.
He mumDled something inarticu-
late and turned to saddle his horse.
She waited for him and they rode
side by side along the hill shoulder
From the rocks above high cheer
full call tlOated down to them.
Greetings and salutationS, like
wise rousing cheers. Eh, what?"
The Englishman was clambering
over the boulders toward them.
During his first week at the ranch
Smith-Beresford had several long
private talks with Yves Steelman.
After the last of these O'Hara was
invited into conference.
The ranchman drew cigar
from his waistcoat pocket and of
fered it to the young man.