New Britain herald., 1930-09-15
as soon as I mentioned you"
 Welling's flush deepened.

rudeness. You must feel like a bite"
 He waved the cavalcade forward.
 How'd you happen to be in Mex ico?" he added.
 And this time 1t seemed to Dag ger as if it was Howard who stiff fened slightly.
 "oh. got tired of civilization" he said, "and pal of mine offered me this chance to see how the .Greasers fight. But I'm for France, now"
 A big, stoop old man, whose leathery features were adorned by ragged, walrus nous tache, stood in the doorway as the cavalcade approached the ranch house with Dagger in. the van
 What yew been up to, Dagger ?" he demanded. we heard shootin' over by the river.'.
 Climb down, Uncle Jinl," she re- torted airily. T heard shooting and talked Jose Martinez out of working the ley fuga on this gentle man here, MT. Howard" W.
 "Yeh?" he drawled, a sardonic glitter in his steel-blue eyes ''Waall, yew'll get the ley fuga worked on yew one of these days, if yew don't lay off monkeyin' with them Greasers."
 Here we are, Mr.. Marley" said Yelling, as the rest of the riders drewsup. This is MT. Howard of New York. fancy Dagger has told ycu of him." N<
 Uncle Jim offered calloused hand. ;.
 "Only lowed he wore a strange Gringo Jose Martinez aimed to work the ley fuga on." :,
 Indeed, owe. my life to your niece, MT. Marley" said Howard
 o"Waal, don't shoot craps with her or yew'll owe her a. damn sight more" advised the old ranchnan. Come in, and have snort of flicker, sir. Glad to see yew."
 Thank you, MT. Marley replied Howard. He studied the wide, low. cetled room appreciatively as they entered. It was mans room, with al saving impression of feminine in- fluence. No ranchman, he knew, would have hung that Blue Boy print over the mantelpiece.
 He glanced again at the slim fig ure of the girl. Her graceful car riage made her look taller than she was, and the breadth of her fore head and the candid expression ot her eyes were at odds with the rose bud curves of her child's mouth. Certainly she was no ordinary child Of the plains.
 You like the Blue Boy?! he asked.
 T love him! sent all the way to New York for him."
 "Someday you'll travel" Howard said Perhaps you'll come East and see. my collection"
 Perhaps we can persuade Mir Howard to stay while with us. v suggested Yelling.
 Shore" Marley assented. "Ad- mine to have yew, sir"
 I'm afraid - Howard checked as he perceived the plead ing light in Dasger's eyes-"yes I'd like to stay a few days. if q may" .. That will be wonderful" sighed the girl. You've been places :. haven't you? You know what thu :, worlds like-out there" .-. ', Marley poured four glasses 0: ' the oily spirits = three sizeablt . ones, Howard observed, and one : half as full. This last he extended , to Dagger.
 Wore good health sir$ said the :, old ranchman, lowing to Howard. Hear. hear" assented Yelling. :, "Mr. Howard" added Dagger, ane tossed off her portion without /. blinking.
 U Howard suspended his own drink Say, that-that's whiskey.'
 Yelling smiled, and old Marley
 remarked dryly: ..... u Good whiskey don't hurt nobody . sir. I always aimed to bring III Dagger like she wore boy. Waall
 drink up Howard."
 :, With the dropping of the prefixet ,, title, the New Yorker realized ht had been accepted by his hosts. H. y. was amazed to discover himsel Il feeling very much at home, as i V he had known Casa Blanca and tn .o Figure in years past.
 CHAPTER III U DAGGER MEETS HER MATCH D. rooljl1y st A hi col ., to the routine of the ranch. He wa >. popular with everyone and especial ,' ly Dagger. . In the beginning she was tempte'
 to preen herself, peacock-wise t
 exhibit her accomplishments. Bu V lie bested her so nonchalantly tha .s her slightly egotistical attitude wa ls soon discarded for admiration. II, The metamorphosis began wit 'o the polo game staged for Howar es his second day. Captaining a sid ss of cowboys. he defeated tear a which included both Yelling an
 Dagger. Yelling rode superbl, ID and Dagger hit accurately but How Fo ard was better than the pair (
 them together.
 ot The. day after Dagger took hif o. down to. the corral, and introduce him to broncho busting He mount III ed a half-wild mustang, and in a hour of frenzied buckings and cul or vettings never once pulled leathe so But what finally won Dagger {
 accept his superiority was his @
 ploit' in the monthly crap-shootin
 contest, which celebrated payda IT, or the ranch. It was she wh h. came stealthily to him that nigi m after supper, and suggested a stro r. in the cool of the evening.
 Whats doing?" he asked ve ",Sssh! There's a big game at u dy bunkhouse."
 d. That's no place for you,' he r ne turned, mildly amused.