The Coolidge examiner., 1931-02-20
The Fighting Tenderf00t
BY William Macleod Raine
william Ad Service


NO he isn't. He went over to
back till late. What is it, GarrettT
He hesitated. No use worrying
her.
Nothing much, Barbara. Pm
on my way to the Circle S 0 and
| stopped to have a word with him.
But if he isn't here"
wait just a minute and I'll be
out" she said, and drew back from
the window.
Presently a lamp was lit. After
a minute he saw the light pass
from her room to the hall. She
opened the front door.
Come in" she said, holding the
lamp high to light the way.
Still he hesta1ed.
Come on in, Garrett" she in
sisted. Il want to see you"
He followed her into the house.
She led the way into the sitting
room and put the lamp on a table.
One swift glance showed her that
he was travel-wOrn.
I'm not very presentable," he
apologized. 81 didn't mean to
waken you"
Il wasn't asleep. Hadn't gone to
bed yet What is it, Garrett?
Something impOrtantT
O'Hara did not want TO speak
about Quantrell TO her. The man
had murdered her husband. Even
the mention of his name might stab
T, her.
81 just wanted TO tell him to keep
an eye out for rustlers. I've reason
TO think some are heading this
way"
"You mean the Quantrell gangY
she asked quickly.
Yes. Probably they'll not show
up on your range. More likely the
Circle . country"
How do you know? Tell me
about it," Again her gaze swept
up from his muddy boots and leath.
ers 10 his unShaven face and sunk
en- eyes. She interrupted herself
to fling at him q question. How
far have you ridden today?"
From the Nal Pals"
when did you eat last"
This morning. | was in hurry
to get through. Don't bother about
me. I'm ali right-get food at the
ranch when | get there"
You'll eat here" she told him
firmly. "Sit down on that sofa
while | make supper for you"
mo. You're not strong enough
You mustn't"
I'm perfectly strong. David is
three months old today. How long
do you want me to be an invaIidT
She tossed some newspapers from
the lounge and ordered him to lie
down.
Reluctantly, still protesting, he
did as he was told. Barbara threw
a Navajo rug over him and left the
room. taking the lamp with her.
Through the door he could see her
moving about the kitchen with the
light grace that characterized her.
His lids dropped. He fought against
fatigue She was woman
TO dream about, deep-bOsomed and
supple-limbed, incomparably alive
trusty as steel. Was ii
| any wonder that every fiber of his
being had for a year longed for her
as Abelard had yearned for HelOise?
God must have meant love to fulfill
her life. If so
When she returned, shading the
flame of the lamp with her hand,
he was sound asleep. Barbara
looked down at him, smile in her
eyes A glow warm and tender per-
vaded her, diffused happiness.
Never had she known anyone at all
like him. Sensitive as a girl. quick
with the shyness and the generosity
of youth, he was none the less as
self-reliant and competent as Dave
ingram himself had been. Gentle
ness was an essential quality of
him, but no more so than the gay
courage that emergencies seemed to
set bubbling in his veins He was
bookman-liked to read classics
that till lately had been only names
to her-but he had flung himself
into the frontier life with boyish
zest and had met, often buoyantly,
always unfinchingly, the stark
tests that had been imposed on
him.
She let the light shine on him.
His eyelids tiickered open and he
smiled at her.
Your supper is ready" she told
him.
"MaV | wash nv handS2"
She had not forgotten even that.
He found warm water in a basin
and a clean towel at hand.
While he ate she sat across the
table from him, elbow on table and
chin on fist, listening to the story
of his hunt in the Nal Pals cOun
try for the outlaws. He made light
of it, but she could muster only
very faint smile even when he read
| aloud QuantrelFs note. The man
was more deadly than d rattle
snake, for he struck without warn
ing. She had lived over fifty times
that dreadful hour when she had
come upon her husbands dead body
lying in the road.
From her throat there leaped in
voluntarily the thought in her
mind: "Oh, | wish you weren't
sheriff. Garrett !"
A wave OF emotion flooded him.
He dared not let himself hope that
her spontaneous cry meant more
than friendship. He passed quick
| IV Ovpr If lest she pXnlain il aWaV