The Coolidge examiner., 1931-01-30

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He snatched her into his arms
and held her close, looking down
hungrily into the dark eyes which
now denied him nothing, which in
their soft and shining depth held
gifts never before offered to any
man.
There was a little rustling move
ment of her body toward him. Per-
! hapS it was only an unconscious
sigh of happiness. She felt love
pouring through her quivering be-
ing.
Ingram kissed the palpitant
brown throat, the glowing eyes, the
red lips between which cleaned
perfect ivory teeth. The touch of
love had awakened her. She was
flaming flower, incomparably de-
Sirabe i'm her soft and joyous vital
ity. From her surrender, SO full
of innocent and passionate aban-
don, the man plucked an emotion
new to his experience.
"Ny mate! My woman :" he
cried eXuItantly.
In her bosom there was a burst
of song. From her soft throat
came a happy little laugh. IF you
care as much as that" she mur-
INJURED.
Shyly she withdrew from his en-
brace, her cheek flying a flag of
color. Were all alike, we wOm-
en-" she laughed tremulously. "We
want our man and-a home"
He came to earth and the less
important business of the day.
Tell yOre father it's to be peace
between us. I'll sure be easy to do
business with"
81 can't tell Dad. He mustn't
know I've been here. It's to be q
secret yet-about us. You'll have
to make friends with him first. I'll
tell Mr. O'Hara, an he'll meet you"
They talked long before they
parted. Ingram watched her ride
out of sight before he turned to
climb to the mesa above. For the
hour at least she had given him
n new vision of life. Through all
the hardness and hatred of the
feud she had cOntrived to remain
sweet and fine as the song of a
meadow lark. He felt himself n
small thing, infinitely removed
from the stars to which she looked
so bravely. But he realized this
conviction was but for the moment.
He knew that he was what he
was, what the years and environ
ment and his ancestry had made
him, hard and willful man, one
who would go his own way at all
cost. Men were not born again,
not in this wOrkaday world. He
would make peace, because circum-
stances forced his hand, because
the path he wanted to follow lay
that way. But he must continue
since it was in his horoscope, to
trample down those who opposed
him on his road to success.
AS he rode up TO the Hughes
ranch he recognized cIaybank COW
pony at the hitch rack near the
house Several men were sitting
on the porch. Leaning against one
of the end posts. rifle across
his legs, sat Bob Quantrell. smOk-
ing cigarette insOlently but
warily.
What are yOu doing here?" de-
manded Ingram harshIy.
The lad took the cigarette from
his mouth and blew out a fat
smoke wreath Iazily. "The short
an sweet of it is that I'm here
loOkin' for job. I'm through with
that other outfit. | don't like their
ways an they don't like mine"
you've got the nerve to come
here. after what you did the day
before yesterday" Ingram said
blackly.
"All in the way of business,
Dave" the boy replied airily.
"What would you expect? | was
workin' for Steelman's crowd then.
Like | said, I've quit 'em. If you're
needin' top hand, either with a
bunch of cows or a six-shOoter, why
just say the word. I'm yore goose
berry. Any of the boys here can
recommend me-"
The big cattle man did not lift
his eyes from the slim lad with the
receding chin. This yOungster
grinning at him with his buck
teeth showing was the most notori-
Gus bad man in the territory. In
time men would come from afar
to write books about his wild
career, though none of those pres
ent could guess that his repute
would some day be nationwide.
Ingram was not afraid of him.
He was afraid of no man alive.
His pride was too arrogant and
dOmineering to leave room for fear.
you're an lnsOlent young devil,
Quantrell," he said, measuring his
words carefully. you've run on
the rope all yore life till you think
you're chief. You're not-nOt on
this range. Listen. You're through
with this country. Get out. Push
on yore reins an shove. | ought to
have you arrested right now for
murder If | didn't know you'd
break Jail that's just what I'd do.
Serve you right if we shot you
down here on the spot. But I'm
Servin' notice on you. If you stay
in this country I'll have you hunted
down like a wolf"
You're the big auger, are your"
jeered Quantrell big talk, with
all yore men sittin' around here to
back yOre play. You listen awhile,
Dave Ingram. There amt men