Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-01-14

Inc moon appeared long IN rlS
ing, and Rock, patrolllng a bea
under the trees, both l%ongingly an,
fearfully watched for the silve.
radiance ver the rim. 1t came a
last and found him unprepared
How could he bear to terroriz,
Thirty Preston by ~confessing hi.
determination to stay?
At length he could not Longer
procrastinate. Skirting the edge
of the pines, he circled the slope
and coming to the stream he fol
lowed that up to a level, and soor
found the great pine under which
he had talked with Thirty the night
before. The far side of the Pass
was blanched in moonlight; this side
was dark in shadow. Rock was un.
able to e the rustic seat until he
could almost touch the tree.
To his mingled relief and disap-
pointment Thirty was not there. He
sat down to watch and think. A
light shone thru the curtained win.
dow of her cabin.
Trueman could not rally any
connected thoughts. He must wait
until she came-until he could see
and hear her. He had waited at q
rendezvous for many a girl-a sit
uation always attended with pleas
urable and sometimes perplexing
sensations-but this was not the
same. How tremendous the issue
of this meetingl
He heard the cabin door open. A
broad light flared out into the
gloom. Then Thirty appeared in the
doorway, clearly defined. She wore
white. She had changed her dress
since supper. Trueman's heart gave
a leap and then seemed to stand
still while she stood peering out
into the night. She closed the door
behind her--vanished. But Rock
heard quick light footballs. She was
coming.
Presently her pale form grew
more distinct. She groped slowly
toward the seat. Evidently her eyes
were not yet accustomed to the
darkness. Rock saw her put out her
hands, feeling for the tree or the
bench.
But before she touched either
Rock reached up to take them.
"0h!" she cried, evidently STAR
tied. "It's you-Mr. Rock"
"Yes." He did not let go of her
hands.
'FYou're-late. 1--we been here
twice." she said, with a nervous
little laugh. No doubt she could not
escape from the romance of this
unusual situation.
"Im sorry, but it took courage to
come at ALL" returned Rock.
Didn't it, tho? -. Mr.. Rock,
you-you are holding my hands.
Please let go so | may sit down."
He released her and leaned back
against the pine, conscious that her
presence had ended his uncertainty.
She sat down, quite close to him,
and bent her head forward a little,
as if trying to pierce the gloom.
"Miss Thirty, such eyes as yours
ought to see thru walls" said
Truman, sentilnentally.
Ought they? Well, they can't.
=. And, Mr.. Rock, this is no occa-
sion for holding hands or paying
compliments
There had been some slight
change in her. Rock sensed less
aloofness. The long hours, prob
ably, had magnified; and constant
thot had made him no longer a
stranger. He would let her start the
conversation. Then he would pro-
long it as far as fairness and con-
sideration would permit. Suddenly
the moon slipped up over the black
rim, and magically the darkness
A silver radiance touched
the girls hair and face. Rock, his
own features in shadow, watched
her and waited.
cash stole your horse?" she be-
gan, tentatively.
Reckon / wouldn't say stole. But
he sure borrowed Egypt" returned
with a laugh. i.
Egypt! 49,. | knew you named
him that"
eyes. Much obliged to you"
9fWho told your"
"Ducy. I've sure a stand-in with
her."
$50 it appears. | dare say
you'll learn all our secrets" she
said, a little irritated.
4Miss Thirty, things just gravi-
tate my way"
"Don't call me Miss Thirty. If you
must be formal make it Miss Pres
ton."
Rock guessed that his apparent
GOODNESS and nonchalance had
her a little provokingly.