The Coolidge examiner., 1932-09-02

haunting dread too great for endur-
ance.
Phirs heart was very tender to
this charming creature, so soft and
defenseless. II ached for her now.
The generous youth in him was
eager to defend her.
But defend her against whatf
Not grief alone for her sister Nora's
death had brought that stricken
look into her face. There was
something else-somethlng sinister
and evil that she felt like shadow
of disaster lowering over her life.
What could ii be? What had so
moved her to futile and protestant
outburst? Was it possible that
some threat still overhung, one of
the nature of which he was in the
dark?
Couldn't you and your sister
come and stay with US few daysT
Julia asked, her fingers caressine
the soft and dimpled cheek. Wed
love TO have you?"
"Oh, wish we could. But we
can't There's no use talking" 4"
Ethel cried. IT'S sweet of you TO
ask us, though Ann wouldn't want
to go. I'm sure she wouldn't"
shadow darkened the doorway.
where is ii Ann wouldn't want
to go?"
Miss Clifford came into the room,
a quirt dangling from her wrist lD
an unloyely khaki divided skirt and
spurred boots. a revolver cased in
the belt al her hip, she looked very
much a denizen of the desert But
she had an aspect of efficient com.
petence.
IL was asking your sister If you
and she wouldn't come and stay for
few days at the Circle Cross
We're-lonesome just nOw," ex-
plalned Julia.
mo. thank you" Ann answered
bluntly.
WED so like to have you come" >"
Julia persisted. "Tl>ere aren't many
of US women folk on the desert.
Don't you think we ought to be
| friends?"
Friends !" AIMS voice carried a
laugh far removed from humor
why not? When we have lived
here two years and none OF you
have come 10 see us. when you've
sll treated us as though we had the
plague. when you've harried our
sheep over cliffs and poisoned them,
when your vile men" She stopped
abruptly. to add a moment later
contemptuously. "Yes, let's be
friends"
"Phikand didn't do any of this.
did we?" Julia asked gently. "Oh.
] know you haven't been treated
right But give us a chance now
If you're generous youn give US
chance to make up for 1t. Wed
love TO try
I'm not generous" Ann Clifford
replied. and In her eyes there
burned sparks OF anger. ''The less
we have to do with any Of you the
better pleased well be-"
That's plain enough" Julia said
stiffly. 1T doesn't leave much
room for argument. If you won't
have our friendship, why OF course
we can't give IT,"
There was nothing more TO te
said Ann had closed the matter
by imperative veto. Phil longed for
a rehearing. but knew ii would he
OF no use. Better than his sister
he guessed at the grounds of AIMS
resentment toward the Circle Cross
Most of the cowboys visiting the
sheep ranch had heard whispered
comment at the bunk house. Prob
ably she had reason to think some
one Of them was responsible for the
trouble that had come to her sister
Nora.
His troubled gaze clung 10 Ethel
For her his heart was wrung. So
soft and young she looked. so lit
tie able to cope with the harsh
world into which circumstances
had flung her. AIMS attitude was
unjust. He knew that But he was
still boy. and he did not know
how to cope with it.
Reluctantly be followed Julia
from the house and swung to the
saddle.
They rode across the mesa and
dipped into a draw Round sharp
bend they moved-and came face
to face with Jasper.
The meeting was surprise to
all three. TO Jasper a disconcerting
one.
"'Lo. Jas Where you headin
for?" his sister asked.
He murmured something about Il
calf cached by its mother while the
COW went to the nearest water hole
Neither Phil nor Julia voiced thei;
doubts after they had ridden on
He was going to the Clifford sheep
ranch. Both of them believed that
But why? Was it possible that in