Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1932-02-04

at sure Is. Most as outrageous as
your deceivin' me-"
How have l deceived your she
demanded. vibrating 10 that.
For one thing-carin about me
a little. You do, don't YOU, Thiry?'
Care about you? l suppose IL
did, else l couldn't have been such
a fool as to go TO that dance. But
what's caring. Ii certainly does
MT give you license to hold me against
my will"
what you mean by care. I'm arguin'
you love me a little bit. Sure I've
1 prayed enough for it,"
You pray! You're a fine Christian, ="
she retorted, scornfully.
christian or not I've sure prayed
you'd love me-"
Then your prayers have been I'M
answered-as mine have BEEN" she
said, In mockery.
Thirty l must make sure"
Reckon first off I'll kiss you a
couple of thousand times and see II
1 can tell by that
You wouldn't darel'
Wouldn't | tho. Sure I'm a reck-
less cowboy! Now watch me-"
And with action at strange vari-
ance with his bantering words he
bent to kiss her hair again and again.
and then her ear and last her cheek.
that changed its GOODNESS under his
lips.
'"Therel'' he whispered. and drew
her head back on his shoulder so her
face would be upturned. To his pierre
ing eyes the darkness was as if 1t
were not. "'Sure they were only wor-
shipful kisses. D.. Do you hate me for
Them"
q couldn't hate you. Please let
that do. Let me go-before it's too
Trueman,I beg of you"
1T is too late, Thirty, for both of
u.s." he whispered, passionately. and
he kissed her lips-and then again,
with all the longing that consumed
him..
me-a little ?" he asked. huskily.
20 God help me- do doi' she
cried, and her eyes seemed deep ac-
cusing CULTS.
More than a little? Thirty. I did
MT expect much. Sure | don't deserve
1t. But tell me-"
yes, more" And she twisted to
hide her face, while her left arm
slowly crept up his shoulder. and
went half round his neck. That's
what was the matter with me-"
When did o know?' he asked,
amazed in his ~incredulity.
Just now. But / knew there
was something wrong before"
Thirty, bless you,-if this's not a
one-sided affair, kiss me-"
"No-no. If l give up-we're
ruined" she whispered, tragically.
Sure we're ruined If you don't. So
let's have the kisses anyhow"
"Trueman, since never can-mar-
ny you'll mustn't kiss you"
Darling, one thing at a time. BY
and by weal tackle the marryin'
problem I'd go loco If / thought you'd
be my wife some day. But just now
II you knewmyou might not want
ITO whom?"
You"
I'm risk 1t. Thirty, I'll comDro
mise; I'll be generous. Just one-but
not like that fairy kiss you gave me
on Winters porch.
"Trueman, If / give one-it means
all. ten. million will follow" she
Dear, I'll save the nine hundred
and 'n~inety-nine thousand, and so
And lifting her head he turned her
face to his.
You are wrong toto master me
this way she %rejoined, ~mournfully.
IF you knew-you might not want
Master nothin'? 1 am your slave.
But kiss me. Settle 1t forever!p
How slowly she lifted her pale
face, with eyes like black stars! In
the sweet fire of her lips Rock gained
his hearts desire.
Then she lay in his arms, her face
hidden, while he gazed out into the
stormy night, across the black Pass
to the dim flares along the battle
ments OF the range. His victory
brought happiness and sorrow COM
mingled.
meant by myN@Salsehood to all?" she
asked. presently.
Are o quite ~prepared?" he re-
turned, gravely. Sure it's not easy
to rush from JOY to trouble"
She sat up, startled, with hands
nervously releasing their hold. All
about her expressed doubts, mis-
giyings, but she had no inkling of
what he had to reveal.
Thirty, you are keepin' Ash's and
your fathers secret from ALL"
"Trueman!n she cried. as IL her
own mind had deceived her ears.
They are cattle thieves. Beef
Scoot and Boots, along with them"
20 my God!-You know she al
most screamed, and slipped to her
knees before him.
Hush! Not so loud You'll wake
some one" he said sternly, placing
a firm hand yer her mouth. Get
up off your knees"
But she only leaned forward,
clutching him, peering up into his
"Trueman, how do-you know"
she gasped, convulsively.
/ suspected 1t when / first came.
I found signs. Quicklimel That made
me suspicious. Slagle's we'll is half
full of hides. Sure those hides have
not the Preston brand. Then over
near where they ~butchered last /
I'd seen down near the slaughter
house. | trailed that track. 1t led
under a culvert. There / found hun
dreds of hides, tied up in burlap
sacks. Most were old. but some were
new. I opened one: That hide had a
Half Moon brandt Down here at your