The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-13
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II suppose uncle is simmering,"
she called up.
"Simmering, my dear girl? He is
long past that. Toward dusk last
night he was simmering. Today he
has reached the stage of superheated
steam"
Turning to Ted, the girl said
gloomily, Lets go in and get it
over with"
But as Radcliffe stepped forward
a gesture from Don Bob called him
back. Whatever Morales says" he
whispered, don't let him pick a
quarrel l have particular reason"
Ted nodded and followed the girl
into the house.
In the patio sat Morales and Tito,
and as Adela entered, the vaquero
rose. The older man watched them
for a moment with haggard eyes.
Quietly the girl stepped forward and
knelt beside his chair. She took his
hand and laid it against her cheek.
Il am sorry, my uncle, so very
sorry. Did you worry much?"
Tell me exactly what happened"
he answered coldly.
1--WE loitered, we were late in
leaving the spring, and l tried a
shorter way down over the limestone
cliffs. Then the roam fell and broke
his leg, so we killed him. Night
came on before we reached the des.
ert. We camped until daylight"
THE mare could have shown you
the way"
"But Ted couldn't walk all night
through the desert"
"Couldn't you have ridden dou.
ble?"
She turned with a vexed laugh
and pointed at Radcliffe. Look at
him, uncle. Over two hundred
pounds of bone and muscle. Do you
think my little mare could carry
both of us?"
But the implacable eyes never left
her face.
would it have been extremely
dangerous for Seiior Radcliffe to re-
main on the, desert until we could
have sent horses to him?"
1T would have been difficult, per.
haps, to find him the next day. Re-
member, I had no idea where we
were. Besides, why should leave
him alone? I got him into it."
The black eyebrows raised on his
pale forehead. "You ask why you
should haye left him? Are you some
peon woman not to consider the
place you have as my niece and mis-
tress of this hacienda?"
"But what has that" -
His fist crashed down on the arm
of his chair. do not dare to ask
that stupid question. Would you
make my name thing to laugh att,
In my day. girl would not even
ride alone with q man"
The girl was fighting to keep her
anger from rising, but now her eyes
flashed dangerously.
II know they wouldn't. And whyl
They weren't allowed because they
couldn't be trusted. You raised them
like irresponsible animals, and they
were what you made them. But I'm
not! I'm not an animal. neither am
something that needs to be guarded.
! guard myself. Here, or in the
desert. or wherever I find myself"
"You call it guarding yourself to
cast suspicion on your own sane
tity."
"Oh, damn suspicion-yes, damn
suspicion and everyone who dares
hint of the things you dare not say.
Let's be frank for once. You think
OF virtue as something so difficult
for US women to keep that you men
must protect US. and so you guard
us until you are ready to sell that
highly valued commodity to the right
buyer. And tell you that you are
not fit to protect me. alone can do
that. Don't you think | can see the
insult that lies behind your evasions?
It's the same insult that lay in Jito's
eyes. You are both thinking: What
are they to each other? Is he her
loveri"
$50. Ito Be CoatinaeAS