The Coolidge examiner., 1932-11-18
CHAPTER XIV
The Old Maid sheepherder.

loup canyon. Ii was long oefore
she could get 10 sleep. She was
glad of the darkness and the free
dom IL brought from the need to
talk. Her thoughts were of Wilson
Mccain. What had he meant when
he said he would not tell her his
opinion of her? She tried to vision
again the look that had accom-
panied the words, and her pulses
throbbed with JOY and apprehen.
sion He was no friend. The lines
in which their lives had been cast
made that impossible. But he was
the man she loved. No longer did
she deny that TO herself 1t gave
her a stinging delight TO ad-
nit 1t. They could be nothing 10
each other. Never! Never! None
the less he was everything to her.
Ii was long past midnight before
her eyes closed. They opened only
when the tinkling OF knives and
forks told her that Ethel was set
ting the table for breakfast.
"What time is it," she asked
drowsily.
We've been up hours" Ethel told
her. Ann said TO LET you sleep.
She's had her breakfast and started
for one of the camps. You don't
have to go home today. do your
Think I'd better. Phil's away,
you know"
mir. Rafferty, will look after
things. He's been doing il a good
many years, hasn't he?"
During the day Julia continued
TO argue that she must be getting
home. but she made no move 10 20
The fact was that she was very re
luctani to put that half dozen miles
between her and the men who had
gone TO Guadaloup. She was not
easy In her mind and she knew that
Whatever news came would reach
the sheep ranch before il did the
Circle Cross.
Toward evening Ann returned and
vetoed Iulia's halfhearted sugges-
ton that she must be going. Where
fore the guest stayed another night
and was awakened next morning TO
the odor of frying bacon.
They had not finished eating when
a mans voice outside hailed the
house. The man was Dave Stone
He had come TO say goodby before
leaving for Texas.
Ii was Julia, not Ann, who asked
him questions.
Texas ! didn't know you were
even thinking of going. How long
are you going to stay there?"
I'm fgurin' on joinin' the rang
ers there?"
II wish you wouldn't go. Why
can't you stay at the Circle CROSSE"
Every once in a while gotta
sorta hunger for Texas"
Julia was not one TO give up
easily. but she did not find II pos
sihle to move him from his pur
pose.
"You talk TO him. Ann. while
Ethel and do the dishes" she said
al last
But Ann had nothing TO say. She
sat mute and still while the Texan
maintained as best he could flow
of small talk. Presently she rose.
I've got to look at the feed
troughs." she said.
He walked beside her TO the cor
rails. The girl put her forearms on
the top bar of the fence and looked
across at the distant Sierras.
Am | driving you away?" she
asked at last.
"Why no, ma'am. I'm just rest
less"
Il ought not TO say anything
about it," she went on. with a flare
of her old bitterness. ITS not
womanly, suppose. But you're
either my friend or you're not. |
want to know which"
I'm yore friend" he said in a
low voice.
"All you did was TO try to save
me from prison and to protect my
good name when folks were talking
about me. Nothing to speak of.
just almost gave your life for me.
Now you come and say. I'm going
away. without telling me why. Is
I hat fair?''
Maybe not" he said quietly
/ Fact is. Miss Ann, am leavin' on
yore account. It's not fair 10 you
tor NE 10 stay. I've worked it all
"ut in my mind Folks have got a
/ tool notion that that"
-thnt I'm in love with you"
she finished for him
! NO ma'am, but that I'm right
! fond of you