The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-12-07

about Colorado ranching shoot 'em at
me any time. Chances are can't an
swer, but I'll make dab at It,"
The girl, who had continued to play
her cards, after a nod, now looked up
for the first time and David met her
cool glance. She was lovely but ar
rogant looking-and painted, he told
himself, like an Indian on the warpath.
"Are you modesto" she asked lazily.
II never met modest western man be-
fore. It's quite an experience"
I'm very modest, but I don't know
much. And beginners" David grinned,
always ask more questions than any
old-timer can answer"
"Bill can" The girl nodded toward
her brother. give heard him at it. Just
about five minutes chat with Bill about
ranching would wreck your yuletide.
Mr., Worse, so don't start anything. Will
you sit DOWN."
There was no extra chair in sight
and he was sure she knew it. She
was being deliberately rude, yet her
glance was provocative. Ready to string
him up and then let him down, David
decided. All right, if she wanted 1t that
way. His young jaw set.
IT reckon not just now, ma'am. I'm
goin' to show" he said rather stiffly
(Which one?"
"The Scarlet Ramblers' or somethin'
like that"
'They say it's pretty good. Why hav-
emit we seen it, Billy?"
'"Too busy"
Billys manner was more friendly. He
rather admired that build Of this six
| foot young ranchman before him and
| he was impressed by his sisters ap-
parent acceptance of the stranger. Billy
was not the sort who read between the
| lines of human relationship.
"Glad to take you both, if you want
to co." David said formally.
| He didn't care hang whether they
went or not. He wasn't sure he should
have offered the invitation. But he had
got the distinct impression that the
girl was limiting for one, was leading
him on, and he was determined to
show her that he was not in awe of her.
She gave him long, odd look.
"You don't look like the cowboy of
western fiction" she said, scanning him
up and down as if he were a prize ex-
hibit, Except your figure. Where are
your chaps and spurs and pistols and
lariats?"
), Il don't often tote 'em all into the
diningroom when I'm visitin'," David
assured her soberly.
"Are you visiting now?"
i eyes, ma'am. Jes' come to town for
little while. I'll show you my outfit
when you come to my RANCH" he grim
ned. It'll be off, now. Show starts in
20 minutes"
Can we get there in that timer"
"Sure, I've got my car"
"All right, let's go. But give us two
minutes to get ready"
Five. I'll have my car at the door,"
!. In five minutes he was waiting al
the hotel entrance.
The five minutes stretched to 10, ther
to IS. Was the girl making a fool O.
him? Probably she had no idea of go.
ing to the show. Just giving him rise
He returned to the cardroom and in
vestigated. He went back to his ca:
, and waited five minutes more.
, "The girl was stringin' me-" he re-
Elected. "Just like her cheek" With ;
twisted grin he started the car.
He was driving away when a sharl
$ hail recalled him. Young Bryant an
' his sister were signalling from the curl
"You don't mean you were going of
{ without us?" the girl spoke with genu
= inc surprise.
. IT hung on more than 20 minutes.
+ then thought you were givin' me tn
l raspberry"
David's tone was gay. He was gla
Y now that the pair was going. He ush
cred them into the back seat of hi
:. big sedan and took the wheel. He wa
no longer lonely. He had companion
y ship. That was all to the good. Tn
e fact that he didn't much like eithe
the boy or the girl didn't matter.
!. The show was excellent. The Bryant
'. let him pay for their tickets-he hadn
= been sure they would do that-but i'm
y mediately returned his hospitality b
!. taking him to a cabraret for suppe
q and dancing. It was gay place wit
=. the Christmas spirit oozing from
David wasn't sure the girl would lii
his dancing, but she seemed to. The
S danced a lot and did not get back
g the hotel till two in the morning. II
IL boy had warmed up as the evenir
progressed even confided to Davl
% his interest in the purchase of ranc
u and asked innumerable questions, SON
:, Of them pretty foolish. But David re
ther liked the lad. The girl he increa.
n ingly disapproved of. She took entire
e. too much for granted. Spoiled. Thu
e, was really what was the matter wit
ir her. She made it clear that she WI
J. studying David as new type, and se'
ly eral times he was sure that she W.
I'd making fun of him. All right, he ne
something up his sleeve, too. She wo
d. gorgeous evening gown and lot mo
l. paint That, of course, explained II
& Is minutes delay at the entrance. D
- vid classified her without difficult
Hard-boiled she was. No doubt abo
that. AS hard as they make them
ready to amuse herself with the ives
j. ern cowboy and then tire of him al
I'll treat him like the dirt under her fe