Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-23
June %, 1895

even little cut on the side of your
cheek. You -
Dick interrupted her with laugh.
My heavens. Miss Dame, don't
worry about 1t That cut is nothing
but little scratch"
There's dirt in it. You turn your
head right around here so"
He felt the soothing touch ot her
magnetic hngertips, felt the cooling
liquid ease the burning tissues. Her
face was very close To his. The eyes
were tender.
Poor boy, YOU got hurt fighting
for me. wish Id stabbed him with
that knife. 1t would have served him
right Oh, don't look AT me like that!
I'm not desperate, you know. but
always carry a sheath knife \ knife is
almost indispensable on the range,
and a woman doesn't have pockets in
which she can carry knife, SO had
small sheath riggcd so | could carry
a knife with me all the time
Dicks mouth felt dry, as 1t did
when ne was gong into danger. He
knew then that it was excitement His
heart was pounding. The soothing tips
Ot her fingers were careSslng his face.
With a swift motion. he grabbed her
hand. pressed 1t to his lips. Then, as
he saw her face flush, he caught her
close 10 him. For a moment she
struggled. then suddenly was quiet.
The sllVer-graV eyes were staring up
into his. There was strength of char
acter shown in those eyes, but back of
that strength was Wistful ycarning.
Her lips half parted.
Please she said.
Dick bent forward and possessed
himself of those halt-parted lips. For
a moment Dick felt her stllfen with
resentment, then suddenly her body
became pliable. Her lips surrendered
to his. For a moment their lips clung
together, and, in that moment, Dick
felt that his soul had drained into hers
and been united to it; that something
strong. fresh and clean had filled him,
something tor which he had been
hungerlng and thTsting without fully
realizing it. Dick realized the truth.
Il love you. Virginia" he breathed.
Steps sounded on the road. Virginia
pushed back from Dicks embrace,
and Dick looked up to see Tom
Wharton coming around the back of
the car.
Wharton did not look at Virginia.
His eyes were boring steadily into
Dicks. His right hand rested sig
nificantly near a holstered weapon
which swung at his hip. His eyes
blazed hatred.
Virginia Dame seemed as embar-
raised as though it had been hus-
band instead OF mere hired ranch
foreman who had intruded upon her
t6te-a-tete with Dick.
why, Tom. | didn't hear you drive
up"
"I'll say you didn't" Wharton said
ominouslv, and neither did this city
slicker. If he's going to make love to
you. first ask him where he learned to
ride a horse Ask him how it happens
he knows ranching and riding and yet
poses as a tenderfoot. Ask him -
Tom" Virginia interrupted. That
will do! I'll hear no more from you.
III have you understand that know
what I'm doing. Come to the car.
She turned back to face Dick and
said slowly, I'm thoroughly ashamed
of myself. You took advantage of
moment of weakness. a moment when
was trying to help you"
Dick met the defiance of her eyes.
Il said something to you, he said,
and meant it."
Virginia Dame laughed. You're
magnetic, attractive and handsome.
You think every woman is an easy
conquest. You said something to me,
yes, and you said it with such glib
ease that knew you'd said it to every
ot har uor,,an of yubon, yOII'd hopp6 IN