Nogales international., 1935-03-30


greet Anne and enter the hotel with her.
Barry interrupts the meeting and takes Anne
home telling her that they viii discuss
separation at some future time.
"Of course it's all right Ought to
have thought of it myself. But it won't
hurt to be little careful what you say
when that little trick is around. She
sounds to me Ike pretty smart young
woman"
Long before the day was ended Cleo
had formed her own opinion Of the
Gage family.
She's afraid OF him." Cleo thoug ght
shrewdly. 'He's proud OF her, but she
knows he could be as hard as nails"
Jim Kennedy, waiting patiently at the
little Junction, saw hunch come true.
Little Cleo! She's come out to pol
ish off the job and collect Duane, !
suppose" he reflected cynically. Little
lady, if I didn't have some important
business of my own on hand, I'd give
myself the pleasure of Grabbing your
game"
Jim Kennedy released frightened
nerves, strolled down the street to a
local garage, and began tuning up his
old car
Barry met his guests at Marston sta
ton. He drove down alone, not bring
ing Petry. Lately he had avoided any
unnecessary intercourse with Petry,
ord Pe4rv had avoided him
Three people instead of two alighted
from the two-thirty eight. Decency de-
narded that he should not look too
d1mbfounded, but Barry's thoughts
!.erent racing back to the Perch. where
there was no Nancy to meet Cleo Pen
.eleton, who had dashed across conti-
neat without warning.
Hello, Cleo!" ,-~r
s. 'I,o Barry, you needn't look so pet
Tifed Didn't Nancy get my letter :"
"Why, no, ] think not. At least, it
may have been forwarded too late for
her to let me know" He remembered
his duties as host. $50 you sec it's a
real SURPRISE" he added hastily, and
turned apologetically to the other two.
"I'm frightfully sorry" he said, but
Mrs. Duane won't be able to receive
you. She was-called away, only few
days ago. It was very unexpected-and
it had to happen at the wrong time, OF
course. I'll do my best to be both of
us"
"O-o-o-h!" said Cleo softly. you'll
be wonderful substitute, Barry, but
its shame that Nancy had to go"
Her eyes were sparkling
Damn Cleo, Barry thought moodily.
Nancy might at least have sent him
word about that letter. That the letter
had merely been another of Cleo's little
fictionS he could scarcely know. Nancy
had let him down again.
Gage gave him a sharp look and
said Too bad Too bad! !" in his gruff
way. Barry was really grateful for the
interruption Of Cleo's clear voice.
Barry, you're terribly disappoint-
ing l thought you'd look like movie
hero, and you haven't even gun to
shoot the rattlesnakes."
Il left it home They don't usually
bite Cadillac" Barry was finding his
feet again. "I'll look after the luggage,
Mr.. Gage"
Your town looks little tired, but
your air is great. have an idea I'll be
ready for the ham and eggs you prom
ised me-
From a sheltered point On rocky
hillside Anne saw them go by.
She wondered what she would have
done with her days without Comet.
Petry had brought him down the same
day that she had left the Perch. Il
guess he kinda belongs here, don't he !?
It amt safe not to have any way of
gettin' out except on foot"
Comet had brushed her with a velvet
muzzIe, and Anne had not had the
heart to let him go.
It was nearly dark when she un-
Saddled Comet and went up the famil
lar path to the little house Home was
lonely Once inside, she went about
the business of preparing meal. Not
because she was hungry but because
she must keep doing things.
When the meal was over she wan
dered out again, locking up at the low,
bright stars. How long could she live
here? Where would she go ii she left ::
How long, with her dwindling capital
and her slender knowledge OF ranch
ing, would Trails End yield her a
living? The money she had brought
III the little gold bag was nearly gone
now-she had not asked Barry for any
after she had learned how embarrassed
he was for actual cash.
If she went away, it. was almost a