The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-10-23

L
II realize that It's stupid of me to
lose my way again." she said, but can
you tell me whether am heading right
for the ranch?"
He found his tongue and spoke
quietly: well you'd reach tho
ranch the way you are going, though
probably not today"
mot todayT she asked in amaze
ment
"You want to reach the ranch house.
I suppose?"
II do"
'"Then you're heading the wrong
way"
~win you please set me rightr
| YOU'D better take the back trail
You're going away from the ranch
house now"
Jane exclaimed in surprise. why.
how is that? Are you sure7" D..
Dead sure" A suspicion Of humor
crept into the words.
Confused at being caught wrong,
Jane flushed. The man, silent, lust
looked at her. She did not like It; he
might be laughing at her. Facing him
more sternly. she asked with helpless
annoyance in her words, what am
| to do?"
"Back trail"
"What does that meanI" she asked
tartly.
Turn around"
-Where am II"
"Pretty we'll out on the Gunlock In.
dian Reservation"
i've never felt 80 stupid In my life"
declared Jane. trying to act at ease
as she refined about. Il thought knew
this country well enough by this time
not to get lost. I'm certainly not q
tenderfoot"
The man smiled, but to himself.
"There's been men here several years
who get lost riding In the hills. It's no
disgrace for a two-monthser."
Jane did not relish being termed q
"twO-monthser." "Oh, I've been here
before" she said airily.
He offered no comment. Tired, wait
Ing for him to say something, Jane was
nettled by his continued silence.
II see you're wearing your bracelet"
he remarked of sudden. The words
came. so to speak, out Of a clear sky.
She looked at him just as suddenly
as he had spoken; and in alarm.
He was looking straight ahead
| just as If she were not within miles
| and with the impassive expression Of
man riding quite alone. Could he be,
she asked herself in a flash Of fear,
a bad man? Could he mean to rob her
Of her bracelet and watchf
For a moment she was too upset to
speak. But her silence seemed not to
move her companion.
| Looking placidly ahead, and after
waiting for her to comment, he spoke
again:
II might be wrong. But thought ]
saw that bracelet about two years ago
Fourth of July"
"Oh," exclaimed Jane for want OF
something better to say.
Anyway" continued her even-speak.
ing guide, II know / couldn't be mis-
taken about the young lady that wore
1t. Weren't you visiting here around
that timer
YES" ventured Jane, stealing q
glance at the questioner. His gaze was
fixed steadfastly ahead.
"Were you at the Frontier Day cele-
bration in Sleepy Cat that Fourth OF
July?" he continued.
yves" repeated Jane. -W-were
your"
"If I hadn't been," he answered dry
ly, IL shouldn't have seen the brace
let"
They were jogging along pleasantly
enough, and as the man didn't actually
demand her bracelet or watch, her
panic subsidized.
stopping over at the ranch for a
while, are your"
For a while, yes"
"SOme Of the boys over at your ranch
were telling in town they had a young
lady over at Gunlock that used to ride
In a circus. 1 suppose 1t was you"
I'm the only woman, young or old,
over there"
what circus did you work with p
-Oh, several crcuses," said Jane
recklessly.
what were some of themr'
Jane. growing filghty, named one of
the big ones whose shows she had at
tended In Chicago.
What year were you with that
shown
She was growing desperate. With at
fected embarrassment she turned full
on him. "You mustn't ask me that.
Women are sensitive about their age,
don't you known"
For the first time he turned his eyes
directly toward hers; there was q
slight mutual shock at the encounter.
To hide a momentary confusion, she
laughed nervously; but bridge-a lit.
tie bit OF a bridge over little bit of
brook-had been crossed. And the
little bit Of brook was of the kind
that sometimes leads to q big river.
His eyes we're brown-Jane could
see them now-together with some OF