The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-27

The letter from her father was
bitterly disappointing for the things
1t left unsaid concerning Dillon -
or Bancroft only left Nikki more
puzzled. He devoted one brief para
graph OF his letter to explaining the
note delivered on the train and
that wasn't much more of an ex-
PLANTATION than the original had
been. He wrote:
II trust my hurried note as the
train left didn't startle or alarm
you too greatly. I don't wish to
explain at this time, but there
were certain reasons why / par
ticularly wanted you to go out
OF your way to be nice to Charles
Dillon. I knew he was on the
train and I felt that he might
make himself known to you. Know
ing that Steve was with you 1 felt
you would be perfectly safe. But
don't worry about it now and l will
explain everything when you come
home"
The rest of the letter concerned
her visit at the ranch, her aunt
and uncle.
If her father knew Dillon was
on the train, then Dillon and
Bancroft must be the same per-
son, thought Nikki, unless Ban
croft had in some way substituted
himself for Dillon. If he felt she
would be safe" because of Steve's
presence, then he must have con-
sidered there was some danger in
the situation. OF course, her
father didn't know that Bancroft
would go to the Lazy r too, and
still figuring Bancroft as Dillon
he would naturally think Nikki
wouldn't be seeing the man except
on the train.
He apparently didn't know about
the 100000 in the dressing case
and he hadn't mentioned a man
with Dillon. Where did Sarto come
in and, for that matter, how about
Fiske?
Nikki shook her golden head,
bathed and changed for lunch. If
Steve doesn't fall for some of the
otheH girls on the ranch it isn't
my FAULT, she thought gloomily.
I'm certainly throwing him at
their heads.
That afternoon she had planned
a golf game with Steve on the
Lazy r nine-hole course with it's
natural fairways and rocky haz-
ards and sand greens, but at lunch
he told her that he and one of
the other guests were driving into
town as both had some wires to
send.
AS he left she walked thought
fully down to the high-fenced
corrals where she used to sit
through hot dusty mornings and
watch the ranch hands rope and
brand squealing, milling steers.
Rance caught up with her. She
greeted him with bright smile.
France, you haven't spent five
minutes with me since I came to
the Lazy R." she accused. "You
haven't told me what you've done
for the past five years and how
you like all this dude ranch bust
necc," spreading her arms in a
gesture that took in the wing of
the house, the cabins, and the
guests who were sauntering about
or lazily summing themselves on
the veranda.
you've been pretty busy since
you arrived" Rance reminded her.
"And then there's Mr.. Mallory"
"Well, Steve Mallory certainly
won't stop us from being friends.
We're all three friends, aren't
we?"
Rance nodded slowly. Il guess
So" And then resolutely pushing
aside his shy embarrassment, he
said:
"Nikki, 1 know I haven't any
right to say anything and that
it's none of my business, but you
don't seem happy like an engaged
girl ought I guess you know how
I've always felt about you" He
twirled the broad hat in his strong
hands. well, still feel that way
and If there's anything I can ever
do I guess you know maybe, that
all you have to do is to let me
know about it,"
1t was a long speech for Rance
and he obviously felt vastly re-
lieved when the words were out.
Nikki was deeply touched.
Rance" she said, that was
the incest speech ever made to a
girl, and I'll always remember it.
I haven't been very happy since
I came here, but you mustn't
blame Steve or the ranch for it.
it's something - something else
that I can't tell you about right
now" There, she thought, I've
got poor Rance worried and all
I'm trying to do is to work this
thing out by myself. If I keep
on acting mysterious I'll drive
everyone on the ranch crazy. She
touched RANGES arm sympathetic
cally, remembering that when she
left the Lazy r after her last visit
five years ago she had cried bit
terly most of the night before
leaving. 1t was Rance hated to
leave, she thought. She had been
16 then.
Uncle Jim came ambling around
the corner of a shed, saw them and
stopped.
what are you two up to?" he