Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-11

ranch tDItere the CunlerorlS 1totD
lire. Brick kHolDS Liz is in lone
Nth Jim, but until not0 has sus-
pected Jim OF being a fortune
hunter. JiDl's son Craig arriDeS
at the ranch at the same time
Carl JdniSon, Bricks fnnce, ar
riUes, and the tho arc tnntedt-
1tely hostile. In Cr1ig'S presence
Brick begins TO doubt her lore Tor
Carl, but both men ShO1U an in
terest in the tDeGlthy ranch guest,
MoHv Winters. When the crotUd
leaues on q camping trip, Carl
remains at the ranch; then the
second day ouertakes them.
CHAPTER TX.
The next morning Carl left little
doubt in Bricks mind as to the pur-
pose of his hurried trip into the
back country to see her. While they
waited for breakfast, apart from the
others, his words to her were crisp
with decision, quick with impatience.
I've neglected my business long
enough-too long in fact. Now I'll
have some definite answer from you
concerning our marriage. If you are
willing we can return to ChuckomoVl
today and fly to Phoenix, We'll ind
justice of peace and be married at
once" That was all. Business
called. He had neglected it long
enough for such nonsense. Was
she going to marry him or not?
She felt his personality reaching
out in an effort to override hers,
force it into submission, and every
tense fiber in her body rebelled, She
did not reply Immediately because
her fine feminine instinct resisted
something here which was not quite
clear to her. Two DAYS before, Carl
had been casual, unhurried about
their marriage. He had gone so far
as to urge her to make this trip
without him, possibly with the
thought in mind that the brief Sepa-
ration would help her to come to
some decision more quickly. He had
even talked of a leisurely trip for
himself to the Grand Canyon.
Whether he knew that Molly
planned Ille SdIIlc, "do q iiidtGcA VI
conjecture. Why had he changed
his mind so suddenly?
She said as quietly as possible,
I'm afraid I can't do that, Carl.
It all seems so unnecessarily hur-
ried. Besides, Liz needs me here
this summer. When the season
closes she and I will come East"
She considered for a moment telling
him about LIS financial difficulties,
but in an instant his calm left him.
His whole expression changed in
credibly eff it's Craig Bradstreet
you're still thinking about you're
making a fool of yourself. You
ought to know by this time that he's
out for bigger game" That implied
Molly of course, but Brick held her
self very still. What do you think
he's on this trip for anyway"
Brick and Carl Quarrel.
I'm not at all concerned why
Craig is taking this trip, Carl" She
faced him almost poignantly young,
her eyes hot and resentful now, her
face stormy, not wanting to believe
anything he said about Craig and
Molly.
He shrugged. 81 think you will
gee this my way shortly" 1t didn't
sound like a threat, the way he said
1t, but coming from him she knew
it had the possibilities of one.
when I do III let you know"
She left him then, walking
straight shouldered through the
pinions toward the camp, her chin
high, her green eyes flashing with
anger. She did not take time to
consider whether it was a coinci-
dence that Craig should be going
along that same trail, and in her
direction, or whether it had been
definitely planned on his part. And
certainly she could not explain to
herself, now or later, what impulsive
twist drove her to say, How would
you like to ride with me over to
the cliff ruins, Craig? If you haven't
seen any you might be interested"
He looked at her as if she were
vision, but a lovely one whose
eyes were blue-green and whose
mouth was a disconcerting red
line across her white face. If he
refused-if he laughed at her.
What has happened to your" he
asked brusquely.
Docs 1t matter?"
mo, I think not. I'll saddle Re
bra Dun and Ranger and meet you
here right after breakfast"
Acted in Anger.
An hour later they logged along
the trail toward the main en-
trance into Chiricahua, and then
they turned northward at the sign
which pointed toward Tees-To Ruins,
and, although Brick found little
material at hand from which to
make impersonal talk, Craig seemed
capable Of keeping up an endless
persifiage as If he had a passion for
small talk. But there was an under
lying note in his good-natured
banter, a tightness in his laughter
that did not escape her Already the
ultimate outcome of this impulsive
action of hers was beginning to
frighten her. She had made this
bold gesture in a moment of anger,
at a time when Craig's every move
and action indicated that he thought
the fewer their contacts the better
for both of them. What could she
expect from him when she DELHI
erately ignored that and put herself
at his mercy. And what about
Molly?
She said, There is a road about
q quarter of mile over there, but
we can take this trail and make it
much shorter. The ruins are be-
meath the face of that cliff"
Craig followed her through the
stunted trees and shrubs whose
need for water made their shapes
stranger than dreams. Below the
willows scalloped the bank of a
small stream. His only comment
was, There are some cars down
there. We aren't going to be alone"
Brick hoped that he did not no