Evening star., 1940-05-02

Raising cows was no longer an ad-
venture but q business. An outfit
had to raise lot of hay, If 1t in
tended to stay on the map. Many
of the oldtimers refused to see this,
but to Silcott it was evident. A man
must be prepared to feed when the
winter winds howled. To do this he
must irrigate.
Anne Tells Rufe Jelks.
On her way to supper Anne passed
the Longhorn corral and was joined
by Rufe Jelks.
Mr.. Silcott has gone to his ranch"
she said.
Yeah, I saw him. Took Pesky
Kennedy with him. I'm thinking
of drifting up there for two-three
days"
Because you think there's going
to be trouble" she charged.
His white teeth flashed in a grin.
Lady, haven't I told you that
I'm respectable businessman with
object, matrimony' in the back of
my nut?"
I'm glad you are going. Mr.. Sill
colt Is too reckless . I want to talk
with you about some travelling I'm
going to do myself. I do not know
anything about this country and
very few of the people, and for an
editor that won't do. So I'm going
to get a driver and go into the hills
where I can meet lot of my sub
scribers."
You've hired yore driver" Jelks
told her. when do we start?"
I'VE start tomorrow morning early
If that suits you"
How about postponing yore trip
till next week? I'd kinda set nv
mind on going to lineup way right
now"
That's the direction I'm travel
ing"
He looked at her suspiciously. "1
don't believe III take you up Tin
cup"
Anne Is Insistent.
Then I haven't hired a driver,
have ~" she said. fitting smile at
him. "The one I hire will take me
anywhere I want to CO."
you would want yore driver to
give you a little advice. wouldn't you
about the roads and where to 20
and what ranches you could put up
at?"
oh yes! And I would take any of
it liked"
He sighed. He fixed upon her the
severe gaze of respectable busi-
nessman. You hadn't ought to be so
rambunctious. 1t amt becoming
IN a young lady. Far as that goes,
l dunno as it's proper for you to 20
out into the hills unchaperooned +"
The color beat up into Anne's
cheeks. Maybe you better let me
decide what is proper for me to do, -
she said tartly.
He ran brown fingers through his
black hair. IF you was married it
would be different O. course. But
a young lady can't traipse all over
the country with none of her folks
along"
Not even if she takes a fussy old
woman like you along?" she asked
I got sisters of my own, and I
wouldn't let one of them co. he
said reproachfully.
Lucky I'm not one of them"
Anne Startles Rufus.
You been raised right" he told
her. You know what a nice young
lady had ought to do and what
she hadn't"
How often have I got to explain
that I'm the editor Of a paper and
not a simpering little fool sitting
under a glass bowl?" she asked
lmpatiently. I'm running the
Sentinel, to make a living"
you don't have to make a living
that way, plenty of men"
She interrupted. sharply. 1--WE
heard that before. Listen, Mr.. Jelks.
don't intend to get married. Even
II l wanted to could not. I'm mar
ried already"
He stopped in his stride, stared
at her. You're loadin' me-" he
said.
There was a hint of defiance in
the poise Of her head, and in her
eyes bitter self-mockery. "It's
true. I'm a deserted wife" She
added, a beat of anger in her voice,
so you don't need to be chivalrous
about me any longer. Now if you
don't mind, we'll drop the subject" )"
After she came West, Anne was
particularly glad that she was an
early riser. 1t was an undiluted
JOY each morning to walk out into
world so warm and sunkissed.
She was feeling this lift when she
stepped into the blackboard while