The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-10-03

s'No, I was out Flat Top way"
He shook his head. "Must have
been someone else" He smiled at
her. ''I'll have to do better than
that. Can't have you mistaking ev-
cry bowlegged waddy for me-"
sit doesn't matter, does it?"
IA lot. Take a good look at me,
young lady"
She did not avail herself of the
offer. "I've seen you BEFORE" she
mentioned.
"And you'll see me again, any
number Of times"
"Dear me! Is that a threat or a
promise?" she asked lightly.
His cool eyes rested on her dark
good looks. cts promise, to my
self"
"You don't know how grateful !
am" she Knocked, with an ironic
curtsey.
''Are you grateful enough to let
me take you to the Sleepy Cat Ranch
dancer" he wanted to know.
She considered that a moment.
"No, I don't think So" She added,
"Of course I'm greatly fattered."
why won't you go with me?"
"Must give reasons?"
care you going with someone
else?"
''Since you ask-yes."
'Who?"
"You'n find out in time, if you
are there"
He did not like it. She saw that.
There was a suggestion Of sulkiness
in his good-looking face. 81 hope
he'll enjoy himself, whoever he is"
There was an implication in his
manner that the unknown escort
might not find pleasure in all Of
the evening.
81 do hope so. If he looks bored
it will be bad social start for me,
won't it,"
''He won't be bored" Brand pre-
dicted. SRI help you entertain
him."
Ellen read into his words vindic-
tive resentment. She stopped, slim
and straight, dark eyes flashing. II
don't think that will be necessary,
Mr.. Brand"
SIT will be a pleasure" he told
her.
They had reached the house. The
girl moved UP the porch steps and
turned to look down at him. She
said slowly, II can see I'm not 60
ing to like you."
Not at all abashed, he smiled up
at her confidently. sob, yes, you
are. Very much. I'll take care of
that ~
She felt anger stirring in her.
'Some people would call it impu-
dence," she said, a tide Of color in
| her cheeks.
Ellen turned and walked into the
house, leaving him there.
In Jeff's eyes, as he walked back
to the post-office, little devils of mis-
chief cleaned. Long ago he had
discovered that one way to stir
| girls interest in him was to arouse
her resentment. It kept her mind
full of him while she was devising
ways of satisfying it. rs
His quick glance picked up an
other horse at the hitch-rack across
the road from the post-office. It
| did not take him second look to
read the brand.
"A gent from the Diamond Re-
verse B with us this morning?" he
asked one of the loungers.
''His royal nibs,''' a young man in
chaps answered. ''None other than
Mr.. Calhoun Terry"
Terry came out to the porch, let
his gaze drift around slowly, and
crossed the road to his horse. There
was cool arrogance in the way he
ignored Brand that got under that
young mans skin. jeff could not
let it alone.
II see you are still wearing the
hat that went to the wars, Mr.. Ter
ry," he jeered. ibid you do any,
! thing about that matter you were
| going to take under consideration"
Without a word Terry swung to
the saddle and logged down the
road. jeff glared angrily at his
broad, fiat back, then turned and
walked into the office.
tWhat did Terry want?" he asked
abruptly.
| Carey looked at him, surprised.
"Wanted to know If ! had seen any,
thing of bunch Of she stuff miss
ing from park where he had them
herded."
''What did you tell him?"
81 don't like the way you ask that
/ question, jeff" the ranchman said
quietly.
Brand corrected his manner.
SORRY. I meant, were you able to
give him any information?"
II told him Ellen had seen a
bunch being driven into the hills"
Carey said, the eyes in his tanned,
| leathery face without expression.
"Who was driving it,"
"She wasn't close enough to tell. !"
That night at supper Ellen said
= ~