The guardian., 1941-08-02

sailing through the atmosphere, en-
route to a haystack. fortunately
a haystack.)
But the girl was game. She knew
it was all a part of Keith's way to
show her what a tenderfoot she was.
But she declined to ride again that
day. Keith drove her around the
place in the car, and took advan-
tage of the opportunity to explain
that the Single T range bordered
on his own and it would be exceed
ingly dangerous for Mariana ever
to ride in that direction alone.
Mariana promised, secretly tell
ing herself she'd ride over and call
on Flint Norton, at her first oppor-
tunity.
The opportunity came three days
later. Keith was in town on busi-
ness. The cowboys were out on the
range. Mariana, who by this time
had been allotted a mora gentle
steed by her brother, saddled up
and headed directly for the Single T.
The Single T ranch buildings, she
discovered, weren't as western-look-
ing as Keith's, nor as neat. But
Flint had prospered, apparently, in
country where others failed.
The first person Mariana met
was Flint Norton himself. And that
individual, seated on his veranda
smoking brown paper cigarette,
gave tremendous start at sight of
the girl and disappeared inside the
house. He came out a moment lat
er, carrying a rife.
Hello, neighbor," Mariana said,
wanted to congratulate you on the
part you played in the show the 9TH
er night"
"Show?" Norton's jaw opened,
and then snapped shut. "Come up
an set, sister. I'll be with you in
jig time.' @
Mariana dismounted and seated
herself on the veranda. Norton dis
appeared. Minutes later Mariana
saw him coming across the ranch
yard. At the same instant she heard
footsteps behind her and turned in
time to glimpse two ugly faces, be-
fore bag was thrust over her head.
Mariana was held captive two
days. Then a distracted Keith and
a bunch of Bar x riders located her
in a deserted camp up in the hills.
In the fight that followed one Single
T cowboy was killed, another wound
ed. And a Bar x boy stopped a
bullet with his forearm.
Norton wanted ransom" Keith
explained, when Mariana had been
placed astride one of the Single Us
horses and they were en- route home.
'But I called his bluff. I knew he
wouldn't dare harm you, and I had
a hunch they'd hide you up here.
Norton and his gang quit after the
first five minutes of fighting"
Marianna's eyes were shining.
cit was perfectly swell, Keith.
Real western stuff and all that! But
I must say your hired actors are a
bit rough at times"
Keith looked at her in amazement.
Good heavens, Marianna Don't
sit there and tell me you thought it
was a put-up job!"
Mariana smiled at him. Dear
old Keith, you always were the best
of brothers, always trying to show
me a good time, the real thing!
But always, as now, bit rough on
a girl"
Keith tried to speak and found
that words wouldn't come. He
stole a glance at the cowboys riding
along behind and saw that their
faces were filled with disgust, es-
pecially the boy whose forearm had
stopped a bullet
The next day Keith drove Mari
anna to the station in the big touring
car and put her aboard the east
bound.
$50 long, kid. Come out again
sometime. Hope you enjoyed it."
"You bet I did, Keith. Couldn't
have enjoyed it more Swell time.
You couldn't have made it seem
more real, though a bit rough. You
bet I'll come again. It's the real
life. Good-by, Keith dear, and
thanks!"
Keith watched the eastbound out
of sight. GA bit rough" he repeat
ed. "And she thought we were
kidding her all the time. Well, I'll
be-" And he turned away, feel
ing, for the first time in a week,
quite relieved and at peace.