The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-02-21
CHAPTER K

O0<AExE N
Sock-Eye appeared at my door
and presented me with bearskin,
fresh off the stretching frame.
! suspected this was merely an
excuse for man-to-man talk.
Sid Lander, my caller casually
explained, had just blown in after
a week out on the trail. As had
no answer for that announcement
Sock-Eye sat morosely and medita-
lively chewing his cud.
II reckon you think quite lot
o. Sid?" he finally ventured.
felt the need Of picking my way
with care.
HE was very kind to me once"
acknowledged.
There's too many females think
lot O. that hombre," proclaimed my
saturnine old friend. 'It's sure get
tin him roped and hog-tied before
his time.'
whats the trouble?" / asked
with an effort at lightness.
''The immejit trouble is that out
law offspring of OF Sam Bryson's !"
he announced. "S'lary's hit so hard
she amt got no shame left. She's
borrowin' readin' books from him
and carryin' home his socks t. darn.
And that amt good for no hombre
who has obligations elsewhere"
"What obligations?" ! inquired.
ST reckon he's told you he's goin'
t. marry Big John Trumbull's daugh-
ter?"
could feel the bearlike old eyes
studying my face.
'Yes, he told me that" I said as
quietly as could.
! couldn't forget what Sock Eye
had said when I was giving Sam
Bryson's daughter her next lesson.
She surprised me by her new de-
termination ''to better herself" She
at last seemed willing to improve
her mind.
She even asked me about cos
metics and how they were used,
though those rich and ruddy lips Of
hers were in need Of no chemical
kalsomining.
/ could see faraway look come
into her eye.
I'D you ever git a sniff o. Sid
Lander after he's had shaver"
she hungrily inquired. 'He smells
better n that drugstore down t. An
chorage. But what can't figger out
is why he doubles up with an OIL
has-been like Sock-Eye Schlupp, why
he's willin' to batch it with a rum
down bush-rat when he ought t. have
q woman doin' woman's work for
him.
''Have you ever told him so?"
asked.
Salaria's wide shoulders dropped
q little.
''It wouldn't do no good" she
listlessly proclaimed. HE amt in
terested in females hathaway"
s'But he's a man." I reminded
her.
81 s'pose he isl Salaria retorted
with heightening flame of indigna-
ton. "But I'll bet my bottom dol
lar that lousy four-dushing pie-eatin'
Trumbull blonde back in the States
is sourin' that hombre on women for
life. / seen 'em when she few in
here. And he wasn't turnin' no hand
springs when she hunted him up.''
AS ! stood staring into Salaria's
flashing eyes began to realize that
she was Of the same statuesuue
mold as Lander. She had the same
love for open trails. She had the
same ruggedness of body and the
same wide jaw and the same brown
tone to her skin. And fell to won
dering, with ghostly twinge of en-
wy, If there mightn't eventually be
some kinship of spirit between them.
''I'l respect your secret, Salaria."
/ said with what dignity could
command.
"Secret? It amt no secret" was
the prompt and primitive reply.
Even OF Sock-Eye knows Sid Lam
der could do what he likes with me.
And the fire-eatin' OF killer piped
up and said he'd put a bullet through
any short-horn female who made q
pass at that shack-pard o. his"
What's Sock-Eye saving him
for?" found myself questioning.
'sFor that sap-headed Trumbull
blonde that's got him hog-tied, /
s'pose," was the sadly intoned an
swer. Hes willin' t play ball with
her even after her yellow-bellied
old man came and bought up the
Happy Day outfit JUS t give Sid his
wallxin' ticket and grind his nose in
the dirt"
sat down to think this over.
no BE CONTINUEDj