The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-06-20

Dldhf seem like you were any place
around" .a''
For a second or two the familiar
Twinkle seemed about to come into
her eyes. "Did you hunt real
hard?"
"Well-maybe 1 didn't 1 guess
1t kind of seemed like we'd already
SAID everything there was to be
said"
Maybe" she said slowly, "I
didn't say everything 1 ought to
have said. l want you to know
this: When you ride out of my life
there isn't going to be anything left
in it.''
"Jody," he said, "are you trying
to turn me back now?"
Her only answer was a little hope
less motion of her hands.
Your father and 1 put in four
hours last night, roughing out the
terms Of my split from King-Gor-
don. Think back yourself-did you
ever see mo turned back from some
thing figured I ought to do?"
She shook her head, and her face
had even less color than before.
What did you say TO my father"
What did he tell you ! said"
That 1-quit you"
"Well-iidn't you?"
Don't you know" she said Graz
lily, I wouldn't ever do that?"
he was silent, his eyes on his
bucFskin gloves as he adjusted his
r"pc. thc buckle Of his rife boot.
] don't caro- anything about King
Gordon" Jody said. Il don't care
whether you stay in King Gordon,
or get out, or where you go, or
what you do. I'd go with you if
yor wanted me 70 go; and if you
don't know that you don't know
anything at all!''
'lCdy--you mean that"
Ir King-Gordon you were on the
way 20 big things. But 1 don't
care anything about that. Let the
brcek-uP 18th my father go through.
'Elit king-Gordor without two bits
to your name. Take the least out
post camp there is under the brand,
and let him have the rest. I'll go
with you, and stay with you; and
~ help you in every way ] can
10 build something If our own"
10 -"anted e say something, any
thing: but he found he could not
speak at all.
Jody said, almost Historically,
Aren't you ever going to say any.
thingG"
BIZ Roper n,unblcd 10 his saddle
horn. Didn't know you felt that
way Wouldn't ever be any call
any reason-for you to let 20 all
hollis like that"
She was leaning toward him now,
her voicc gentle, coaxing, very ten
der. Our own little old outit-any
outht, any placc-don't you see what
happy place we could make that
be? A place where we could plant
trees near the water, and watch
them grow into big trees; and we'd
be there together"
Roper shot a quick glance at Jo-
dy, and Immediately sent his eyes
away again, as far as thew could
reach. If he had looked at her again,
perhaps he would have kicked his
pony stlrrup TO stirrup with hers and
picked her out OF the saddle. and
kissed her mouth, and kept her close
to him-then, and forever. But he
sat motionlcss on his waiting pony.
Look" he said at last Look
if you mean that, come with me.
Come with me, noFy."
He could hardly hear her as she
said, Don't you think you ought
to tell me where you're going?"
Dry Camp Pierce is on his way.
by a quicker way than mine is.
If he don't fall down thcreH be tho
start of a wild bunch waiting for mo
when l land in the Big Bend Coul-
try. figure to take that bunch. and
build to it, and add ON. After that
well, you know what comes after
that"
and now. you're asking me 10
swing with that?"
"Jody, I've already told you what
I've got TO do"
The silence stretched out until you
could have hung a saddle on IL. and
this time Bills eyes were on JoIy.
and hers we're on the saddle horn.
Slowly she shook her head.
After a minute he said. Il guess
that settles it, doesn't it,"
II guess it does"
Her face seemed blind. and shc
was like a ghost Of Jody Gordon
Suddenly Bill Roper knew that h
he did not take the trail he had
chosen now, he would never take d
at all.
"You sure, Jody? You won
Gomez"
Again she shook her head
A long, loose end Of Bills rop,
was in his hand, though he ncyci
remembered taking it down. HARDLY
knowing what he did, he struck IN,
spurs into the buckskin pony. TIL,
snap Of the ropes end knocked a ny
ing govt of fur from the rump Of Oh,
black pack mule, and they were OF
the trail-the long trail, the Or,
trail, the trail of hopeless war.
~, ITO BE CONTINUED