The Ely miner., 1942-12-24
CHAPTER v

and the night was filed with beauty.
There was little talk between them (;
at first just few words referring
to what had just happened, then ST.
lence. The high seat Of lurching
mountain stage is at no time the
ideal spot for any steady flow of
conversation; further, just now Cole
Cody, driving a team new to him,
the horses still of mood to jam
their necks deep into their collars
and take the bits in their teeth and
run away, had his work cut out for
him-then, too, he had to keep his
eyes focused watchfully on a road
none too good, full of bends and
kinks and spotted with chuck holes
and crossed by ridges and hollows,
tricky road by daylight to man
familiar with it, far worse than that
by nightlight to stranger.
He had buckled the stage drivers
leather belt about him for anchor
age; the girl kept a hand locked on
the iron guard rail at the back of
the seat. But whereas he had to
watch the road, she was free to
watch him out of the corners Of
her eyes. There were times when
there was a little approving half
smile on her lips. At times with the
Swaying of the stagecoach her sleeve
brushed his; she was warmly aware
of the slight contact. She approved
of this and the way he walked and
talked and bore himself.
Unconsciously she drew a long,
quivering sigh
And it was just at that moment,
as the stage having rocked through
a bit of starlit clearing was about
to plunge into another of the dark,
forested canyons, that Cole Cody
put on his brakes and pulled his
horses down, and said hastily-his
voice sounded curt to her,
Look here! You've got to get
down and ride inside!"
"Oh!" she said. She whipped back
from him, as far away as the seat
allowed. She was having such
wonderful ride! The wind in her
face, her hat blown back and the
wind in her hair, her lips partly
opened to let the cool fresh air
stream across them-living only in
the moment, looking less at the
dark world about her than at the
glitter of the heavens above. So she
said, Obi, an "Oh" like an icicle.
He was still slowing his team
down, not looking at her but straight
ahead.
And tell Bert Nevers I want him
up here with me. You can help
your aunt with the two wounded
men,
What a crude sort of beast he
really was. She no longer felt the
cool air against her face; her cheeks
were burning hot. She bit her lip
before she spoke Then her voice
sounded gay and it also sounded
quite determined.
But / prefer to ride outside. It
was stuffy in there and 1 like the
wind in my face. I was miles away,
thinking"
He had the horses at a restless
standstill now and turned briefly to-
ward her.
1--we been a fool" he muttered.
"I wasn't thinking"
1--WE heard that all men are
FOOLS" she said brightly. "Are you
going to drive on? I am not getting
down."
81 tell you, I wasn't thinking!"
He was urgent, and sounded harsh.
His eyes had only fiicked at her,
then turned ahead again, to the road
entering the deeper dark in the can
yon. Just because those two high
waymen rode off doesn't necessarily
mean that they've gone for good.
They may waylay us again. You
mustn't be up here! Let Bert New
ers come up; if there's any trouble
he can use Long Peters carbine."
"You know very well, Mr.. Cody,
that those two towards are miles
from here by this time! Besides, you
know that you wounded one of
them!" She reached behind the seat
and lifted the carbine from its place,
cuddhng it across her lap. "And I
know how to shoot. Drive on, Coach
mani"
mol" said Cody, and really was
short with her this time. He should
have pleaded but instead he was
commanding, hardly realizing it.
The trouble with him was that sud-
denly he was all nerves, as nervous
as a cat, because his eyes on the
dark road were beginning to trick
him; he could fancy he saw those
two men sitting their horses there,
slowly lifting their rifies-he could
fancy the crack of the two explo-
sions, the whine of lead-a bullet
driven into that tender pink and
white loveliness sharing the danger
seat with him. He was in haste
to have her inside the coach. So
he said, and was sterner than he
realized, "You must do what I tell
you. And hurry. We don't know
that they are gone-we don't know
anything. No use being fools! Hur-
ry! And send Nevers to me-"
Hotter than ever did her cheeks
burn. There was the slightest quiv-
er in her voice as she said crisply:
81 won't do it! / am going to stay
here. Whether you like it or don't
like it, Mr.. Cody, am staying
herel"
"Ysu'n do nothing of the kind.
Look here, Miss Lee"
ST won't look. And I won't 90
DOWN."
"I'n make you get down! I'll drag
you eff the seat and throw you in
sj6el"
She .sughed at him, treating him |
to her scorn at its best.
"Yeu just try it'll"