Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-02-26
CHAPTER VII
Ann came close to the stove.

Ann came close to the stove.
"What are we going to do?" she
whispered. "He is related to Mr..
Cole; he thinks he is the owner now;
he never heard of any will and-He
is terribly good looking, isn't he,
Aunt Jenny? I like him, don't you?
And it's going to seem like steal
ing from him"
$50 he is good looking, is he?"
shifted Aunt Jenifer, hunting the cof-
fee pot. "Well, so was our stage
friend of yesterday, Mr.. Cody,
wasn't he?"
"Why, Aunt Jenny! You don't like
Mr.. Waldron! Why?"
II haven't said any such thing.
And If you're asking why-well, just
you wait and watch, my pet. He
remembers to wash his face and
hands, and he remembers about
breakfast-and he doesn't forget to
shut doors after him-and he doesn't
forget to bar his door at night and
pull the shades down-and what I
want to know is this: Is he going
to forget to put our horse in the
barn and give it some hay! You
just lift up those heavy eye-lashes
of yours high enough so you can
peek out of your eyes, and watch
what happens. And are you going
to keep toting that satchel of yours
around every step you take?"
Ann clutched it the tighter.
"1'm not going to let it out of my
sight, not for one little second, not
until that other key-Aunt Jenny!
Do you suppose that Rance Waldron
is the one with the other key? Why,
of course he is! Being Mr. Early
Bills nephew"
"Son of old Bills cousin" cor
rected Aunt Jenifer. cor so he
says"
BY the time Rance Waldron re-
turned to them-and again they
heard the soft closing of at least two
doors marking his progress-the ia
BILE was set under sunny window
and breakfast was ready. He was
hatless this time and had combed
his hair. He smiled and said brisk
ly, "Ah! This is the life!" Yet it
struck the observant girl sensitive
to shades of expression, that it was
just his lips that smiled, and that
there was hint of sternness and of
irritation in his eyes.
so you came in by stage last
night?" he said as they sat down
and Aunt Jenifer poured the three
cups of good hot coffee and served
him his breakfast.
Ann nodded, and told him of their
adventure on the mountain road, of
the fallen tree and the attempted
hold-up, warming to the recital as
all its details thrilled through her
again, making much of each little
happening-omitting only any par
ticular reference to Mr.. William
Cole Cody. 1t was quite as though
she had forgotten that such an in
dividual had ever existed. But when
she had finished, and her aunt
looked sharply at her and shifted,
her face turned red.
Rance heard her out without in
terruption, then said thoughtfully,
Its funny sort of thing. isn't it?
Why do you suppose they wanted to
stick up the stage if it wasn't carry
ing strong box? What do you sup
pose that the little man-What did
you say his name was? Jenkins?-
what do you suppose he had on
him?"
eve didn't find OUT" Ann told
him. He was badly hurt; he didn't
say anything. 1t must have been a
lot of money, though, and the rob-
bers must have known about it
somehow"
well, now with things as they
are, what do you ladies plan? It
must be terrible disappointment
for you not to find your intended
host here to receive you. Are you
going home right away?"
Rance showed Ann the way into
the patio, flooded now with golden
sunshine, Aunt Jenifer saying, "You
go ahead, Ann: I'll come along as
soon as I finish the dishes. No! l
don't want anybody in my way help
ing mel"
'Do you mind" said Rance when
SliSy "SAS oatoiaSy IL lCdVe YOU a
few moments? AS told you, 1 was
going through lot of pretty badly
messed-up papers and accounts last
night. Part of the mess I've got
fairly well in mind right now; l
think twenty minutes more with it
and l could put it away ship-shape.
! hope you don't mind?"
He hurried away, stopped and
headed back to the kitchen.
II never tasted such Coffee" he
told Aunt Jenifer. I'm off to my
room for little more study of those
papers; L think I'll take another cup
along with me-" And, carrying the
full cup, he departed.
She stopped what she was doing
and stood with her head tipped to
one side, listening with all her ears.
She had noticed something: Before