Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 45: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE STRAY-MAN. ! “work where he might be able to see her often; but he had set out from the Lawler ranch with a definite object in view, and he did not purpose to let anything—not even this girl who had so completely captivated him—dissuade him from his vengeance. Loma—that was where he might find Brail Kelton; at least, before he did any- thing else he meant to have a look at the citizens of the, town. Then—if he could not find Kelton there—he would return to the Circle Star to accept the job that he felt would be offered him. ~ He turned toward Red King. The girl’s voice halted him. “You must be hungry; won't, you wait until I get some breakfast?” Shorty gravely considered the girl. He was aware that he might easily presume’ upon the kindness she had proffered. He had done her a service, of course, and she felt obligated to him. But he did not care to have her repay the obligation in that manner; and he was convinced that by re- fusing the invitation to breakfast he would keep alive that interest which she had plainly betrayed. He was interested in her, also, but he knew that he must not permit her to know the depth of that interest. He had never loved a woman before, but his mstinct told him that he must not appear too eager, lest she gain the impression that he was pursuing her. “T reckon I'll be gettin’ on to Loma ma’am. “It’s only ten miles. I think you told me that.” ““Yes—only ten miles.” — He saw disappointment in her eyes and a new thrill swept over him; and yet he persisted in his determination to decline the hospitality she had offered him. It was the first time in his life that any woman had betrayed interest in him—at least the sort of interest she was betraying — and the voice of wisdom told him that he must not yield or permit her-to see that he knew of her interest. “IT reckon I'll go to Loma, ma’am,” he said gently. ‘‘ But I’m thankin’ you just the same. It’s likely I'll come back, an’ then you'll have me to feed regular—an’ be gettin’ tired of me.” She had nothing to say to that; but she 419 stood on the little porch and watched him as he mounted the big red horse and rede away. | | At a little distance he turned in the sad- dle and waved a hand to her; and she re- phed to it, her face suffused with color that he did not see. an” CHAPTER VII. THE STRANGER AT LOMA. HORTY rode leisurely into the level grass land that stretched toward Loma. Certain thoughts occupied him —mental pictures that would not fade. He kept seeing the girl as he had seen her when he had first -caught sight of her at the water-hole; and he was convinced that he would always see her as she had ap- peared to him then. He had another vivid recollection of her as she had lain in his arms during the latter part of the ride to the Circle Star, which would be unforget- table. He discovered that a subtle change had come over him; that for the first time in his life he was concerned over a woman. She had treated him as no other woman had ever treated him; and he was certain that he had seen regret in her eyes when he had insisted on leaving the Circle Star. How was he to interpret her manner? Was he to think that she liked him, or had she merely been gracious to him as a means of repaying him for the service he had done her? Shorty’s thoughts were not shot with fat- uous imaginings. He was never more se- - rious in his life, for he knew that if he yielded to the strange longing that pos- sessed him it meant that he would break faith with Larry Dillon. If he yielded to the lure of the girl he would have to give up his search for Brail Kelton—unless he found Kelton in the vicinity. And Shorty knew that there was danger that he would give up the search for Kel- ton. Already he was seeking justification for the action. As he rode into the distance toward Loma he kept telling himself that he would have to discontinue the search for Kelton, temporarily, at least. His money — EO@ we ElOO® (CO fl