Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

CHANNING COMES THROUGH. the day Bassett discharged him he would kill Bassett. : ‘ Bassett seemed slowly to lose his senses. Each day he grew more mofose and brutal. I think he really lost his mind entirely the night he tied me to a white horse belonging to Mr. Warren. I had been on the stage with my mother, and I had a longing for pretty clothes. I bought a gown at Red Mesa, and the day I rode over there to get it I had to shoot a man who annoyed me. Riding homeward I saw two riders at the ranch house. I thought they were the sheriff and a deputy who intended to arrest me. I decided I wouldn’t be arrested, so I started to ride to Mr. Warren’s cabin. Near there my horse threw me. When I came to I found I had been in Mr. Warren’s cabin for nearly three days. I had to stay there longer, and when I got home I was trying on the gown when Bassett came into the living room and saw me. He flew into a rage and accused me of deliberately stay- ing at Mr. Warren’s cabin. He tore the gown off, lashed me to the horse I had ridden home on, and told me to go back to my lover. ‘“ Channing killed him for that. But be- fore that happened, Green had come here with a spurious deputy sheriff and with counterfeit court papers which professed to give him the power of guardianship over me. I was not yet eighteen, and Green thought to get control of a considerable fortune that had been left to me by my father, who had been divorced by my mother years before. “Channing drove Green and the deputy away. And Green hasn’t given up. He sent that man to kill Channing, and I am afraid he will send others. And Channing is so careless! He seems to think that nobody can harm him. I sometimes actu- ally hate him!” Betty knew better. What Eve interpreted as hatred was really nothing more than futile rage, aroused over a conviction of her helplessness. And Betty was aware that women were somewhat indifferent toward what happened to men they hated. Be- sides, Betty had watched Eve’s face while she had been talking with Channing, and she had formed conclusions of her own re- 659 garding the quality of Eve’s feeling for Channing. But Betty kept her thoughts to herself. She had not yet volunteered any informa- tion about herself beyond what she had divulged to Eve in Channing’s presence re- garding her experience as nurse; and she had convinced the Eastern specialist of her efficiency. Warren had regained consciousness under the ministrations of the specialist. After the specialist had departed in the buckboard driven by the Red Mesa man, Eve and Betty were standing near Warren’s bed, watching him. He recognized Eve, and smiled at her, but he seemed puzzled over the pres- ence of the strange girl. ‘““T seem to have been dreaming a lot,” he said. ‘Perhaps I am dreaming right now.” “Not now,” answered Eve. ‘ And you are ever so much better! Dr. Link has been here. He was sent by your father. I telegraphed. The doctor says you are going to get better rapidly. But you are not to talk.” “I think I must ask some questions,”’ in- sisted Warren. ‘“‘ Number Ten was wrecked, wasn’t it?” | Eve nodded. ’ “ Where am I now?” “ At the Circle B. Channing and Vallon brought you here in the hoodlum wagon.” “You weren’t hurt, Eve?” “ Not even slightly.” He smiled again, fondly. ‘“ That’s mighty good. I suppose there were people killed?” ce Yes.” Warren closed his eyes. His face was white and drawn, but his sufferings had seemed merely to accentuate the bold and rugged sweep of chin and jaw, to reveal more clearly the clean manliness of him. Eve went to him. Kneeling on the floor beside the bed she did what she had done many times since he had been lying there. She smoothed his forehead at the edge of the wide bandage, stroked his cheeks, patted his hands and kissed him lightly. Betty retreated to a window, where she stood looking out, apparently indifferent te Eve’s affectionate and sympathetic at- tentions to her patient. oO CORMICELOO® <S (S@)