Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

these days,” he said. ‘ Dasent doesn’t do any line riding, does he?” “ Not a lot,” explained the youth. ‘‘ But there’s a sort. of committee out right now. They want this Harper Preest that’s been rustlin’ cattle an’ such. _Dasent, he’s in charge.” _** Where’s the sheriff?” . Lew betrayed a flutter of confusion, but overcame it manfully. “ He’s out, too, I reckon,”’ he said. Hendry ate for a moment in silence. He meant to go slowly. He divined the futility ef running counter to the customs of the country and he was only vaguely aware of what those customs were. “ When he comes in,” he said, “ tell him I want to see him.” “Shore.” Lem lolled back against the sideboard and chinlessly watched them eat. “ Dasent,” said Madge reflectively, “that’s the man who ‘ don’t exactly work for two men at once.’” She imitated David’s drawl very prettily. “What do you mean by that?” asked her father, with some amusement. “The boy I gave that puppy to,” ex- plained Madge.. ‘“‘ His father took over Dasent’s ranch, and now this man Dasent does things for his father and works at this ranch as well.” Hendry thought that over. Factory espi- onage had been to him an elementary means of affecting the profits of his competitors; this appeared as if he had unearthed the reason for the diminution of the profits of his ranch. ““ Who is this boy?” he demanded. “T don’t know. Who is he, Mr. Brady?” Her request was laden with an ineffable sweetness and Lew, not for the first time, was seduced by it. _. “Must be Old Man Parmelee’s David,” he spilled forth. “Old Man Parmelee?” Hendry was try- ing to recollect that name. ‘Shore. He’s over twelve miles this side of the Bitter Creek trail.’ Lew, conscious that he was babbling, and yet helpless. un- der the mischievous eyes of his employer’s daughter, wobbled his lower jaw spasmodi- cally. “ He’s all right,” he added weakly. “J want you to go and tell Grey that ’m ‘ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ete going over the books this afternoon,” said Hendry shortly. “Shore.” Lew hurried off upon his ¢ er- rand. He was glad to leave the field of those disturbing eyes. “ Goody!” cried the jady. won’t want the car.” ‘No. Where do you plan to go?” ‘“ Over to Old Man Parmelee’s,” smiied Madge. “I’ve got to look after that poor puppy.” Hendry gave her a quick glance of sur- prise. Having scented an unscrupulous rival in this Old Man Parmelee, he had taken it for granted that Madge had sensed it, too; but now gazing at her he immedi- ately discerned that she had been quite deaf to the real burden of his questioning. Her mind really appeared to be upon the puppy and its future. It occurred to his resourceful mind that this might not be without its value. : : ‘““A good idea,” he said. “I think it would be nice for you to make friends with these people. They’re really our neighbors, you know. ‘Tell Mr. Parmelee that I'll come over and call myself.” : She smiled brilliantly. ‘“That’s a good daddy,” she cried, and patted his hand, so that he was reminded keenly of the love he bore her, CHAPTER XIII. WARRIOR BRED. ADGE drove up to the Parmelee M ranch very prettily. The wheels of her car spurned the broken rocks of the roadway with a noisy rattle, and her tires whined on the clay. She whirled up the terrace and brought up short with great neatness, and when she sprang from the car her slim form in riding clothes of thin apple green material flashed in the sunlight like the embodiment of spring. Old Man Parmelee, sitting in his chair, must have been immeasurably surprised at her appearance, but his countenance be- trayed no sign of the effect her coming made. “Are you Mr, prettily. Parmelee?” she asked com ~ ee a ae ss —<s = Le ere. ST ai ae “ Then you 3 IGcbooks com Reins Ee