Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

366 Britches; because I care for you like a friend—my little pal. I want you to be a good woman.” She thrust her shoulder against the door, and it fell open to the fast coming day. The horse, startled, plunged after her, and she swung herself into the saddle. Then she leaned over and laughed in his face, mocking, ugly laughter that shook her like a storm. . ‘Tm a hell of a good woman, I am!” she cried. ‘‘ You left one at the ranch- house—go home and see what she’s done! Decamped, left you flat without sayin good-by. An’ you made yourself a door- mat for her fancy feet. She called you a liar an’ went off in the norther, rather than stay another night under your roof when she found out you lied to her. She un- derstands an’ prizes you as much as that! Now she’s at Camberwell’s, an’ when you see her again inaybe she won’t be so good or so white as you think right now. 1 reckon this I] be a right busy day for you, ol’ dear.” y ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, The words poured from her like a flame; she caught her breath, biting her lips to hold back her tortured fury. The roan lashed forward under the spurs she set into his sides. ‘And that ain’t all,” she screamed. “Look for your cows—while we was talkin’ Jast night other hands was workin’. You'll find ’em, maybe, if a bullet don’t find you first.” | She was gone; a flash of life across a somber, dead, gray world. He stood in the door trying to understand what. she had said. {t was like a causeless blow in the face—- the sting was slow to waken. He knew that something had happened to Geraldine, some nameless danger threatened when he be- lieved her safe under his roof. His mind was numb, dreading to face conjecture. Then, habit being as strong as fear, he walked to the corner of the shack and looked to the shelter where he had left the cattle. It was empty. The bunch had been driven away in the night. (To be concluded NEXT WEEK.) | U THE AWAKENING AROUND my neck her arms she laid, And through the glory of her hair, Although her eyes in shadow stayed, T saw a new light there. Against mine own her heart dic rest; [ felt in all my body flow The flame her bosom then expressed, The touch of fire and snow. Till suddenly from out the south The breath of all God’s gardens blew; Her lips were trembling on my mouth, And thrilled me through and through. And then---ah! then, she raised her eyes: One sweet impassioned word she spoke, For, in a rapture of surprise, Her slumbering soul awoke. Alanon DOOKS.€O im