Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

% 754 Bassett kept himself well in hand dur- ing the day. His rage was tugging at him again, but he knew he didn’t dare betray, it to Channing. Why, Channing would kill . him as quick as he’d look at him! Chan- ning was only waiting for the chance—a chance to shoot him! He knew that. He’d never press ‘Chan- ning too far. Channing was dangerous. Quick as lightning! - done to Krell! | A fool, that’s what Krell was! damned fool!. He had had everything all planned out. Krell was to pretend: to work at the Circle B. Both of them—himself and Krell— were to tame the wild horse a little. Not much, just a little. Enough so they could lead him around. That was all. Then, when they had the horse sufficient- ly tamed, they were to carry out the thing Bassett had planned. But. Krell had let his ‘temper get the best of him. Bassett would never make that mistake. Right now, though he was mad clear through because of the high-handed way Channing was doing things, he kept his tem- per. Never had he been so cool,.so calm; never had: his thoughts been as clear. There wasn’t a bit of excitement in his manner; his hand was as steady as it had ever been. He sat around the house. until dark. Then, -knowing that Channing and Vallon were in the mess house, eating supper; he walked to the corral, got his horse, mount- ed, and rode northward, toward Red Mesa, over the west trail. He hadn’t. ridden a hundred feet wien out of the tail of his eye he saw Channing and Vallon watching him. Both had come to the door of the mess house; their figures -were outlined in ine lane of lamplight from within. The figures disappeared and Bassett — Just a both men had stepped out into the dark- — ness. a Bassett rode on. Lest: they follow him to determine where he was going he kept on the west trail for several miles. Then riding behind a giant bowlder near the trail he halted and waited. He waited an hour. Neither Channing nor Vallon came in sight, and therefore Bas- Look what he had ' selves, -would they? that! — ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. sett knew he had not been followed. But just to make sure he rode on again and at _a bend in the trail he concealed himself again. He waited half an hour this time. Again he rode on. But this time he wheeled his horse and sent him eastward. He kept to the -low country. until he reached the east trail. T hen he rode south- ward, following -the east trail, which would take him to Warren’s cabin. They’d keep Eve’s movements to them- Well; he’d see about CHAPTER XXII. UNDERSTANDING. VE’S education, limited to the things her mother had taught her, had given — her very little knowledge of men. Her experience with men was not large. She ‘new Bassett, had studied him, disliked him. She’ knew several of the Circle B men. - Those she had: known when a child had one by one left the Circle B. Those who had come afterward she did not know so well. Ned Vallon was steady, quiet and de- pendable. It seemed he had always been old. His manner toward her had always been fatherly. She liked him. _Channing was Channing. He occupied a place in her affections that no other man would ever occupy. She loved him. Every time he looked at her with that gentle glint in his eyes she wanted to hug him. ‘And many times—until the last year or so—she had hugged him. There were times when she still. wanted to hug him, but she had. heeded a disturbing reserve that, lately, had taken possession of her. But much as she loved Channing she had never felt in his presence the way she felt when Wayne Warren came near her. . This afternoon, having got up despite } Mrs. Bailey’s protestations, she was sitting - in a rocking chair on the little front porch of the cabin, considering Warren. Warren had gone riding somewhere; Mrs.. Bailey didn’t know where; and Eve, al- though she felt strong enough to ride back, to the Circle B, was sitting in the rocker, waiting for Warren to return. COmiclbookks CO