The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

64 A feeling of uneasiness took possession of Moore. It was aggravating to suspect that things were doing on his own ranch about which he was not permitted to know. Fan’s avoidance of him irritated him and stimulated his resentment. He began to look on her as a kind of trouble-center. The suspicion of her as the inspiration of what he could not understand nagged him into efforts to get a word with her. She foiled him with the grace of a bern coquette and the ease of an experienced manager of men. Which only added to his interest and stimulated a masculine deter- mination to show her the “ thus far and no farther ” where a girl’s power might go. From the window of his own room he had seen her mount the pony that one of the hands named Nick had brought to the cot- tage for her. ‘She had ridden off toward the north. Ben suddenly remembered that he had not yet taken time to visit the settlement where the married cowboys lived. It was toward the north. He waited till Fan rode beyond the swelling crest beyond the cor- ral; then he hurried out. A horse was kept for him in a small stable near the ranch-house. He saddled and rode off, northward. Nick, leisurely strolling back toward the corral, grinned as he saw Moore put spur to his mare and gallop away. He instantly changed his course and started toward the ranch-house. As he went he whistled shrilly. Pete, another ranch-hand, appeared at the big gate of the corral. He jerked off his sombrero and waved it. Then he started toward the ranch-house. The routes of the two men met. “Some trick! Say, ain’t it geese that’s ketched with decoys, Nick? Seems like the gander’s got took in, too, don’t it?” Pete laughed. ‘“‘ Wish to hell he’d hike! I ain’t no dip- Jomat or court-ear! Takes too much time to do my work and fool the boss, too. Heard when he was a goin’ to make tracks to where they want him?” ‘‘ Nothin’ doin’! He’s used to bossin’ an’ it hurts his pretty pride not to be the cock- of-the walk ’round hyah! Old Jeb’s about THE ARGOSY. dippy tryin’ to be two folks at wunst! Is the grave dug?” Pete’s sinister inquiry elicited only a nod from Nick. ‘““What’s got you?” he asked, impressed by Nick’s silence. “T ain’t so wild about stickin’ a man in the ground-as if we’d had somethin’ to do with his death. Of course, I reckon Miss Fan knows what she’s up to; but she ain’t mentioned it to Jeb. I axed him.” ‘““Gee! I guess not! Old Jeb’s got all he kin hold right now. She’s got too much sense to run him over!” “Well, what’s the meanin’ of it any- way?” Nick demanded gruffly. “Search me! But I’m for doin’ what- ever the little lady orders.” They passed along behind the ranch- house and went toward the teepee, where Paleface persisted in living. The little pointed dwelling rose from a slight elevation that Commanded a sweeping view of the surrounding country. The old woman who inhabited it appeared. She flung back the flap and stood watching the men in silence. ‘““Come on, Paleface, let’s get it over!” Pete said, making a move to push her away from obstructing the entrance. “ Wait,” Paleface said quietly, maintain- ing her place. “Oh, shucks! What’s the use of lettin’ her see the performance. ’Tain’t specially eddyfying for a lady!” Pete protested, pick- ing up a spade and mattock that lay beside the teepee. Paleface did not move. Nick turned and looked north. Pete flung the mattock in a swift circle and buried its point in the ground as if he had to have action to work off his sentiments. “Damn! When you git the dad-burned stubbornness of a female an’ an Injun done up in one bunch, you jes’ got to lay down!” “Brown Baby!” The Indian woman grunted it. Fan, racing toward them from a direc- tion entirely different from the one she had taken, approached. She had seen Ben on her trail and, out- witting him, had turned back to the teepee. A moment after she arrived Paleface stepped away from the entrance to her oO MIG OO CO S CO