Argosy, Vol. 118, No. 4 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE TRAIL HORDE. him upright upon the platform. What Lawler said to Jimmy Ruth did not hear, so low was his voice. But she heard Jimmy’s reply, as did some of the children who still lingered outside,the door: ‘You've walloped me, damn you; you’ve walloped me!” Jimmy ran frenziedly to the door, plainly in fear that he would be “ walloped ” again if he did not make his escape; and when he reached the door he shrieked through un- manly tears: “ My paw will wallop you; you locoed maverick—you see if he don’t!” Jimmy vanished. There was no doubt in Lawler’s mind, nor in Ruth’s, that he had gone to relate his trouble to his “ paw”; and that paw would presently appear to exact the lurid punishment Jimmy desired. But thoughts of imminent punishment were not in Lawler’s mind as he faced Ruth. There was nothing but humorous concern in his eyes and voice. “ Did he hurt you, Ruth?” “J—I think not,” she smiled, “ but I have no doubt that he would have thrashed me soundly if you hadn’t come when you did. I am sorry it happened, but I just had to discipline him. He was setting a bad example for the other scholars.” “Teaching school isn’t the best job in the world, is it?” ‘Decidedly not.” She looked quickly at Lawler, for something in his voice hinted of subtlety; and when she saw his eyes agleam with the whimsical humor that was always in them when he spoke of his hope of winning her, she knew that he had at- tacked her obliquely. Her cheeks flushed, and she dropped her shining eyes from his, murmuring low: “But I am going to keep at it for the present, Kane.” ““T was hoping—” he began. paused when she shook her head. “Is that what you rode to town for?” she asked. “That’s the big reason,” he returned. “The other is that I’m here to sell Gary Warden my cattle.” “T don’t like Gary Warden!” she de- clared. His eyes twinkled. But he s [ve heard that 491 before—two or three times. By the time I see him Ill be disliking him, myself.”’ The “ class,’”’ Ruth now noted, had de- parted—undoubtedly to follow Jimmy Sin- gleton; or perhaps seizing the opportunity so suddenly presented to play truant. At all events, the school was deserted except for themselves. But Ruth did not seem to mind, nor did Lawler express any regret for the absence of an audience. He grinned widely at Ruth. ‘You'll not get them back to-day, I reckon. If you’re riding home I'd be pleased to—”’ ‘But you have business with Gary War- den!” she reminded him. “That can wait. Blackburn won’t have the herd here until to-morrow.”’ Her eyes were glowing with pleasure, and the faint flush on her face betrayed her still more. But she looked at him reso- lutely. ‘T shall stay the day out, whether the children come back or not,” she said. ‘And you must not permit me to interfere with business.” It cost her something to tell him that, for the lure of him had seized her long ago —during the first days of their acquaint- ance, in fact—and she was deliberately re- fusing the happiness that was offered her —because she could not confess her father’s crimes to this man, and because she would not marry him unless he knew. And not even then, perhaps. For she knew something of Lawler’s high ideals, the rugged honesty of him, his straightforward- ness, and his hatred for the thieves who stole cattle—thieves like her father. She couldn’t marry him, feeling that each time he looked at her she must feel that he would be thinking of the misdeeds of her parent. That would be unbearable. He took a step, and stood beside her, looking down at her gravely. He took one of her hands, she permitting it, lifting her eyes to his as he drew the hand toward him. The hand lay inertly in his left; he covered it with his right and held it thus in a warm, firm grip. Then he met her eyes, his own swimming with a gentleness that made her draw a slow, deep breath of wonder. mM (Cl QO) NOOK