The evening world. Newspaper, April 20, 1914, Page 15

“Nice little boys!” exclaimed her daughter with heat. @evils. Don't I know them?” . “Imps, then, if it sounds better, but I mean devils. — cheese in the radiator and not one of them ever knew his Golden ‘They spent their collection money for drug-store candy and put a he aquared her shoulders to launch her “I am not going to be married yet—I am not sure that I'm going to be married at all.” “What do you mean, Nan?” “Just what I say,” defiantly. “I'm going to have my fling first Now that it was out, Nan Galbraith looked from one to the other of the amity circle with complacency. Its members were fully dressed for church ané the carriage had been waiting some time, but they dropped into various hairs at Nan's announcement, more or less aghast. Nan pureed her lips and thrust out her chin as she adjusted her vell toa ogres more of comfort, and waited for the storm to break. €ave my fing.” Nan's younger brother, a “prep” (atic of that self-assertive age of wisdom, was the first to recover. » “Of course. The moon's full,” he @eered. “It always works on your and slide down or anything rain. We expect something queer.” “But you are practically engaged to ») Bob!” Nan's aister Elste voiced the eonsternation of the family. “Every !ated vehemently: ene ta waiting for the announce- ment” as no doubt it is, that my “Let ‘em wait!” Nan tweaked at little ‘queer’ without you doing a . thing like that.” Ber veil and raised her chin aggres “And @ fine example you are nct- ting me,” Ceeert ree “prep” brother “And what doce he say?’ The question was a chorus. Nan ehrugged her shoulders. “Well, naturally.” aan Gare ce cies hot. Gilbraith interrupted —_dectstvel: don't marry Bob. “And just bodagg 3 ik mlgne be your ide: of a ‘fling’ be, fath voice was signa inenites handsome eyes which Nai erybody hate you.” 2 “and meet a Gifferent kind of people from those I've always known,’ went on eagerly. “I want to see her Spirit. pomecning of another Ife than this dieon charity bazaars and ho: oard “Ite “se only thing that bas kept “You blushed when Grandfather “Gh. coeeey tlack married the seamstress,” ro fan reminded ded her coldly, rattling the = one noe ia BAR & ‘He slapped you on the "pack, Hua. lly skeleton. not from my aide of the house, Kus- tace.” EE ate ach "remind are some conventions you must ob- wmfled in spite of himself. ‘a Nan continued de- age eit “I think your humor ts ne: ly bad taste.” ymoeedi! thanks to fo grandmother Thave money “"popert wil “Tm sorry to be horrid, yet adventure of wut 7 Romirely have made wu! Nan touched the Cana ear t! =A COMPLETE «4 . (Copyright, 1914, by J. B. Lippincott Co.) fi \ | * CHAPTER 1. Nan. IR, WHITE is so anxious that you should have a claas in the Bun- day School, Nan, and I'd do it to please him. Of course after you are married he can't expect you to give quite so much of your time to church work but at present there's no reason why you can’t take them. They are nice little boys and they adore Mra. Galbraith fastened a glove clasp and surveyed tho result. “Nan!” reprovingly. | eg my coat pocket. Besides,” It did not come immediately, eo she repeated, “Tl mean it. —I_ won't sneak away. “I've told Bob.” in an injured to: “Follow it, then, “Don't wrangle, children. “You'll never get another auch "This is no time to discuss the mi the library together. He healtat (peat ask any Cat with a turned to marry m ° “ile e nr ie kes it” Nan replied Gaur I pew in the fashionable church Anyway gle exception of Nan’ en him Feally belleved that ment would allow, but she never had and this—this would adventures and be in- she was very like him, affinity in the West.” yor narrow when we Bare | let you ride cross-saddle and “One never can tell.” Sea thought to live"—Mre. Galbraith's i¢ the econ happe bled—"to seo a daughter of Sine In. trousers! Tve auitered and De ested you nothing. You haven't bed the we he asked me.” Rintest iden how it has Gustreased . “How would you Itke to walk down eve you, the churoh alsie beside your gon-in- ie’you carry [AW in ‘chaps, mother?” inquired bars ‘Naw, you will be the fret of gape” “Those woolly things cowboys wear your father and “To be sure humored mmpostible eecepade, ‘which you brother maliciously. family to bring @ blush to our on their = he, Galbraith, taken some. Tri. rodded me in the ribs,” cor. wie ‘will my adventure.” Hoi de ibealth, Nan's “And your orate: ies ew,” contin Garbraith looked guilty, now Alaska and “i rsie chimed m: minded Ser. Galbraith “When he’s excited he will al departure by sayin; never fail to say that in books. “And after Hilts very. differont—there saddle one of the oarrt De ceatioan = — conventions!” Nan rete Ri, ° ou cg thing right now, eried impatiently. “Tve heard noth- 9h 'tuened umon her tormenter with fe Heat. “Tf I want to marry a cowboy I hod to. jelly en Cell fee 2h go! 1 mean to marry to please ° ‘and must observe the conventions. marge else all my life. I can't do any- ted—that's what I am!” 2 int ‘The “prep” _ brother quite pict eyes and Mr. Galbraith 'm twenty-one now and lo as T like.” the glomy neck of hie favorite Hor tather considered her gravely: hunter did bis utmost to inject a “Do you really mea jan, that casual note into bis voice as hi would do this thing against the asked: Sisko of your mother and myself?” “When is it wind. no Greamsia about 4 her — ri her ing @ lon ‘ a igen itor vat Menem “They are little They dropped lim- T'm going to student,” with alt (he candor character- not going to tie the sheets together ike that Mrs. Galbraith lifted ber vell that might weep without melting the chenille’ spots while Elsie ejacu- “Well, I should hope not! It's bad enough to have it whispered Soap iter is " Nan retorted. “It might make a man of you. You'll never stand on your own pins as ‘long as you can hang on to father.” ter and we are late for service as It @hance and you'd better grab it. I is.” don’t want to hurt your feelings, but u're no ten thousand Loe ag} Pony AE jan. If I could cruise off ated own yacht and sion ever ae over “You won't disown me, father?” persisted Nan, timidly, as they left ‘hover in the vicinity at a protecting refused quickly. onhat would spoil it, and besides, comforting to find some o: the sort really would make people tal “I suppose so,” he admitted rue- he turned to her earnestly—"will you promise me one, ‘Ou promise that if you! need some one, if things don't turn out just as you anticipate, people you meet do not prove to be exactly what they seem, if anything at all goes wrong, you will let me know? Will you send me word at ) then his eyes grew in North Carolina a turned [J he looked into her up- y turned face. fe to Florida in my, own car Til bet ac NG, won't disown you, but euch an escapade as suggest would be a very great ttl to your mother Throughout the service, gloom as of @ funeral party hung over ~ which the Galbraith family were manded, “what has his money to do Prominent and active members. ‘with it if I don't care for him?" “But you certainly have ens0! t you di em mouber, but im not sure, and Out her impossible programme. She be sure. Anyhow, I want Slways had been high tornave my fling in the way I want &# unconventional as braith shuddered an@ has Piers fingers up her sieeve for De little short of disgrace. der handkerchief. But Mr. Galbraith, now @ solid, taid, and highly successful man of ‘airs, urbane of manner, fastidious to Gress, and of discriminating ma: ‘s so tastes, understood Nan's feeling of ee ly reseed twinkled the restlessness far better than sRe eus- foaee bit in the world. pected, for had not the wanderlust Nan colored a little and hesitated. taken him to Alaska—to eat wolf— "“I—1 want to go out West—by my- Yet, in thelr hearts, with the sii father, no one ry jan would carry 8, Bob, I'll promise "There's one thing, looked at her approvingly with his “No person with an atom of intelligence could mis- take you for anything but a lady. That is a protection anywhere. n smiled her appreciation, or could you the less readily be mistaken for anything but @ gentle- He laughed in turn. “Since we think so highly of each other, Nan, why ts it that—well, that upon taking I'm ready to go in any ca- pacity from courler to a mere hus- And in all He could not approve nor give his ftragette!" gibed the “prep” consent. It was not to be con- @rother. “Butt into 5 politics and make sidered, of course, but he sympa- thized secretly, and he sighed un- consciously as he silently wished that he bie smug son had a little more of “I've tried to explain that to the family,” said Nan soberly, * y think I am perfectly silly and won't see my point of view at all. want to be suro of myself, and 1 know you so well and like you so much that I'm not sure the feeling I have for you I want to know another kind of men from those T in my comparatively brief so that when I finally marry the man will be the man I have chosen His mind wandered from the ser- existence of teas and mon to his daughter, and he turned ital his head slightly that he might look | mentings, slum children’s pic- at her out of the corner of hin eye, I'm to find that she was regarding bim in the same manner. They exchanged Po oe C4 Stestionste. comrade- ey kept exclusively f tisk your neck jumping wire? Isn't each oth other. zie that Certs excitement for any nice = “1 suppose,” waid the “prep” broth.” a sarcusoally, | Pet treaties at i ner table subject which had qe alive in this miserable, arrow been taboo all day for the sake of Babbath peace, wat you'll meet your ask me to marry them. @ man who is doing * something in the world, making his something like thi you'd even marry him ‘to be full when Nan replied serenely, slightly—“that I haven't aggression and. ly, fighting quali- hich would attract a girl like “Oh, I didn't mean to imply that,” Nan answered quickly, feeling that she had hurt him. "I t 1 a fact, though, that I don’t do much but amuse myself. But what am D Pleaded half bumorously, . “TE don't want anybody eo I wouldn't get in poll- I'm_not keen on ties, and beside: strange bedfellows. reason why I should mak because’ with my tastes it taxes my Ingenulty to spend a What I have, and you won't help me. Philanthropy would make @ cynic of me in @ week, for I have discovered there's nothing like dispensing char- ity to wreck one's faith in human Mo » aryly, with te hte brother, ar bie hat in Ss. house and sloop in his boots “You could practine was the use of studying it if you don't practise?” “To protect myself from other law- es,” with mock gravity, gould join the noble army of ambu- aye aastl. pe pon that he's ‘plumb locoed’ and “Wolf, then, and made stews from snnow his fis leather shoelaces.” Mr. Galneath checked a grin and eatd reproving! enue you must remember, Nan, you ‘got to hit the grit'—they he’s had Grop too much in town he'lt come out and You don't have to be @n ambulance chaser. an the top if only you were in earn- Yphank you, Nan, kind words,” he bowed in exaggerated reciation, “but ['m afraid the only thing in which I am in deadly earnest is my desire to induce you to marry me or to let me marry you—es you ike—I'm very humble. rou know, I went to Newfound. and spent three wretched weeks camping on the Humber River, fight- id waiting for the ® letter from you, and trying to forget you; but just as goon as the mosquitoes let u ute I was loving you harder for those few et the coachman? He's @ in hii Rave Rupee, ik Last summer, ing mosquito mail to bring stooped to stroke © Most humiliating experionce of my ike 1 eeeure you, for it convinced me ieee, coast, where the mosquitoes at ht acco Sune te, (8 Tulee OF ss oes we Tigane we nt eer ieee unis tt Tame OVEL EACH WEEK IN THE EVENING WORLD= THE FULL OF “THE MOON ects you, Bob,” said Nan gratefully, oe be so terribly decent about this outbreak oS mine. It's who can take it philosophically, It's Leer an awful row at home, I'm regarded as little short of a criminal—the ‘wild of the flock. am tremendously fond of my family, individually. They are dears: Collectively, they are Late | terrifying lot, and they are all lin ‘up against me in this, to a man, “They impress it be, ley that I am breaking my mother’s heart, bringing my father’s gray hairs in sorrow to the grave, making my only sister @ target for the finger of scorn and ruining her prospects, setting my young brother a ruinous example. I'm f& bad lot! I'm all the erring daugh- ters since the world began, rolled into one. And the queer part of It is, the more they oppose me the more determined 1 am to carry out my programme. “IT know I'm heartless, disobedient, ngrateful, a serpent they've warmed in their bosoms, and it doesn't budge me. I'm going to do what I want to do just once in my life if I never do it again, Ever since I was born I've been doing mostly what some one else -wanted me to do. Now I'm going to do what I want to do, if I bang for it!" You'll only get a life sentence, n, women are seldom hanged.” The wildest adventure I ever had was the time Sancho ran away with the pony cart and spilled us off the brid, added reseatfully. “It's the shameful way you've been shel and protected,” Hob de. clared, “It makes my blood boll.” “Don't laugh at me," “or I'll feel that I can't you. "m not, Nan. It's only that I'm such @ wag that I have to be funny even when I'm sad. But tell me, where do you get this adventurous streak of yours?" his eyes twinkled, “Surely not from your 9 mothe! ae ot fro! answered drolly “trom. father. = exactly like father—before he “ort may be the beat thing’ fo y e Ing for you in the end—like being tilowea to smoke @ cigar when you were a youngster or eat too many cookies or raisine on the principle that a surfeit cures, Anyway, there’ with a boy's frankness while continu “And whether you come back fn one month or twelve, you'll find me Waiting and loving you just the eame. he Will you remember that, Nag—just the same?” “I'll remember, And Bob,” with a ttle catch in her voice, “you surely are white folk sine which old her at- tention, Nan raised herself from the Jow silk negligee to “Only oe night mo. nd a patrleide and all the other ‘cides there are, with moth- er and Elie burating into tears every time they see me, They simply can- not understand my point of view at all, Father does, I believe, though he wouldn't let me know it for the world. “I wondtr if I am meking a mis- take? I wonder if they are right and T am weet I wonder if I shall be sorry? Bom: Nan suggested a yellow bird in ‘a golden cage or @ topaz in a jewel! case of ite own color as she moved restlessly about the room. There was a hint of yellow tn her golden-brown eyes, her brown hair was streaked with sunny tints, ane she dressed oftenest in hades of yellow and brown, Her friends called her sometimes “The Golden Girl," and the name, ea her clothes, became her. She was not beautiful, this Golden ; Girl, but as Robert Ellison had sald, she wes unmistakably @ lady. She had a certain self-effacing ity of manner which vnly part! con- cealed an unusually high ” apirit, vivacity, and a keen "nverest in Hfe. anne and erect. One fe! paid of ner young body tinder of clinging oll and lace eas- World Daily Magazine. Monday. She was wholesome. She radiated health and spirit, Her tawny, lumin- ous eyes showed the imaginative mind, the romantic tendencies of her nature, and often there was in then: a kind of inquiring eagerness which was like a child's. She had a distinctive personality, too strong ever to be effaced, and, modest to a degree in her dreams, she could not have been inconspicuous, for Nan Galbraith in her way was a personage, and looked it. ‘The bystanders felt something of ‘this fact when, a week later, the collariess landlord of the dobe hotel in the little hybrid town of Hoped close to the Mexican border, reached up @ pair of mighty arms and swung Nan to the ground from the driver's seat of the four-horse stage which ended ite fifty-mile journey in front of his caragansary. CHAPTER II. Hopedale. HE oun, shining through the window panes, awakened Nan the next morning, and ite brightness seemed good omen. It thrilled her; she gave a squirm of contentment upon the hard pillows of the best bed in the best room of the Palace Hotel. She never had awakened in a room in the least like it, and the nogeless water-pitcher, the faded ingrain car- pet, the pine chair repaired with bal- ing wire, the hotel hairbrush chained eafely to the wall, all were novelties which evoked from Nan a girlish Giggle of amusement. She was alive to the finger-tips with eager interest and anticipation, and one ig out with an animation which she had mot felt tn months. At the lowered window she filled her lungs with the sweet, pinon-scented air, and began to sing bubbling notes without a tune like those of the water- ousel in early spring. Sho dressed quickly and stepped to the sunshine-flooded one-story debe hotel. It was to her romantic, youthful mind like 4 into a new life in another wo! ich was to be as Robbo ped as the Sevel- opment of cl ina ony with a Genouement wi Rone could guess. If Nan bebe interested in Hopedale, edule reciprocated with a bar, 4 which was a little short of feverish. On the face there was nothing to in- fahabitants ‘ang Nan could not know in tants, when she passed through the office on her way to the flining-room that each casual lounger was a human interro- point. Noth leminine in the least re- sembling Nan ever eet appeared in Hopedale, and her social excuse for being there, had been ar- ove sued pro and con far into the night. One of three reasons accounted for few American women who came to thi miles from the terminus of « branch , and these reasons wee namely—relatives in the vicinity. di luded notions concerning Hopedale @ fertile field for canvassing for som thing, or the quite frank purpose of a temporary sojourn at Dona Marlan- na’s dance-hall room, which was empty when she entered, began to fill with suspicious rapidity, and the landlord, with a diamond shirt-stud glitterin., rumpled bosom, appeared in the os y and looked rd from one e-comer to the other. tatooke like you all ovens your- self this mornin’,” he said, signifi- cantly, ‘To a man, the boarders cast furtive iad at Nan and grinned sheep- iy “That cyanide what you passes over the bar 3 a man sleep as if he was di ame the retort finally from a rash youth at whom every ome stared for daring to raise his voice above @ whisper. a “Lang,” ehouted the the landlord, “quit your millin’ around and git here with ie lady's grub.” He spoke to a an panle-stricken §=Chinaman. ‘Then, clearing hie throat and inhaling a breath which placed a strain upon ‘ia shirt at: De, inquired: “What might I call your name, miss? My he is, Poth—Frits Piraken semen @back, Nan hesl- tated, then, ing her emiling eyes to the Tendlord’e Moxpectant face, she replied: “Galbraith—Mise Galbraith.” Mr. Poth promptly ecraped one toe around the other hee! in a low bow and sald heartily: ‘Proud to know welcome to our cit: ‘The landlord's ease and unexpect- 04 knowledge of social forms filled hie gueste with surprise and envy. Not “content with hie triumph, Mr. Poth waved a jewelled hand toward @ gray-bearded, mild-looking man at the end of the long table and con- ) ma‘am, and I make you acquainted with ‘Old Man’ Fit iz mick." “Old Man’ patrick had just bit- ten off a sizable piece of bread and there was one agonised second in which he wae undecided remove it or to risk at and swallow it whole. There was a general feeling of re- Met when he compromised by thrust- ing it into his cheek, where, though protruding like @ aquirrel’s pouch, it enabled him to “How air Tilt Sad! atlad"onee Sisto ard an Cpl fore! as ‘Like t'make you inted ‘Sour Dough Bam’. ‘Again. the wnae: lord waved Jewelled be: In rei ot red-' netred’ man sprang 3 WW t from bis chair and shocuied a few in imitation of Mr, oth’ “Much obtiged to mest you,” he eald beartily; then, turning upon Mr. Poth, he demanded flercely: “What you introducin' m ‘Sour Da Pee for? Maybe. rev think Ta HA ‘ba The andiora ed ‘caimly “Never heerd of none.” “MoCaftrey's my name—McC ‘affrey “He don't you forget it!” McCaffrey sat down hard bresthta heavily, and jerked at hin plate, which hed stuck to the red tablecloth. He used constderable en. ergy, thereby making ® kind of tent of the tablecloth which upset the watered condensed pitcher of you right, Mr. Caffrey,” etrange court of the straggling adobe village fifty the Aprfl wrned to the bar in obvious disgust at the result of his efforts to promote sociability among his quests. When Nan had breakfasted Mr, Poth indicated a bench which he had gs; ced in the shade of a wide-aprend- ing cottonwood tree that grew in front of the hotel. “Thought you might like to set out and sun yourself,” suggested Mr. Poth and Nan thanked him as she sat down and leaned her back against the tree, quite unconscious of the eyes at every window in the vicinity. Humming contentedly as she kept time to the rhythm with the toe of one small, perfectly shod foot, ahe aid not hear Mr. M hag ahs A ae notally in the doorw: hind hi His efforts to ther attention proving futile, he strained himeelf in ugh of great violence, and ther 't of surprise when sh nmented sympathetic- ally upon his cold, His cough ceased immediately ant down briskly and seated hinusel? beside her. “That feller ‘Sour-Dough's’ gall & must ‘a’ broke and run all over him,” said the barber enviously ae he left @ lathered customer in the chair and walked to the door, whe: i} yr tened to the conversation with an in- terest which he made no effort to conceal. “Went up in the range last week and forgot my blankets,” explained Mr. McCaffrey. ‘Slept ‘longside a rock all night and near froze. Ras- neled 4 silver-tip about two yearn ago —he near et me—and I can't stand up ag’in’ things like I onct could.” “He's talkin’ taonal about btm- self,” reported the barber tn a loud whisper over hie shoulder, Nen's eyes opened. fought a bear?” “Yep. ir. McCaffrey's tone was cagual and disinterested. bef ia this country long’ can't aay, yet “Waitin’ fr re git you, I reckon Cast tiven to come ventured Mr, Me- ea © no relatives oF se- . McCaffrey commiscratingty, = that too bad.” After a proper pause he ventured © again, while the barber elongated hi neck something like a foot over the sidewalk to catch her answer. undred Select! hk the world’ for five dollars down?" A oral kept her face sober with dif- joulty, “Oh, no, nothing like that.” deciat Mi McCi look ike y,, book agent what ever buncoed The barber turned his head so far shoulder that he appeared ty be performing the imposible feat of looking at the back of his neck as he ged to the restless customer in aa't makin’ no headway at ‘You say you don't aim to make much of a stay?" inquired Mr, McCaf- frey, affecting a large yawn of nonchalance. “My plans “Well, well with sympethy very indefinite.” His votce vibrate though Mr. frey was merely sparring for cae ‘There really seemed no but to belle that her pi counted for strange young women Hopedale, yet everything about Nan forbade the familiar inquiry ae to whether she was “headed for Dona Marianna’s pla Mr. McCaffrey could not remember when he had felt himself 60 baffled, 80 puzzled, so utterly at sea an he now found himself by her noncommittal annwers. He had an uneasy feeling, too, that he had not been nearly so subtle as he had intended. mischievous sparkle in Nan‘s eyes gave rise to © thought, and his large eare red- od perceptibly as the impreasion w. ‘My skin‘ll crack wide open if you leave this here noupsude on it much Jonger,” camo plaintively from the barber chair. t's the uncommon feelin’ of water on your face what hurts you," retort- @d the barber as he loft the doorway Adam's apple. The loungers dangling their legs from the high platform in front of the general merchandise store acrons the street, who had focused attention with discon: obey | * ness upon Mr. McCaffrey from the time he had seated hi benide Nan, began to grow ret 4 half an hour passed and he made no mo- tion of leaving. Any intelligent person could learn a lady's business in half that time, and it looked to them as though “Mour-Dough" was malictously pro- longing their suspense. So they beckoned him, slyly at frat, then more openly as they saw he meant to ignore thelr It wae Nan who finally called his attention to their signals, “They seem to want you,” she sug gested. “It'a nothin’ very pressin’." Mr. McCaffrey answered sourly, “Waitin’ js their reg'lar business.” He felt piqued, outwitted. If it could be aaid that Mr, McCaffrey had an occupation it was that of collecting and gratuitously distribu ows, He the Associated of Hopedale, and whosoever a victim to his adroit question- was apt to give up the inmost secrets of his aoul, “Ain't your pumps workin’ good, ‘Sour-Dough'?" came from across the atreet, Mr, McCaffrey felt it unwise to In- nore their importunities longer lest they embarrass him by some loud personal allusion, #0 he rose in le! urely fashion and said in @ voice which he hoped would carry across ‘Ain't you felle “Who is ahe? W from? Where's go! o inquir nS 'd eet sak you down a dy & let of private ques- 20. r914 tlonn about herself? Maybe you don't know it, but I been well rained.” “You got turned down, I see,” sald “Old Man" Fitspatrick with com- ure. “Think #07" Mr. McCaffrey laughed sarcastically, “Maybe I did, ha, ha! indignantly, “don't you old grannies know moe well enough to know I wouldn't vi'late no lady's con- fidence—high or low? But,” releating & little, “T don't mind goin’ #o fur as to say she ain't canvannin’.”” » how’ "Old Man” Fitapat- rick’e voice was full of mock disap- pointment--“l was aimin’ to buy four bits’ worth of her complexion perper- ation what would leave my skin just © like @ baby’ By mid-day Nan had become one of the most fascinating myateries which it had ever devolved upon the sidewalk solons to solve. It was Saturday and pay-day In the adjoining mining camps, so Nan spent nearly the entire morning on the bench watching the picturesque stream of life flowing through the main etreet of the town. Mexicans from the placera jogged in on thetr half-starved horses; caw- boys from distant ranges came whooping In with and a whirl of dust; footeore Mi Froth hung @ conspicuous sign on a outskle of his betel which rea a REGULAR MEAL...... 50 REGULAR GORGE.....91.60 $$ $e But the event of the day to Nao occurred at noon while Mr. Poth was ringing hia dinner bell ‘eo the middie ft tl treet that ae et ule time, A girl on horseback, with a man riding beside her, turned the corner peoot ong at eng es Thetr |, seared, rted at the clanging bell. But the —_ of their riders did not fe cnenee appeared not expression; they pes aware of the plunging of thelr was dressed in divided ist parted com; ith her and wuntidily, Pee” ’ hat wae awry and Nen gave her only a von tee | poe ahy Her eyes ined u; who rode by her aide. He sat reed horse with the cowboy’s carelesa ce, half slouchi: over tho horn or ay Galli ead nis broad shoulders awa; with the nit, motion of the horse, while the cost: dence oe physical strength showed fa every line and movement. He had a square jaw, a straight mouth and level blue eyes framed in the blackest of lashes. He had pushed hig wide-brimmed hat gare- lensly to the bes) of his head, and a forehead as white woman's whowed in curious contrast above his tanned face. A cortain keennees of expreasion, of comprehension, of the habit of con- centration which a trained mind gives, was lacking, but his face denoted franknese and honesty to a marked degree Hin flannel shirt, the ofik handker- chief knotted loosely about his neck, the fringed leather chaps showing wervice, the high, carved leather cuffs, made up a pieturesque en- semble, and a strange flutter of ex- cltement erept over Ngn ns their eyes met He turned in his saddle after they had passed and vontinued to-look at her in a atare which, though ateady and long, had nothing of impertinence in it, while Nan with rising color nuddenly realized that she had re- turned It as frankly. ‘The girl in the faded skirt and roudy hat looked netther at Naa‘nor at the bystanders who lined the street. She seemed to have only for the man who rode beside her. “Who ia that?” “Edith Blakely from over to the 1 jue, A looker, ain't and the man?” “Why, that's Be: foreman of the L. X. outfit.” “Ben Evans.” Once more she fel? that curioun thrill of excit it and wondered at it, while simultaneously from some niche in her brain there carne the recollection of her brother's eat ne— “T muppose an out Weat—ti CHAPTER Ill. The Foreman of the L. X. rT} OW whet for an outft's that!” Mr, Poth's disparaging voice in the doorway caused Nan to lift her eyes from the magazine she was reading in the shade of the cotton- wood, which had become her favorite seat during the week that had elapsed since her arrival in Hopedale, to look at a prairie echooner drawn by a thin gray horse and a little mule which was crawling up the street The wagon had been mended often with baling wire and the harness was & patchwork of ropes, chains, and leather stra, A dusty, sun- Diistered boy in an orange sweater pulled the wagon to a atandetill in front of the hotel and inquired: “Ary pl About here we-all can camp?" “T’other side of the Merchantile find your affinity porium air a lar place,” Peas responded Moon ahem Te “Ary opery-! “Think youre “nekin i" one- town?" inquired Mr, Poth with’ ‘ verity “We-all are a troupe"—he to force bravado into his bo; ~"and we're all right tao. We belong to Frohman’s j over at New York, but the closed and we're doin’ this for our health, "Twon't be good for your heal it you're as bum as the lant troupe what showed here,” Mr. Poth candidly. “Atr you ba tragedy?" “We runs the gamut.” “Ob, acrobate! Well, they pretty well here. I leases the house; so you can come round neo me after make camp. cer,” he said laconi The turn of the wagon through the opening in the rear @ young gaunt to while, lying’ fn the bottom, asleep with her head on a bag of" waa a girl of sixteen whose stained. and sunburnt tase wee wore @ of utter weariness. “Do you reckon that’s Violer in there?” Mr, ‘potn's voice Orr fee He added gammut run ain't all they crack ine to ars takin) jong chances shown’ pped ‘om a advance. ‘But the audience wouldn't anything to these ba -4 n't Itke them, would it | "Don't know as it oe ae ee apiled ones, Hut they’s turnips and chee never were stingy with the onct it set out to break up o ang It ‘again Saturday, Haturday was a gala a) am ieee cieceor tees e of the & An incident of the afterncon was the arrival of a fogr- cole’, care which pounded up the ph eaeng by tw ry ee haber te in” potion Th The en He called peremptority to to come and stand at their Nan noted that ti ol and Reret without page as thia toe obviots tack of Nan think that he was more nf her presence than had he stared at her with the frank interest which she was becoming dooataead: Phy! ce Was too marked te heard of much Secisont auestoning noble to extract, which ‘he fattened herself was little. She was not surprised whea came out again shortly, accom: ba by Mr, Poth. whose face wore Z atrained, purposeful told some soctal effort “Like to make — yor Mias Galbraith, with the bess outfit, Shake hands with ‘Hank’ T. Spiser.” Sues Bred Sate i ; | E i pair of hazel eyes curiousl) atreaks of nee no: the bo were like tiny apecks of prominent nose was beak- bed thin, upper ip lifted frequen’ o short, att two rows of strong, yellow teeth, = * ‘The conspicuous cleft in bie hard chin seemed at variance 5 In the cat rhe | 4 coomed @ man, but standing, bie height was much greater than Naa’s owa. was of stocky build and inclined to corpulency; also he had & poner. rolling @alk not unfke a Now, as he acknowledged the land- lord's introduction in a sweeping baw, the removal of hia hat di a yather bald head upot e lengthy hairs were used to the greet- make 4 3 advantage. ehpoth tells me you've to f little stay in our country, Glad te hear it! If there's anything I can for you—anything at all you lemme know.” His manner of was abrupt, getioritemey. who! dicative of @ mi ustomed ain't our long suit, but we alm to ngera right. Ain't that go, with heartiness whieh seemed forced. As he sprang into the ioe the lfted the lines over the baeks of dripping horses he turned and saked: u'll be at the show to-night, I pone?" “Mrs. Poth has invited me.” Some- thing In his eyes, his voice, Bis manner subtly conveyed the tmpres- sion that his appearance there was contingent upon her own. was not sure that she Mr. “Hank” Spleer, boas of the L. X. owtnt. What was It be disseminated an impression of sincerity Sao his bluff hospitality, of an indefi; disrespect disguised by pretentious bows’ (To Be Continued). Next Week’s Complete Novel ae 4 FROM BROADWA By Frederle S. Isham WILL BEGIN IN ==NEXTS> Monday's Even