Part 18 (2/2)
”You reed Lee ”Ben Stark will never let up on you now”
”Very well, that is his privilege”
”You don't savvy what it et his up to suit himself, then pick a roith you He's the quickest er in the West, but he won't never make no open play, only just devil the life out of you with little things till you flare up, then he'll down you That's how he killed the gold commissioner back in British Columbia”
Necia had said little so far, but the look in her eyes repaid the soldier for his undertaking in her behalf, and for any ht ensue from it She came forward and laid her hands upon his
”Proed, anxiously, ”for it's all my fault, and I'd--I'd always blame myself if any hurt cahter,” reassured Gale ”There's nothing Stark can do, and whatever happens we're with the Lieutenant He's our kind of people”
Burrell liked this grizzled old felloith the watchful eyes, and was glad now that he could grip his hand and face hiuilt upon his conscience
By this time Doret had finished with their blankets, and the four set out for town, but instead of following the others they accepted Necia as guide and chose the trail to Black Bear Creek They had not gone far before she took occasion to lag behind with the Lieutenant
”I couldn't thank you before all those people--they would have read our secret--but you kno I feel, don't you, Meade?”
”Why! It was a si--”
”It was splendid when you defied the should happen to you over this!”
”But there's no chance It's all done, and you'll have your fine dresses and be able to hold your nose just as high as you want”
”Whatever I get I will owe to you I--I've been thinking
Suppose--well, suppose you keep two of those claims; they are sure to be rich--”
”Why, Necia!” he exclaiht to them under the law Of course it would be very handsoht to have your ears boxed,” he laughed at her
”I don't see why You--you--may be very poor, for all I know”
”I ah to take payment for a favor”
”Well, then, if they are really mine to do with as I please, I'll sell one to you--”
”Thanks I couldn't avail myself of the offer,” he said, with mock hauteur
”If you were a businessperson you would listen to ht, and you et behind yonder cluly, but he declared she was a ain would not hold
It was evidently her ain, as they had on the way fro could not be, for his eyes had cleared since then He knew that he could never again wander through the happy valley, for he vowed thisfor him or for any other man, and as there could be no honorable end to this affair, it must terminate at once
Just how this was to be consummated he had not determined as yet, nor did he like to set about its solution, it hurt hi, only a child, and in time would come to count him but a memory, no doubt; while as for hiet her, but he could and would He reasoned glibly that this was the only honest course, and his reasoning convinced him; then, all of a sudden, the pressure of her warm lips came upon him and the reic Nevertheless, he was honest in his stubborn determination to conclude the affair, and finally decided to let time show him the way