A Waif of the Plains

im to protest, Clarence was silent until a rise in the road, a few minutes later, par

my cousin?

ounty, two hundred

going

es

larence could see that Flynn was from time to time examining him curiously under his slouched hat. T

w your-cousi

r he me. I don't think h

out ye be,

eve

t, or afeard, or lose yer sand, I kalkilate, for skunkin' ain't in your breed. Well, wot ef I told ye that thish yer-thish yer-COUSIN o' yours was the b

le too much. He was perfectly truthful, an

were talking a good

he dim woods ring with his boisterous mirth. Then as suddenly becoming thoughtful again, he rode on rapidly for half an hour, only speaking to Clarence to urge him forward, and assist

ple view on the opposite mountain. Then laying his hand on Clarenc

he's that wrapped up in books and study that he lives alone in a big adobe rancherie among a lot o' Spanish, and he don't keer to see his own countrymen! Why, he's even changed his name, and calles himse

med only a repetition of Peyton's charitable offer,

id the man, with a gravity that wa

Sacramento-nor sent, nor even wrot

you came, and didn't even mention Silsbee's name, that same letter was sent back to your cousin through me, because the bank thought we knew his whereabouts. It came to the gulch by an express rider, whilst you were

isappointment was forgotten in the charm of this new-found friendship and protection. And as its outset had been marked by an unusual burst of co

is certain that the two best places in the stage were given up to them without protest, and that a careless, almost supercilious invitation to drink from Flynn was responded to with singular alacrity by all, including even two fastidiously dressed and previously reserved

le-minded boy it would have been evident that Flynn was purposely avoiding the more traveled roads and conveyances; and when they changed horses again the next day's ride was through an apparently unbroken wilderness of scattered wood and rolling plain. Yet to Clarence, with his pantheistic reliance and joyous sympathy with nature, the change was filled with exhilarating pleasure. The vast seas of tossing wild oats, the hillside still variegated with strange flowers, the virgin freshness of untrodden woods and leafy aisles, whose floors of moss or bark were undisturbed by human footprint, were a keen delight and novelty. More than th

arence woke late in the morning, and, descending into the street to mount for the day's journey, was startled to find that Flynn was not on the other horse, but that a well-dressed and handsome stranger had taken

dn't know me

spoke," repl

now exposed to his sidelong glance was hard and stern, and slightly saturnine. Although unable at the time to identify it with anybody he had ever known, it seemed to the imaginative boy to be vaguely connected with some sad experience. But the eyes were thoughtful and

seemed literally piled with books and engravings. Here Flynn hurriedly bade him stay while he sought the host in another part of the building. But Clarence did not miss him; indeed, it may be feared, he forgot even the object of their journey in the new sensations that suddenly thronged upon him, and the boyish vista of the future

ok like himself, Clarence stood hopelessly before him. He had already made up his mind that he would have to go through the usual cross-questioning in regard to his father and family; he had even forlornly thought of inven

d as your cousin calls himself Don Juan Robinson," he added to Clarence, "it's just as well that you let 'Jackson Brant' slide. I know him

mbarrassed relative-much to that gentleman's apparent

ok at tho

d at him with the first expres

ead; you l

ooking at him thoughtfully, he added, "My hands are

oks you can wash your hands afterwards." And, turning to Flynn suddenly,

uaint wood-cuts and illustrations. One seemed to be a chronicle of battles and sieges, with pictured representations of combatants spitted with arrows, cleanly lopped off in limb, or toppled over distinctly by visible cannon-

ing him without a word of parting! It was true that he had only agreed to take him to his guardian, but still Flynn need not have left him without a word of hope or encouragement! With any one else Clarence would probably have taken refuge in his usual Indian

. To add to Clarence's embarrassment his cousin had lingered in the corridor, attracted by the interruption, and a peon, lounging

the matt

at rose in his eyes. "But you were going away without saying 'go

Then glancing suspiciously toward

E send

yself. I hear

ence's outstretched hand, checked himself suddenly with a grim s

step from Flynn, and saying, with white cheeks, "I only wanted to say good-by," dropped his hot eyes to the

s eyes flashed with an odd, admiring fire, but when Clarence raised his head again he was gone. And as

he said pleasantly. "Yes, we