Nobody's Child

out the sun. The soughing gloom through which Baird rode was mournful on a March day, but he had some conception of what it must be like in summer, cool and sweet-scented and perpetually whis

rough the night as well.... What a tr

The Penniman house showed through the trees, a steep-pitched roof broken by dormer windows. Clumps of lilacs topped the bank which partially

e. He could see, a short distance ahead, just beyond where the road for

on to the gate, then dismounted, having decided to attempt the barn first. The wide door, the entrance to the wagon-shed, stood open, and Baird looked in. Beyond was a

sweet-scented, airy space warmed by a broad band of sunlight. Not ten feet from him, beside a basket of eggs, sat a

me indeterminate garment without a belt, a sheathe-like apron, possibly. She appeared to be playing wit

he went a

ng-a

he went

pistol b

g-a-h

with its suggestion of abandon carrying her the length of the sunlight band; a waltz step backward and forwar

t up to Miss

ng-a

t up to Miss

y Mouse, is

ng-a

I sits, an'

atch an' d

g-a-h

d suddenly into

k Miss Mouse

Mouse, will

g-a-h

p, stopped abruptly at the hay, and clapped her hands

and over, the collie snarling in mock ferocity, Ann rippling with laughter, an

l, for a full moment, into the creature's affectionate eyes, and her laughter died suddenly. She put her arms about the dog's n

out, in spite of the warmth that rose to his face. But, at the sob in her voice, he felt ashamed, like one caught eavesdropping. Baird was not overburdened with fine feelings, in some respects he was coarse

her heels. At sight of Baird, the dog barked furiously, and Ann stopped dead; the look sh

through this way to Westmore, but the gate is locked. I'm sorry I frightene

dawned in her eyes. "You're a stranger-you couldn't be expected to kn

said, "but I hate t

ly. Judith could never have been as pretty-she had never had this girl's ripe lips and warm throat, or her trick of lowered lashes. Baird saw now why her eyes appeared so dark; her lashes were black and the eyelids blue-tinged, giving her eyes both brilliancy and languor

It must be a nuisance-having people come through in th

n answered. "Perhaps when my father

doesn't liv

me-he's coming home to-morrow." Th

owned land about here I'd kick at havin

doin' things is because they've always been done." Her tone was f

part of the world the best reason for not doing things is because th

t was the first sign of per

. Before that I was in Wyoming for a time. I've ranched, and done a lot of other things. I spent two years in South America-got rid of fif

Are there flowers there that catch insects and snak

I've seen plenty of insects that are flowers and flowers that are insects-everythi

a story

like t

han anything else,"

then laughingly at Baird. "Looks funny, doesn't it?" he remarked. "I'm taki

lash into gaiety she sprang lightly to a notch in the gate-post, swung hers

"Why didn't you let me do

try in her eyes. "If you'll sta

enough to prove the strength of his arms, then set her down; his lips pressed her cheek and his br

an instant Baird did not know what to think. Then her lashes dropped and sh

" he answered swiftly. He took her hand as wel

r, a sudden inclination and as quick a shrinking; the color fled from her

before he remembered where he was. Then he

the key to its hiding-place. Before he mounted, he gave the house a long scr

is usual aspect. Then he laughed shortly: "T