The Boss of Wind River

e, was merely an average young man. He was not genuinely or at all in love at first; but he was strongly attracted, and he played the pleasant game wit

er power. Thus jealousies sprang up which threatened to disrupt the entente cordiale normally existing in the younger set of Falls City. These were by no means confin

ng features. But she was very human, and the general male adoration of her guest made her just a little tired. No young hostess likes to be completely outs

oesn't care for him any more than for the others, and he ought

d subjected her one evening. That young lady, after eliciting certain information as to the habits, characters, and

Kent, dear-tel

. We played together when we were kids-that is, he condescended to amuse me when he was nine and I was five, and that'

cently. He is the o

little fellow, so he is quite alone. H

it? Somebody said the late

e. She disliked these questions, p

mills and timber limits and so on. I suppose J

ng in the words brought the red to Jack's che

n a confidential mood. He

d, "look at me. Is there anyth

hing," said Jack

wasn't trespassing," repl

"Now let me ask a question: Hav

. "But-well, dearie, I half suspect

hy should she care? Joe was no more to her than any other old friend. Naturally he would fall in love some day and marry. Perhaps Edith, in s

said truthfully. "He isn't the only on

ests. "It's rather early to say," she replied. "You see, dear, he hasn't a

"If you love one another tha

ss Garwood. "That's only one thing. We should

hat," Jack commented. "And then you have pl

be a suitable match for me. I'm not sure he would approve of Joe-I mea

e may be one thousand or ten thousand a year; I d

ose," said Miss Garwood lightly. "It will be t

int for thought. She wondered how Hugh Garwood would regard him as a prospective son-in-law. Finding the a

he patch of moonlight on the floor slowly shift and finally disappear. And this sleeplessness was the more unaccountab

the last thing I'd think of. I don't believe dad would think of it either, just so we had enough to live on, and good prospects. Of course not. She can't think much of Joe if she lets that stand in the

breakfast coffee as long as they both should live. The question of money occurred to him, but not as an important factor. He knew that old Hugh Garwood, the president of the O. & N. Railway, had it to burn, to throw at the birds, to stuff cats with, and half a dozen other ways of disposition. But he himself

embarrassing one of whether she loved him. It was all right to flirt, to play the tw

now whether she has been stringing me along or not. But if she hasn't been it's pretty nearly up to me to

. Kent was somewhat rattled and a little afraid of the futur

id not or would not see the drift of his questions, framed with what he considered great

arry her, or don'

be hanged if I kn

"Meanwhile don't try to pump me. I don't know anything

Kent seated prosaically upon a huge log by the river side, both very tongue-tied, and both apparently absorbed in the engrossing pastime of tossing pebbles into the black w

said, "that we

; it's early

played nervously with a ring. Joe stared blankly at the water. The r

aimed, "I've d

ss. So did Joe. Quite by accident her slim white hand came in c

. K

-Edi

eas

unoccupied hand and arm encircled her waist with considerable facility

Kent-

, de

ould you?" Which confusion of speech went to show that the usually composed Miss Garwood was slightly rattled. She had created the

ced. But Miss Garwood's waist yielded a little more. The fingers of her disengaged hand clasped the lapel of

now what to say. I'm not sure,

hered, for again the nat

ss Garwood smoothed her h

ven't foun

aid Joe, producing

ted astonishment. "Did you

me," he acknowledged without shame

ravity of her features. "Do yo

cour

really e

s, isn't it? I

y shod foot into the sand.

to have papa's

him about it," said Joe carelessly. "Matter of for

m. I think you would better leave that to me-about our engagement

lunge he was ready to stay in the water. "Why shouldn't

equal frankness. "You see he expects me-please don't be offe

expects you to m

l position are desirable." Thus early sh

ny one's. He was received everywhere he wished to go; of fashionable society and the grades and jealousies of it

nough to live on. And I suppose I could bu

e had swept her away a little, for she really liked him. Now she saw things clearly once more. Relative values emerged. Even a temporary engagement to a comparatively poor, obscure young man would never do; that is, it must not be made public. But she was given to