Frontier Stories

, with a slight tendency to a roundness of bulk which suggested reserved rather than impeded energy. His thick beard and moustache were closely cropped around a

of a man of the world, albeit a world of San Francisco, Sacramento, and Mu

she gasped,

dn't expect me, I know. But Doloreth showed me the letter you wrote her, and-well-here I am, rea

re?" she on

u didn't want to thee me again-anywhere. But it all cometh to the thame thing; here I am; I read the letter you wrote Doloreth. I read how you were hiding here, under Dunn'th very nothe, with his whole po

ou of all men? How dared she ask yo

n't think she jutht calculated I'd be glad to know you were being

iend than those who professed-more, she added, with a contemptuous

d Curson philosophically. "We can talk of that on the way. Th

reply was a ge

ued Curson half soothingl

wait. I sh

will y

till the wo

y-gones and take a new deal. You shall come back as if nothing had happened, and take your old place as before. I don't mind doing the square th

with a quick movement, drew back, and suddenly crouched like a wild animal about to spring. Curson folded his arms as

silent; there was no sound in the dim aisles but the quick panting of her mad passion, no movement in the calm, motionless sh

then, if you won't go with me, go without me; take the led horthe and cut away. Dick Athley and Petereth will follow you over the county line. If you want thome money,

cked up the knife and hastily hid it, then with averted face and nervous

hat do y

with an effort, "I suppose you meant well. Be it so! Let bygones be by-gones. You said just now, 'I

n her tone to call for Curson

nded quickly. "Jutht tha

ce with a negative gesture. "You d

he friend that you wrote about who wath tho good to you, you know, can

er forehead. "Who said it was a woman?" she continued fiercely, as if to cover

drawn together in a prolonged whistle. He gazed curiously at her gown, at he

"a man as friendless and lonely as myself. Yes," disregardi

," suggest

roof and covering," she continued mechanically, strugglin

an Thpring to save your reputat

ps even another attack. But the crushed and beaten woman only gazed at him

you do, Teretha, needn't make us quarrel. I've no claim on you-I know it. Only"-a vivid sense of the ridiculous, powerful in men of his stamp, completed her victory-"only don

ed that his jealousy had made her over-conscious, his apparent good-humored indifference gave that over-consciousness a guilty significance. Yet this was lost in her sudden alarm as her companion, looking up, utter

come over her companion. It was no longer a parley with a foolish woman; he had to deal with a man like himself. As L

ircuth, or both?" he aske

n. "I turned back," he said quietly, "as soon as I knew there were strangers here; I thought you might need me."

s phlegm; "but ath I did n't happen to be a sthranger to thith lady,

Low, without addressing him, but apparently continuing his exp

her; "but I told him there was no hurry-at least to-day-that you-were-very good-too, and would hide me a little longer until your plan-you know your plan," she added, with a look of beseeching

came thraight here, and didn't tackle my two friendth w

t time, with the same exasperating calm, "or perhaps I should not be here or they there. I knew th

rue. He knows all. He can see without looking, hear with

chivalrous instincts. Low, equally on his side, was altogether unconscious of any feeling which might grow into a passion, and prevent him from letting her go with another if for her own safety. They were both me

on of feminine genius. Without being observed, she disengaged her knife from her bosom and let it fall as if by accident. It struck the ground wi

f the two men looked at Teresa. The reserve of antagonism once broken, a few words of caution, advice, and encouragement passed between them, in apparent obliviousness of her pres

now were exchanging criticisms upon her-perhaps pitying her! Yet she had prevented a quarrel, a fight, possibly the death of either one or the other of these men who despised her, for none better knew than she the trivial beginning and desperate end of these encounters. Would they-would Low ever realize it, and forgiv

him and her former lover. But beyond a mere gentle abstraction at times he retained his

good character from my last p

you," he replied,

of 'your plan.' I could not give the real reason for not returning with-with-that man. But it's not all a lie. I have a plan-if you haven't. When you

a," he responded gr

s. Teresa had even overcome her feminine repugnance to "bugs" and creeping things so far as to assist in his entomologic

precious," she s

h plates that the ants ate up, and it will be

suit, at his calico shirt with its pattern almost obl

buy one at Indian Spri

ndian Spring!" he ejaculated; "perhaps not even

get them?" pe

for skins I got

er. Then you mean to sell that

his singular truthfulness he would have frankly confessed it to Teresa, but the secret was not his own. He contented himself with saying that he had disposed of it

that particular skin, which might

e sense of relief. "Perhaps not," he said carel

with affected gayety, "But if the answer isn't as prompt, perhaps it will be pleasanter than the last." Her quick feminine eye noticed a little excitement in his manner and a more studious attention to his dress. Only a few days before she would not have

. She had wandered she knew not how far, when she was suddenly seized with the same vague sense of a foreign presence which she had felt before. Could it be Curson again, with a word of warning? No! she knew it was not he; so subtle had her sense become t

He had perceived her, and was evidently pursuing her, but so awkwardly and timidly that she eluded him with ease. When she had reached the security of the hollow tree and had pulled the curtain of bark before the narrow opening, with her eye to the interstices, she waited his coming. He arrived

s Ne

closed herself at any risk, but the stranger rose and began to retrace his steps. Long after his tinkling spurs were lost in the distance, Teresa remained like a statue, staring at the place where he had stood. Then she suddenly turned like a mad woman, glanced d