The Forfeit

paper or the striking of a match. The heavy breathing, almost amounting to a snore, of one of the two

eep concentration. Frequently he was at great pains to relight a pipe which contained nothing but charred r

its invader. But its sufferings, under the rhythmic rise and fall imposed upon it, found expression at intervals, although they faile

e raised a hand to his broad forehead and smoothed his disheveled fair hair, which seemed to have undergone some upheaval as a result of the me

d, without seeming

gruff voice of the

s do

gues

he man in the rocker was good to see. There was

he enquired, as the o

ut a w

ndin' out dollars on a right enterprise. I don't know nothin

ore broadly into his fri

d dollars," he proceeded, referring to his figures, "we get his house, barns, corrals, and all his rolling stock. His growing crops and machinery. The bunch of old cows and calves he's pleased to call his 'herds.' Also three teams of Shire-bred heavy draft horses, and six hundred and forty acres of first-class wheat land and grazin

favored his friend. However, he need have felt no misgivings. Bud Tristram had none. He understood the keen business brain underlying hi

f that nature. It was a consummation which the older man had looked forward to ever since he first lent a hand to his new and youthful neighbor. It was a consummation which Jeffrey, with acute foresight and honest purpose, had set himsel

ased his responsibility. But long ago he had learned the generous nature of the Great Bud. Long ago he had realized his trusting simplicity. Now he wo

ted in-figures. And I guess they surely are inte

ecstasy of ease, raising his great arms above his gri

ok his

But figgers-sums-they're hell. An' I don't guess I'm yearning for hell anyway. Figgers is a sort o' paradise to you. You

sters shoo

But it's no sort of

lk always ma

tient. A frown settled upon his broad brow, and t

r man's impatience broke

know I'm not out to beat you? Why, I could roll you for every dollar you possess without lying

not fair

ntered the picture of a brown-eyed, brown-haired girl of exquisite proportions, standing framed in the open window. She was clad in a riding suit of light material, with a long-skirted coat which obviously concealed the divided skirt beneath. Her long, br

egan t

ght up to our necks in an epoch-making business proposition and he don't concern himself two whoops. Was there ever such a b

as stretched out luxuriously, his great be-chapped legs reaching to the table leg as a support to hold the rocker at a comfortable poise. His shirt sleeves were rolled up displaying a pair of arms like legs of mutton. The beadwork wris

she surveyed it. It was the handsome, clean-cut face of a purposeful man. There was a straight-forward directness in the gaze of

ss. Sometimes she even went further, when her analytical faculties-which she possessed in an unusual degree-were most active. She felt that the possession of all these firm qualities had rather smothered, to an extent, the gentler emotions of the human nature in him. He was strong, passionate, with a conscience of an almost puritanical order, and somehow she felt t

of doing things." Then she shook her head as her arm slipped protectingly around the big man's bronzed

hed witho

what he hasn't done, and what he don't seem to figure to do. I'd kind of raised a hope when

ward him again, and glance

him facts, and-he keeps on smiling. It's the kind of smile you most generally see on a dog-tired feller's face when you hand him a funny story. He don't care a cuss anyway. He's figuring to hand Nat ten thousand dollars with no more kick than

n understood. These two men had long been her profound study. Her smiling regard remained uncha

we really need to answer, don't we? He'd think we were both fools,

kled com

to stop

ised a pair of challenging eye

orry with is the fool who don't see and act in a way of his own. My daddy's acting in his own way, and I guess it isn't his way, working overtime with the band playing. If you're dead fixed on having a gamble, it's a new hat to a new and less smelly

oved to the table, a very pictur

here his shirt gaped just below his neck. Then she turned about. "Only one f

ing up with f

he added, as he picked up the letter, "I'll ju

laughed

The smile had died out of her eyes. Jeff's expression had abruptly changed. He was regarding the address on his envelope with startled

finished his mail. Jeff was still reading his. It was not a long letter. He

s lips. His absorbed interest. Nor did he interrupt. He contented himself with

y were turned upon the open window, his gaze wandering out toward t

speech. Finally it was Jeff,

e scene beyond the window, "it's a letter from Ronald

no

e t

owly, thoughtfully

We're

rept into the eyes of

hout Ronny near. Oh, I don't guess that explains. But it's what I feel-and I can't just talk it right. You don't get it? No, of course you don't. I can see it in your eyes. You think I'm right for the foolish-house. Listen. Is it possible-is it ordinary reason that when twins are born, the nature of one normal child can be divided between the two, one having what the other feller lacks? There, that's how I feel about it. It's the way it is with Ronny and me. All that he is not, I am. I haven't one of his better features. Say, Bud, I

eing admitted to a peep at a soul that was rarely, if ever, bared, and he wondered at the reason. Was it a calculated dis

he enquired presently,

out any visible s

a deep sigh. "Thank God n

he trou

m-dour. He's as fond of life, and play, and the good things of the world as I'm indifferent to 'em. He's reckless-he's weak." Suddenly Jeff's eyes lit. A great passion seemed to surge through his whole body. "Bud, I want him here. I want to be always around to help him when he gets bumping into potholes. It's that weakness that sets me cra

no

Then he added: "You

ly. "It's my love for that other half of m

re sendin

ression seemed suddenl

e says. He don't give a mail address. No, Bud, I'm going to hunt him out. I'm going to find him, and bring him back. I'll find him sure. We're just one mind an' one body, an'," he ad

mpathy, but made

deed right away. When the attorneys have robbed us all they need, and Nat's handed over, there'll

cker. Then for some moments no so

avy spring," Bu

thoughts were awa

some these times." He smiled. "Guess the wheels nee

N

tion was sti

ighty big piece o' country gr

a piece. But-it

. Then he added: "I w

ow

rass is li'ble to halve most o' the chances agin eithe

goin' to come along

pressing the thanks

cused

of fur an' things. Say, I a

you'

bruptly flung open and Jef

er, f

ides, the memory of Jeff's letter was still with her, and she was anxious to observe its later