The Girl of the Golden West

in Johnson's manner, which the Girl was quick to feel

hnson flash a quick, inquisitorial look at her; and then, no comment being forthcoming, she went

llowed, which at length was b

rkeeper proceeded to carry out her instructions she turned to Johnson with an

red Johnson, half-surpr

ore a pleased loo

so glad

llowed. At last Nick made a mov

to put the

?" The Girl loo

tin' Ramerrez, and there's too much

laughed

n't put the head on the keg-I

to come close to him, which she did; and pointing to Johnson, who w

ow anythin' ab

included the keg and Johnson, it succeeded only in

, s

Girl's interests sent a startled glance o

right

n such a tone of finality that Nick, reassured at last, began to put things ship-shape

eepin' house here to-night, don't it?" sa

horoughly matter-of-fact tone and without the slightest trace of coquetry. But Johnson did not make the mistake of misconstruing her words

nge that I should have looked everywhere for

bright red rushing over her, colouring her n

wrong with

an indiscreet remark; n

the place for a you

osing-up of the saloon. Johnson interpreted her silence as a

dedly no pl

w s

rather unpro

a rud agent come in here I could offer 'im a drink an' he'd treat me like a perfect lady." She

words. Of course there was not, the remark being impelled by a sudden consciousness that he might consider her

as he leaned heavily on the bar: "But I w

ry. So he was going to do it! Was it possible that he thought so lightly of her, she wonde

You want to know if I am decent? Well, I am, you bet!" she returned, a d

uailed before the look that flamed in

He had no desire, of course, to enlarge upon the unconventionality of her attitude, but he felt that his feelings towards her, even if they were only friendly, justified him in giving her a warning. Moreover, he refused to admit to himself that this was a mere chance meeting. He ha

e a man may come, may drink, may rob you if he will-" and here a flush of shame spread over hi

upon him in good

aimin' things they never git.

s not unaware that his eyes were upon her, but she was by no means sure that he believed her words.

here long?" sud

ep

in The

op

do yo

e mountain a

here appeared a vision of the little hut on the top of Cloudy Mountain. Only a few hours back he had stood on the precipice which looked towards it, and

is," after a while he murmured with th

retty blonde head. "I ain't a-boastin' but if keepin' this saloo

ind a new thought concerning him. She came out from

' them exhorters from the M

d agent

ults," he acknowledged, "

nplussed, and eyed him st

ut jest exactly what you a

d, slightly colouring un

u ain't o

N

she plumped herself down in a chair and went on very seriously now: "I dunno but what it's a good way to b

ilty feeling, though he said

uld tru

bserved in a tone that was inte

nced with yo

the next moment he wondered that he

irst that you were

he said absently, s

ded out to you," returned the Gir

ated with a fai

chair close to his, leaned over and

uch here. I can tell-I got

is remark. No different, for that matter, would hav

re," he said, laying such stress on the words that it would seem almost impos

im a playful di

glanced over you on the road I-I seen he wasn't." She stopped, a realisation having suddenly been borne in upon her that perhaps she was laying her heart too bare to him. To cover up her embarrassment, therefore, she took refuge, as before, in hospitality, and rushing ov

" began Johns

h elbows on the bar, her face in her hands, "I've got you figgered out. You're awful

mean by that?" p

e a teetotaller, or so bad that

shook

good, I've lived and I've liked l

k he mistook-not unnaturally after all that had been said-for one of encouragement. A m

possession of her hand, "only you haven't lived, you haven't

ace. Following the direction of her eyes he saw Nick

l in a tone that left no doubt in the minds of her heare

as though shot out of a gun; whereu

lived? Th

ut his voice was cold in comparison with

t he said, seating hims

dicted the Girl, taki

do," he

hance I do an' an even ch

assion in the m

for all it's worth, to the uttermost, to the last drop in the c

ore a puzzled loo

. Is it a-" She cut her sentence short, and springing u

r, genuine amusement

ly perching herself upon the table

ed the words out of her mouth. "Y

ith a pleased look on her face.

d her uncom

add. "Name your price. It's yours jest for

he question; then he said: "Well, I never heard before that my society

lpless admiration, "ain't that great? Ain't t

," responded Johnson, putting a restraining han

ears. Turning, the Girl, with a swift gesture, waved h

like finding some n

, however, she went on, speaking very slowly and seriously:

ook in her eyes. It was plain that she yearned for someone who would teach her the ways of the outside world; and when the

on her face, "that's what we're all put on this earth for-eve

here isn't a man who hasn't thought seriously about that. I have. If only one knew how to reach out for

not restrain

cheese! You'

fused to be ordered away. At length,

hat is i

wore an expression of uneasiness as he pointed to the window, "

ck by Johnson's detaining hand. All too well did he know that the Mexican was one of his men waiting impatiently for the signal

n't

" demande

at strang

dly had he disappeared into the dance-ha

hot a quick look of inquiry at the Girl to see whether she had hea

perturbation. "Say, I'm awful glad you're here. Nick's so nervous. He kno

lowly he went over to the keg

with difficulty conc

around it nights," sh

oked at he

isn't that rather a car

and went over and stood beside the keg; wh

fore they got it," she sai

e-it's yo

's the

ef crossed Joh

then brightening up somewhat, he went on

er bag of the precious gold-dust and coins into the keg. When they were all in she closed the lid, and putting her foot down h

, in the wave of colour that surged in her cheeks, in the voice that shook despite her efforts to con

the Girl aro

weat beside the sluices, an' they don't never rise up again. I've seen 'em there!" She paused reminiscently; then, pointing to the keg, she went on haltingly: "I got some money there of Ol' Brownie's. He was lyin' out in the sun on a pile o' clay two weeks ago, an' I guess the only clean thing about him was his soul, an' he was quittin', quittin', quittin', right there on the clay, an'

r. It was not, in all truthfulness, what he would have chosen; it was something that, at times, he lamented; but, nevertheless, he had practised it and had despoiled the miners with but few moments of remorse. But now, he was beginni

me woman or some child." She halted a moment, and throwing up her hands impulsively, she cried: "Ain't it wonderful-ain't it wonderful that instinct? Ain't it wonderful what a man'll do when it comes to a woman-

ith another quick change of expression, and in a voice that showed great determination

t went a mental resolution that so far as he was concerned no

on the keg; then with a voice charged with much feeling, he added: "Girl, I wish to Heaven I could talk more with y

ot him a fu

-movin' so soo

is trained ear caught the sound of horses hoofs. "Why, they're coming now!" he exclaimed

her disappointme

laced it on the keg; then turning to him once more she went on in a voice that was distinctly persuasive: "If you didn't have to go so soon, I would like to ha

a pleasant hour or two for him, of which there were only too few in the mad career that he was following, and he w

ped, the next moment, however, he threw down his hat

y, don't expect too much o' me-I've only had thirty-two dollars' worth o' education." Despite her struggle to control herself, her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears. "P'r'aps

the Girl's distress, and his

rrible thought, and I know it, Girl,

nson's consternation she broke down completely,

nothin' an' I never knowed it 'till to-night! The boys alw

g her hand caressingly; she felt the sympath

wn voice. "Your heart's all right, that's the main thing. And as for your looks? Well, to me you've go

two emotions which grappled with each other in his bosom. "Johnson, what the devil's the matter with you?" he mutter

ned where he had left her; but a few minutes later, whe

tell 'em to send me up two charlotte rusks an' a lemming turnover-a good,

hat Johnson's parting words had imprinted on her heart. But in the Girl's character there was an element too prosaic, and too practical, to permit her thoughts to dwell long in a region lifted far above the earth. It was inevitable, therefore, that the notion