The Girl of the Golden West

right to be called an hotel, its saloon contrasted unfavourably with its rival, The Polka. There was not the individuality of the Girl there to charm

ave to The Polka Saloon an almost homelike appearance, but was a dra

ring the even more stifling atmosphere of the bar-room,-the Wells Fargo Agent had been watching and waiting ever since he had left The P

urally, that there had been scarcely time for anything to occur which would cause a revulsion of feeling on her part. But as the moments went by, and still she did not put in an appearance, an expression of keen disappointment showed itself on his face and, with mechanical regularity,

sse had failed to catch their quarry. At first a glint of satisfaction shone in Ashby's eyes: not that he disliked Rance, but rather that he resented his egotistical manner and evident desire to

enough to sicken anyone, but both men, accustomed to such places in the pursuit of their calling, apparently thought nothing of it, the Sheriff seemingly absorbed in contemplati

ng, that's certain," h

o fail me," was the other's quiet answer; an

y no means felt. As a matter of fact, it was induced solely b

e changed her mind," observed Rance, lighting a fresh cigar. "The

Ashby's quick intuition told him that the other's failure to catch the outlaw was not troubling him nearly as much as was th

an is through with Ramerrez. At least, she is so jealous that she

Girl, together with the wild goose chase which he had recently taken against his better judgment, had something to do with this bitterness; but it was none the less true that he found himself wondering how Ashby had succeeded in acquiring his great reputation. Among the things that he held against him was his everlasting propensity to boast of his ac

ally regarded as a man who fascinated women; moreover, he was known to be a favourite-and here the shoe pinched-with the Girl. True, the demands of his profession were s

channels. But it may be truthfully said that Rance did not wholly recover his mental equilibrium u

going on between a man and a woman, who were standing just outside in a sort of hallway. As a result, therefore, both officers sprang to the door with the hope-if indeed it was Nina Mi

dollars!" reached their ea

ing marvellously quick for a man of his heavy build, he was out of the room, leaving Rance to f

it turned out, for a quick turn of the head and a subtle movement of the woman's shoulders told him that she was in anything but a quiet state of mind.

efore him as did her confederate, she confronted A

cut he

in this camp and-" he b

wish him to wait for me outside, and unless you allow him to I'll go

in his life he had made a grievous mistake. He had thought, by the detention of her confederate, to have two strings to his bow, but one glance at the snee

g yielding to her will, "have your way." And tur

you, g

Mexican slunk

, turning to the woman in a slightly conciliatory manner. "

contemptuous silence, while his face wore a look of languid insolence, a fact which

k out a cigarette from a dainty, little case and lit it and coolly blew a cloud of smoke in Rance's face, saying: "It depends on how you treat me-you, Mr. Jack R

d himself, she looked as she stood there, voluptuous, compelling, alluring, the expression that had been almost diabolical, gradually fading from her face. Was it possible, he asked himself, that all this loveliness was soiled forever? He felt that there was something pitiful in the fact that the woman stan

get down to business. Wh

ecalled the road agent's indifferent manner at their last interview for any feeling to dwell in her heart other than hatred. It was that she was summoning to appear a vision scarcely less attractive, however pregnant with tragedy, than that of seeing herself avenged: a gay, extravagant career in Mexico or Spain which the

in Cloudy Moun

Ashby looked hard at the woman as if he would read the truth in her eyes; while as for Nina, she continued to puff away at her little cigarette afte

as the first to make

d them through a scented cloud and bowed

tell you," replied

nt movement towards h

e was

, speaking for the first time.

able where the Sheriff was sitting. Indeed, there was something so tigeris

ile playing around his lips. "Oh, yes, I know you-you are the Sheriff," and so saying a peal of

rdly restrain

w him?" cam

was her

it was impossible to doubt any

game?" dem

ed his question

he reward, S

ou get what's coming to you," replied the Wel

ance, likewise getting ready to leav

e's dressed and looks like one. But th

ur," Ashby

mouth and eyes there was a repellent expression. Her mind, still working vividly, was reviewing the pas

hby, what strangers were

shby had brought in rose uppermost in their minds, but only to be dismissed quickly when they recalled the woman's words concerning the way that the road agent was dressed. A moment more, however, and a strange thought had fastened i

cried. "Johnson

at sea and surprised at the look

as Johnson who was the road agent! There could be no mistake! "You weren't there,

e to the Girl?" brok

bottle on the table and poured herself a small glass of whisky and swallowed it. When she turned her lips were tightly shut over her brilliant teeth, a thousand thoughts came

ed, faded photograph. "There-that will settle him for good and all! Never again will he boast of trifling wi

out of her hand and, after one look

er very vehemence to impress upon herself the impossibility of his ev

woman standing before him and revelling in her treachery. In that time he forgot that anyone had ever entertained a kind thought about her; he forgot that she once was respected as well as admired; he was conscious only of regarding her with a far deeper disgust and repugnance than he held towards others much her inferior in birth and education. But, presently, his

e you with my own hands!" And not waiting to hear the woman's m