The Winning of Barbara Worth

ap to look down the street. Perhaps it was unusual for a banker's wife to be darning her husband's socks; it may be, even, t

ith loud laughter and soft-clinking spurs and bridle-chains. "There's Jefferson Worth's pla

with a prim little bow. But no one stopped to chat or to offer her a seat. In this, also, there was nothing strange to the woman on the porch of the big, empty house. Sometimes the peopl

at with folded hands, her face turned down the street. Inside the house the ligh

me softly to the door. "Doe

u, Ynez; come

oman seated herse

en warm to

Sen

nce Mr. Worth left with Texa

Sen

it is across the De

ee--four day, ma

l be ve

's man--Jose--go for San Felipe.

eople call The King's Basin Desert?

a Palma de la

they wou

t when he think. Mebbe so what you call 'beesness' n

back two days ago and he is al

mebbe so this o

-Look, Ynez, look! Ther

turning in to

orth," said th

h him, Ynez. Th

ngineer carrying the little girl--Mrs. Worth rose unste

nez had brought from an unused room in the banker's big house and placed in Mrs. Worth's own chamber, Jefferson Worth and his wife crept softly to the littl

ager longing as she whispered: "O

is careful manner: "Did you l

you do!" and added wistfully: "Of course we must try to find her folks, but do you think it very wrong, Jeff, to wish--to wish that we never do? I feel as though she were sent to take the place of our own little girl. We nee

days was a land of strangers where people came and went with little notice and were lost quickly in the ever-restless tide. It was not at all strange that no one could identify an outfit of which it

de in the big wagon with the men. Already she was beginning to talk of her "other mamma and papa." Mrs. Worth slipped

who often went together to see her, she laughed and chattered like a good little comrade and play-fellow. But when the Seer came, as he did whenever his duties

ng. Still, because it was Jefferson Worth, Rubio City could not altogether drop the matter. So it was one evening in the Gold Bar saloon, where Pat, coming into town for

ow?" was Pat's natural question. "Things is that slow

w way. "There'll be anot

's av civilization wid yer talk av the gold that's to be found in thim mountains that no

ugh for a grub-stake now. When we're a little mite better fixed we'll pull out of this sinful l

ll that. An' it's to San Felipe we'll go. Tell me, did you see

are o' the sport. But I met a big policeman who said: 'Tell that red-headed

he big slob! He knows ut will be bet

cided to locate

o proper spirit at all. Fwhat the hell do ye mane to be so slanderin' me reputation an' two or th

ht. "Let's have another

d to a well-dressed, smart-looking stranger, who stood at the bar talking loudly to a man known to Rubio City as a promoter of somewhat doubtful mining

place from the table in the corner. "We-all sure endorses your opini

with this here congregation," dr

fther the kid." The casual, amused inte

"but there ain't no thin' doin' so far. They say if nobody shows up with a

nd the man in the white apron, the speaker was encouraged to strengthen his position in reference to the future of this poor, helpless orphan and to point out freely the duties of Rubio City in the matter. He was interrupted by a light hand on his shoulder. Turning with a start that

his softest tones; "but I sure am mo

reply, but a warning look from the promoter and

at squeals loudest when the cards are agin him. But when you touches on said Jefferson Worth an' the future of that little kid, with free remarks on the duties of Rubio City regardin' the same, you're sure gettin' around where I live. Me an' this gent here"--he waved his hand toward Pat with elaborate formality, to the huge delight of his audience--"me an' this here gent is first uncles to that kid, an' any pop-ey

tood easily, looking into the eyes of the stranger. Pat shot

orce o' my remarks," con

iedly about for signs of sympathy or assist

d the stranger, sullenly. "I

that the congregation will treasure our remarks in the future. Now, you bar-tender, every

Pat growled his disappointment. "T

t be anything in what that there gent said? In spite o' what we seen of him on that trip, Jeffers

ink ut's a question av fwhat the little girl will do to him,