Ridgway of Montana (Story of To-Day, in Which the Hero Is Also the Villain)

dgway,

s to the very effective picture framed in her

hem. He was going to be a great man, for one thing, and probably a very rich one, which counted, though it would not be a determining factor. This she could find only in the man himself, in the masterful force that made him what he was. The sandstings of life did not disturb his confidence in his victorious star, nor did he let fine-spun moral obligations hamper his predatory career. He had a genius for suc

e and exquisite than the cultivation Virginia Balfour breathed he would have been hard put to it to conceive. That her gown and its accessorie

iting?" she smiled,

urbed, gave the lie to his words. "For a y

im ironically, with a glance at the

ined. "May I hope that my suf

at a table on which lay some books. One of these she picked up and looked at incuriously for a moment before sweepi

he same mind, are

very

dangling them irresponsibly. "We might as well be com

't mind, I think I'

ence of no desire to hasten her. But presently he said, with

ow-waiting to find out whether I

laugh ruefully. "I'm still as much at sea as I was

good news,

bit, but you're a great catch

" he agreed, the shadow of a sm

gh, of course, that's a temptat

lth. Her cool frankness might have frightened away another man. It merely served to interest Ridgway. For, with all his strength, he was a va

't marry you if I can help it-but, then, I'm not sure that I can help it. Of course, I disapprove of you entirely, but you're rather fascinating, you know." Her eye traveled slowly up to his, appraising the masterful lines of his square figure, the domin

m trying to dis

said, taking him into her confidence. "You trample

e risks you would take,"

hould have so many opportunities. I should expect to do exactly as I please. I shoul

r than that," was his a

not really-and they say all

ay I am a qui

ction that as a rebel she was both demure and daring. "I wonder if I might ask you some quest

the witness-stand. I should probably pick u

xcitement. "You're what they call a

been called that; but, then, I've had the hardest names in

crupulous in a business way-stop

r impudenc

myself, but as an unflattered description, such as one my enem

ou dispense with a

Consolidated about as long as a dove to a hawk. I meet fire with fire to avoid being wiped off the map o

me to be observed, aren't there? The Consolidated people claim you steal

It's rather difficult to have an exact regard for mi

erse decision, you are working extra shifts

e so disappointed, since the value of the veins will be less. Besides, stealing ore op

l oblig

an my neighbors. When you get down to bed-rock honesty, I've never seen it in business. We're all of us as honest as we think we can afford to be. I haven't noticed that there is any premium on it in Mesa. Might makes right. I'll win if I'm strong enough; I'll fail if I'm not. That's the law of life. I didn't mak

that it happened to be divorced from morality. Its frank disregard of ethical considerations startled Miss Balfour without shocking her. She li

" she suggeste

the parsons to the contrary notwithst

lidated will be

. Granted that they have a hundred dollars to my one. Still, I have elements of strength they c

morality is

men," he amen

is to be a la

Let them stick to the conventional code. For

're on the road to true s

eaven in the bac

ghed. "But I didn't ex

sappoint you," h

ack to the

s of Yuba County and have the decisions of the judges written at

case they had been so fortunate as to have won the last election and seated their

e final, incorruptible bulwark of the

it is suppo

ing the dice, to inte

y loaded. I merely subs

m a bit ashame

f the Consolid

rown of interrogation. "You won't mind my asking these questions? I'm trying to decide whether you

hall we wait till you make up your m

sure," she f

rribly

would"-she tilted a sudden sideways glance at h

u take me

m trying to make up my mind

e a direct way of

g to marry you, though I find that amply justified. But if you want another, you must still look to yourself for it. My business leads me to appreciate values correctly. W

ght, Mr. Ridgway. But rumor is a lying jade, for I am being told-am I not?-that in cas

certa

. "A young man told me yesterday you were a fighter. He s

own praises by the hour when necessary, but now he side-step

er as

a fight

ies less well, he might have t

't lie down

always fight f

e doesn't pray for boxing-gloves. He lets fly

but she knew in her heart that her mockery was a fraud. She did admire him

its power. Nor did the face offer any shock of disappointment to the promise given by the splendid figure. Salient-jawed and forceful, set with cool, flinty, blue-gray eyes, no place for weakness cou

l leaning against the mantel from which he had been wat

hink

he ver

it ought to b

sses go by favor

make a pretens

or being an hones

?" she insis

. I could make a very good cas

ought it w

to want to be square

se, that you couldn't bear to

how fond o

pity about you

yes," he repl

is opinion, the most attractive girl he knew. That he was not in love with her relieved the situation, as Miss Balfour admitted to herself in impersonal moods. But there were times when she could have wished he were. She

n awful bother

e little problem

es

your mind whe

effect of impulsiveness. "I don't supp

why? You're goi

ed. "I wish I could have

niquity to encourage s

f things might have happened in that week. I shall alwa

he HAS come,

saic matrimony. In one way it will be a pity, too. You won't be half so picturesque. You remember how S

a good deal

" she conceded, her rare smile flashing. "It should prove a

t I am to be the hap

ect yo

it tingled. She caught his ey

" she announced hurriedly,

have to," he retorted,

otesting. "Under

y. She glanced at the card, devoutly grateful his impa

him in

nutes too late?" asked Rid

flushed her cheek was something more pronounced than usual. But h

rt" was the

should like to stay, of course, but I fear I must plead

sed fastidiously, with clear-cut, classical features; cool, keen eyes, and a gentle, you-be-damned manner to his inferiors. Beside him Ridgway bulked too large, too florid. His

ormality, but his rival laughed genially and said: "Oh, yes, I know Mr. Hobart." The geniality was genuin

of the road, though he has been backed by a power

hat Hobart could only regard as a shameless challenge. "I regret that an appointme

roducing Company, to determine the ownership of the Never Say Die Mine; and it was current repor

sure, Hobart, admirably erect in his slender grace, was moved to a slight, disdainful smile, but it eviden