Penny of Top Hill Trail

ht and stared about her. As far as eye could see was the tortuous trail leading

memory awakened. Down beyond the trees in a little v

nrefreshed, and hastened

ng. Any gas

mobile passed du

know? Didn't

N

. "That wasn't the reason. I had all the robes an

in the hushed voice that se

the plains. What's the difference whether it's night or day

efore," she said with a little shi

ffee that was left. That

bouts to wash in. You know they teach

nted t

some in the car.

r freely and returned to the fire. "I found another left-over in the shape of a

to the blaze. He did the same with the other half of the sa

d presently in

ious searchlight of gold o

it?" she comme

repelled any further co

aked over the remains of the fire, "and it didn't seem to r

subdued this morning that he felt the same wave of pity h

t here all night. It was my fault; but you will

al silence. Kurt hastened to the road and saw the encouraging prelude of dust. The

en!" called

d a smile as

irst name," she couldn

e responded quickly and resentfu

ose I make out a list and let you take your

e back to his eyes at her

y. "This morning I had

until we get to this 'first lady of the land' up at Top Hill. Oh, but motoring in the dawn is

down at he

shaking as if with a chill. Her face was very wh

d the car

ntly at his lo

k of raillery again showing in her eyes before

sness she had lost but momentarily,

with a little sigh of content. "I never did anyt

e said brusquely. "Why don

" she said plaintively, w

im. From under the seat he brou

ad this with

ave to take off my hat

ell down over her eyes even while she slept, her hair, rippling bron

her into t

approvingly, as her head came out of

aid, looking disdainfully at the th

ed gaily. "Here's to my wi

he coat out

say?" he ask

ust some words I st-

k her hair and p

ther search under the seat and bringing forth

l now? Well eno

g 'fair and warme

, clean air. Up and down, as far as the eye could follow, which was very far in this land of great distances, the tr

ll right?" he

It's grand up here in

ranch," he boasted. Then he laughed shor

her about me?" she asked cur

lor to the transparency of her skin. The flippancy and boldness so prominent in her eyes the day before had disappeared

id gently, "that you are a poor

ll you wil

or as little of your story

n's ways toward each other. If I tell her my sordid little story, she may not want to hel

then continued earnestly, "before she was married, she was

y write you up-or down-in a sort of a Rogue Record, and y

ly. "She does her work by her heart, not by s

king down disdainfully at herself, "but I didn't steal, not even food. I would have starved first. Then I was arrested up here for stealing. I wasn't guilty. Bender had no c

"I have always thought a thief incurable, b

he?" demanded

if her age had never occurred to him b

e marry the

y did. Kingdo

child

ellows as fine as ar

re chi

say that. Every good

there's the makings

and if there's but a spark of goodness in y

grimace which fortun

me," she thought. "I shall

the road made a sharp

a love of a place-way up on tiptoes. I'll

ected by a covered portico with the kitchen, dairies and buildings, was misleading in name, for a succession of higher hills was

was a type unknown to her. She was slender, not very tall, but with a poise and dignity of manner that compelled attention. Her eyes were gray; her

ight, Kurt," she said in

the night on the road," he explained.

him the opport

of the sun,

yes of the "best woman in the world" that she was aware of the shabby,

d grown dark

ll her who I am. Not what you said you were going to tel

ace f

n quickly, "I don't care to know-yet

ardly but earnestly, "she is a

nd some time or oth

steps. On the top o

e from jail, to bring me up here to the 'best woman in the world,' he said, and I made light of what he had

osity of a child, and tur

rplexed by this last mood of

took the girl

e you leave, anyway. Come with me. Kurt, yo

through a long room with low-set windows. She noted a tiled floor with soft rugs, a fireplace and

" she said. "I am a liar.

. Kingdon soothingly. "You've b

just about a

Hill. You shall have a bath, a long sleep and somet

s, a small but billowy bed, a chair and a table comprised the furnishings, but an op

ught presently, when she

nsook gown, she stretched out luxuriously between lavender scented sheets. "I

chair by her bed was a change of clothing, a pair of white t

t. "The kind of

y, then slipped on a little ne

x it as I like. It's the only thing that ever got the better of me except Kind Kurt. Well!" w

ittle girlish figure opened th

year-old niece when she last visited us, would fit you, though Ku

Such a bed, and such heavenly quiet!

ay, or there wouldn't have been such quiet. D

rst name is always shor

losopher and a humorist. Ranged beside him were three appalling critics: two boys of nine and seven years respectiv

sked Francis, the oldest l

lady," said Billy. "You're jus

her clothes," dec

ld feel at home," de

ren seem to be quite insistent on recognition and rather

w," defended the mother, smiling at Pen the

welcome to the hospitality of the ranch. Her surmise that the vacant place at th

we wait for

ay," explained Mrs. Kingdon. "He

tly utilized by one or more of the children, who foun

s," the father finally declared.

"Miss Lamont, do colored people ever have-what was

looking at Pen, "that I feared you were anemic,

at, Miss Lamont?"

fter a moment's reflection, "but I don't see w

they had it. They wouldn

to find a less colorful topic. I move

n they were gathered about the welcome open fire,

e would be reversed," re

u glad I'm here?

"You can stay up a long time, can'

us," beso

rough," dem

he's too tired to do that,"

ith a box of paper a

me paper dolls. Th

t dolls!" sc

ing the articles B

adies and I cut horses for th

t?" he inquired

she boasted, and in another moment a perfectly c

and a short-skirted l

, an elephant," came in quick, shor

. "You are really talented. It is so se

tter," she corrected. "I can'

the paper products that Kur

aiting a moment without recognition,

his voice. As he handed the delighted Betty a satisfactorily shaped parcel, his

s, you see," she announced, poi

learn to do t

me," she said

you cut?" dem

cut an

me

Mrs. Kingdon. "The

p in an airship?"

a man who flie

tell us about him

nied them to the nursery. When the last "good nights" had be

y," declared Pen, looking out of th

ut three-fourths of our time is spent up here, as we have become so attached to it. Mr. Kingdon is an artist, so he never ti

percentage of what you give

it, at least," replied Mrs. Ki

p with a sta

do!

ago-in San Francisco-in a police station. I made inquiries; was interested in you and tried to see you, but

," she said entreatingly, when s

led to know it all,"

as he already does. It isn't necessary to tell him to-n

him, and I wish you and he would leave the

assented Pen. "

hboring ranch-te

is Kurt so different from most men? Doesn't he eve

ike Kurt Walters. He has a wonderful way of handling men. He is of good habits, forceful, keen; very gentle to old people and most adorable with children. We make him one of our household. There is the fortunate flaw that keeps him from being super-excellent; he is not merciful to wrongdoers and, as you say, he is too serious-almost moody. That is accounted f

struggled hard to be good to me when I was suffering from cold and hunger. I never met his sort of a man before. The men I have been thrown with

deal to-day, and about you

ed enigm

chance to reform. When he took me so unexpectedly from Bender, I wanted to see what he was going to do with me. When I found he was bringing me out here, I could have easily given him the slip and

taying. We will go downstai

give some directions to a servan

tood small and straight before her w

luables here-not on my account. The crookedes

gnize a true woman,

e here. I feel it's the t

worth while. You shall not leave here until-you see I a

plied meekly: "To-night I feel as if I could never do anythi

ll," he said gravel

ood-night, M

ames of the open fire. She shook a little defiant fist at him and made a childish

chuckle of reminiscence, "as fine a fellow as Kurt is