United States or Finland ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Unhappily, Bruce caged the bird, and compelled him to amend his finest poems by striking out "Edward," wherever the name of that revered monarch occurred, and inserting "Robert," which, as I have said, he was obliged to do, and a very ridiculous mess the process must have made of Mr. Baston's productions. This is all I know of Baston; but is not this enough to melt the toughest heart?
And then, on the tick of fate, that universally unknown factor, a woman's heart, flung its last pawn in the balance. Lola, gleaming like a bird of paradise in her gay habiliments, leaning forward from the further steps of Baston's store where she had slipped up unnoticed, cupped her white hands to her scarlet mouth, and sent out a cry like a clarion.
The rest of the riders were coming in to claim their share of Billy's Eden. Jameson, Hill and Thomas were as good as their word. During the week that followed the spectacular denouncement of Courtrey and Service at Baston's store, they went quietly to every settler in the Valley and declared themselves. In almost every instance they met with eager pledges of approval.
Thus Fate, who had for so long played with life and death in Lost Valley, tiring of the play, drew in the strings of the puppets and set the stage for the last act. As Tharon and Billy crept up to Baston's store and stopped at the steps, a dozen eager men leaped forward to their help. "Easy!" warned the girl. "He's ben hurt a long time, an' he's had an awful trip.
You're modest, Jim. "An' what do you want, Tharon?" In spite of the tenseness of the moment the voice that had laughed at death and torture in Round Valley became melting soft as it addressed the girl. "Law!" said Tharon, "Law th' law I promised you on Baston's porch!" "Yes? An' how do you think you'll get that?
The Ironwoods were in evidence everywhere, but strange to say, there were no Finger Marks. Not a man from the Holding was in town. When Cleve and Ellen, alone together, rode in, it lacked yet a half hour of the time set for trial. There was no place to go but Baston's, so they dismounted at the hitch-rack.
Then the spell broke, they fell apart with a rush, Lola swung out and went down the steps, while Ellen obediently followed Cleve into Baston's store, where she sat on a nail keg and waited in a dull lethargy. Outside Courtrey, who had witnessed the thing from across the street, slapped his thigh and laughed uproariously. It was a funny sight to him.
Kenset left for us here at Baston's yes." "Then," said Burn-Harris, "a little time and your man's ours as sure's the sun shines. Why, this is a hot-bed of crime there's enough work here to keep a whole force busy for months." But Tharon Last did not heed his words. Her mind had leaped away from the present back to that day in spring when Jim Last came home to die.
"There is use, Tharon," he panted. "It's vital! Since that day on Baston's steps, when you backed out past me I have had you in my mind my thoughts by day and night there is use, and I'll keep your hands from blood Courtrey's or any other if it takes my life so help me God!" The girl leaned down and her blue eyes blazed in his face.
Courtrey sent word to Tharon an illy spelled letter, mailed at Baston's that he had meant nothing by that race above the Black Coulee, except another kiss. There was Courtrey's daring in the affronting words. She sent the letter back to him riding in on El Key alone with the outline of a gun traced across it. "Th' little wildcat!" grinned the man, "she's sure spunky!"
Word Of The Day