United States or Cuba ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
But any adjustment must have its painful periods, and while Corliss's general change went on smoothly, in the particular case of Frona it was different. She had a code of her own, quite unlike that of the community, and perhaps believed woman might do things at which even the saloon-inhabiting males would be shocked. And because of this, she and Corliss had their first disagreeable disagreement.
"Man, it's fair gruesome," McPherson muttered, running his hand up a shrunken arm. "You go on to the canoe, Frona," Corliss said. "Tommy and I will carry him down." But her lips set firmly. Though the descent was made easier by her aid, the man was well shaken by the time they laid him in the bottom of the canoe, so well shaken that some last shreds of consciousness were aroused.
"Thought Sun was raised back East?" said Shoop, again sitting up. Corliss smiled. "Better give it up, Bud." "Oh, very well!" said Shoop, mimicking a grande dame who had once stopped at Antelope in search for local color. "Anyhow, you got to set a Mexican to catch a Mexican when he's hidin' out with Mexicans." With this bit of advice, Shoop again relapsed to silence.
Those above looked away to a man till the two came up the bank hand in hand. "Gentlemen, my daughter." There was a great pride in his face. Frona embraced them all with a comrade smile, and each man felt that for an instant her eyes had looked straight into his. That Vance Corliss wanted to see more of the girl he had divided blankets with, goes with the saying.
The captain of police smiled in his sternly mirthful fashion as he shook hands with Frona and Corliss. "Bear witness?" he questioned. "Ah, yes! "'Bear witness, O my comrades, what a hard-bit gang were we, The servants of the sweep-head, but the masters of the sea!" He quoted the verse with a savage solemnity exulting through his deep voice.
In the midst of a vivid account of the juxtaposition of a telephone battery and a curious yet unsuspicious Apache, Shoop paused in the recital and gazed out across the mesa. "It's the boss," he said, getting to his feet. "Wonder what's up?" Corliss rode into camp, swung from the saddle, and called to Shoop.
With Chance he explored the outbuildings and finally discovered the Mexican bound and gagged in the stable. He released him, but could make nothing of his answers save that some one had come at night, tied his hands and feet, and carried him from the ranch-house. Corliss returned to Sundown. In the bunkhouse he encountered Shoop.
"Engaged!" she cried, repeating the word with bitter contempt. "Engaged! You don't suppose I'll marry him unless I want to, do you? I will if it suits me. I won't if it suits me not to; understand that! I don't consider myself engaged to anybody, and you needn't either. What on earth has that got to do with your keeping Richard Lindley from doing what Mr. Corliss wants him to?"
"If I have not," answered Corliss in a low voice, "I will have now!" "Tell me about yourself," she said. "Dear lady," he began and it was an effective beginning, for a sigh of pleasure parted her lips as he spoke "there is nothing interesting to tell. I have spent a very commonplace life." "I think not. You shouldn't call any life commonplace that has escaped this!"
She went on, imploring Cora to confide in her, entreating her to see their mother to do a dozen things altogether outside of Cora's plans. "You're wasting your breath, Laura," said the younger sister, interrupting, "and wasting my time. You're in the dark: you think I'm going to run away with Val Corliss and you're wrong. I sent him out of the house for good, a while ago "
Word Of The Day