Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 16, 2025
I discovered that less and less the old wild spirit abided with me and I become conscious of a dull, deep-seated ache in my breast, a pang in the bone. From that day there was a change in Diane Sampson. She became feverishly active. She wanted to ride, to see for herself what was going on in Linrock, to learn of that wild Pecos county life at first hand.
She agreed to go, provided he sold his property, took the best of his horses and went with her back to the old home to live there the rest of their lives. He replied with considerable feeling that he wished he could go, but it was impossible. Then that settled the matter for her, she averred. Failing to persuade her to leave Linrock, he told her to keep to the ranch.
"Men have lost cattle an' property in Linrock lost them honestly or otherwise, as hasn't been proved. An' in some cases when they talked hinted a little they was found dead. Apparently held up an' robbed. But dead. Dead men don't talk. Thet's why we're close-mouthed." Steele's face wore a dark, somber sternness. Rustling cattle was not intolerable.
He swore no one would ever have you. Then Sampson said he'd rather have you Steele's wife than Wright's. "I'll not forget that scene. There was a great deal back of it, long before you ever came out to Linrock. Your father said that he had backed Wright, that the deal had ruined him, made him a rustler. He said he quit; he was done.
Once inside the door I saw that the crowd was mostly outside, and evidently not so desirous as I was to enter. The first man I saw was Steele looming up; the next was Sampson chewing his mustache the third, Wright, whose dark and sinister face told much. Something was up in Linrock. Steele had opened the hall.
But this girl was a little minx if not altogether a flirt. "I did not expect to be received by ladies," replied Steele. "I called upon Mr. Sampson. He would not see me. I was to tell my business to his daughter. I'm glad to know you, Miss Sampson and your cousin, but sorry you've come to Linrock now." "Why?" queried both girls in unison.
I held in abeyance my last conclusion regarding Sampson and Wright, and only awaited Steele's return to have fixed in mind what these men were. Wright's remark about Steele not returning did not worry me. I had heard many such dark sayings in reference to Rangers. Rangers had a trick of coming back. I did not see any man or men on the present horizon of Linrock equal to the killing of Steele.
Miss Sampson had an earnest desire to open her father's house to the people of Linrock, to show that a daughter had come into his long cheerless home, to make the evening one of pleasure and entertainment.
But turning a corner into the main street I instantly forgot myself at the sight of a crowd congregated before the town hall. There was a babel of voices and an air of excitement that I immediately associated with Sampson, who as mayor of Linrock, once in a month of moons held court in this hall. It took slipping and elbowing to get through the crowd.
It's the bump on your head. Who does Snell work for?" "When he works at all, which sure ain't often, he rides for Sampson." "Humph! Seems to me, Jim, that Sampson's the whole circus round Linrock. I was some sore the other day to find I was losing good money at Sampson's faro game. Sure if I'd won I wouldn't have been sorry, eh?
Word Of The Day
Others Looking