United States or Kenya ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
She wus kind o' worrited, I reckon." He paused, and his twisted face turned in the direction of the foreman's hut. "She wus weepin' last night," he went on. Then he paused again, and his shrewd eyes came back to Tresler's face. "She's bin weepin' to-day," he said, with a peculiar look of expectation in his manner. "What's the trouble?" The question came short and sharp. "Mebbe she's lonesome."
And the answer fired Tresler's excitement so that he again rammed both spurs into the mare's flanks. The top of the hill loomed up against the sky. A thick fringe of bush confronted them. Head down, nose almost touching the ground, the mad animal plunged into it. Her rider barely had time to lie down in his saddle and cling to her neck.
Fyles now looked keenly into Tresler's face, and his glance was full of meaning. "I'm glad I've had this talk with you, Tresler. You have a keen faculty for observation, and a wise caution. When you have reason to suspect any one, and wish to tell me of it, you can communicate with me at any hour of the day or night. I know this ranch well by repute.
But like all such overshadowed delights, their end came swiftly, ruthlessly. The signal was given at the midday meal. The rancher, who had never mentioned Tresler's name since that memorable night, rose from the table to retire to his room. At the door he paused and turned. "That man, Tresler," he said, in his smooth, even tones. "He's well enough to go to the bunkhouse. See to it."
Then, just as he was about to fire, the brute's head turned and caught the cold, sharp moonlight full upon its face. There was a momentary flash of white, and Tresler's gun was lowered as though it had been struck down. The moonlight had revealed the grotesque features of Joe Nelson!
And it is good that you should. The parent's sins the children. Yes, you certainly can feel " "For heaven's sake leave me!" the girl broke in, unable to stand the taunting the hideous enjoyment of the man. "Not yet; I haven't done. This man " The rancher leant over the bed, and one hand felt its way over Tresler's body until it rested over his heart. "At one time I was glad he came here.
And with Jake's fall the tension of Tresler's rage relaxed. He could have carried the chastisement further with a certain wild delight, but he was no savage, only a real, human man, outraged and infuriated by the savagery of another. His one thought was for his poor old friend, and he dropped on his knees, and bent over the still, shrunken form in a painful anxiety.
Arizona was peculiar, but he had reason to consider him, in his own parlance, "a decent citizen." He went on with his work steadily while the cowpuncher grunted out his impatience. Then at last, as though it were forced from him, the latter jerked out a more modified opinion of the civilized American. It seemed as though Tresler's very silence had drawn it from him.
Linking his arm through the reins, he led the mare up the hill. It was a laborious climb. Even free of her burden the horse had difficulty in keeping her feet. The sandy surface was deep, and poured away at every step like the dry sand on the seashore. And as they labored up, Tresler's wonder increased at every step. Why had such a trail been made, and where where could it lead to?
And somehow he felt glad that it was no longer approaching. The moments crept by, and the position remained unchanged. Then slowly, with an air of settled purpose, the creature raised itself on its hind legs, and, swaying and shuffling, continued its advance. In an instant Tresler's revolver leapt from its holster, and he was ready to defend himself. The attitude was familiar to him.
Word Of The Day