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Show tA Who lrnlc otJi fjna CinqfcTd . jf A omn ncclofaf or ;. .: oyMH-t i.rytj ( .o.cw '-cr :' " . been suddenly made aware of tier dress. If be bad burnt Into tfie drawing draw-ing room without announcement, for Intitance. Her skirt was distinctly short, she wore heavy hob nailed aboea tbut laced up to ber kneea, abe bad on a bright blue iweater, a kind of a cap known aa a tnmo-shanter waa plnucd above her glorlou hair, which waa closely braided and wound around her head. Hbe wore a atlk handkerchief looaely tied around ber netk, a knife and revolver bung at her belt, a little watch waa strapped to one wrist, a handsomely braided quirt dangled from the other, a pair of spurs adorned ber beela and most Cincomposlng fact of all. by her aide lode a handsome and daubing cavalier. cava-lier. How Mr. Jamea Armstrong might have appeared In the conventional black and white of evening clothes was not quite clear to ber, for ah had aa yet never beheld hi in In that obliterating raiment, but In the hublt of the west, riding trousers, heavy boota that laced to the kneea, blue shirt, bU head covered by a noble "Stetson," mounted on the flry restive broncho which be rode to perfection, be waa Ideal. Alas for the vanity of human proposition! Mr. James Armstrong, Arm-strong, rrlend and protege these many years of Mr. Robert Maltland, mine owner and cattle man on a much smaller acalo than his older friend, was desperately In love with Enid Maltlnnd. and Knld, swept off her teet by a wooing which began with precipitant pre-cipitant ardor so soon as he laid eyes on her, was more profoundly moved by his suit, or pursuit, than ho could tiiivc Imagined. Ornne Ignotum pre magnlllco! She bad been wooed In the conventional conven-tional fashion many times and oft on the sands of Palm Heath, along the cliffs of Newport, In the romantic glens of Mount Desert, In the old fashioned drawing-room overlooking Klttenhouse Square. She bad been proposed to In motor cars, on the decks of yachts and once even while riding to hounds, but there had been a touch of sameness same-ness about It all. Never bud she been made love to with the headlong gallantry, gal-lantry, with the dashing precipitation of the weat It had swept her from ber moorings. She found almost before be-fore she was aware of It that ber past experience now stood her In little steud. She awoke to a sudden realization realiza-tion of the fact that she was practically practical-ly pledged to James Armstrong after an acquaintance of three weeks In Denver and on the ranch. Business of tbe most Important and critical nature demanded Armstrongs Arm-strongs presence east at this juncture, 1 and will he nlll be there was no way he could put off bis departure longer. He bad to leave tbe girl with an uneasy un-easy conscience that, though he bad 1 her half way promise, be bad her but : half way won. He bad snatched tbe ultimate day from bis business daman da-man 2 to ride wltb ber on tbe first stage of ber Journey to tbe mountains. CHAPTER II. The Gams Played In the Usual Way. Tbe road on which they advanced Into the mountains wus well made , and well kept up. Tbe canon througo the foothills was not very deep for Colorado and the ascent was gentle. Naturally It wound In every direction, following the devious course of the river, which It Irequently crossed from one side to the other on rude log bridges. A. brisk gallop of half a mile or so on a convenient stretch ol comparatively com-paratively level going put tbe two in the lead far ahead of the lumbering wagon and out of sight of thune others of the party who had elected to go a horseback. There was perhaps a tacit agreement among the latter not to break In upon this growing friendship, or, more frankly, not to Interfere lu a developing love affair The canon broadened here and there at long Intervals and ranch houses were found In every cleartng. but these were few and far between and for the most part Armstrong and Knld Malt land rode practically alone save for the passage of an occasional lumber wagon. "Yqu can't think." began the man, as they drew rein after a splendid gallop and the somewhat tired horses readily subsided Into a walk, "bow I bate to go back and leave you." "And you can't think how loath 1 am to have you return," the girl flunhed out ftt him with a sidelong glance from her bright blue eyes and a witching smile from ber scarlet lips. "Knld Maltland," said the man, "you know I Just worship you. I'd like to sweep you out of your saddle, lift you to the bow of mine and ride away with you. I can t keep my band off you, I" Ilefore she realized what be would be about be swerved bis borse toward her, his arm went around her sud denly. Taken completely off her guard she could make no resistance, Indeed she scarcely knew what to expect until un-til be crushed her to blm and kissed ber, almost roughly, full on the lips. "How dare you," cried the girl, ber face aflame, freeing herself at last, and swinging ber own borse almost to the edge of tbe road which here ran on an excavation some fifty feet above the river. "How dare I?" laughed tbe audacious auda-cious man, apparently no wblt abashed by ber Indignation. "When I tblnk of my opportunity I am amazed at my moderation." "Your opportunity; your moderation modera-tion r "Yes, when I had you helpless I took but one kiss; I might have held you longer and taken a hundred." (TO BE CONTINUED.) 1 CHAPTER I. The Young Lady From Philadelphia. Mtss Knld Maltland was a highly specialized product of the far east. 1 ay lar, viewing Colorado as a point of departure, not as Identifying her with the orient. The classic shades of liryu Mawr had been the "Oroves of Academus where with old I'lato he bad walked." Incidentally during ber completion of tbs hauHttve curriculum cur-riculum of that Justly famous lustltu tloii she had acquired at least a bowing bow-ing acquaintance with other masters of the mind. Nor had the physical in her education educa-tion been sacrificed to the mental. In bur at least tbe mens sana and tbe corpore sano were, alike In evidence. She had ridden to hounds many times on the anise scented trail of the West Chester Hunt! Kxcltlng tennis and leisurely golf bad engaged her attention atten-tion on the courts and greens of the Merlon Cricket club. She had buffeted "Old Ocean's gray and melancholy waste" on the beach at Cape May and st Atlantic City. Spiritually she was a devoted member mem-ber of the Kplsropal church, of the variety that abhors the word "Proles ant" in connection therewith. Altogether Alto-gether she reflected great credit upon her pastors and masters spiritual and ten poral and her up bringing In the three department of life lelt little to be denied. Lion her graduation she had been at onre received and acclaimed by the "Assembly Set" of Philadelphia, to whkh indeed she belonged unquestioned unques-tioned by right of birth and position sud there wan no other power under heaven by which she could have ef-fe ef-fe ted uitrnnie therein, at least Hut Is what the outs thought ol lhf.1 most exclusive circle Tbe old borne or the Maltlands overlook. over-look. ns Rlttenhouse Square had ben the scene or ber debut In a'l t.he refined and decorous Rallies ot Philadelphia's ultra-fastidious society she bad participated. She had even looked upon money standardized New York in Its delirium of extravagance, st least In so far as a sedate and well-boru well-boru Philadelphia family could countenance coun-tenance such golden madness. During tbe ear he had ranged like a con-quercr con-quercr pardon the masculine appellationbetween appella-tionbetween Palm Reach In the south and liar Harbor In tbe north. Philadelphia was proud of her, and she was hot unknown In those unfortunate un-fortunate parts of the United States which Iny without. In alt this the bad remained a frank, free, unspoiled young woman. Lire was full of zest for ber, and she enjoyed en-joyed it with the most un Pennsylva-nlan Pennsylva-nlan enthusiasm. 1 Tb second summer after ber coming com-ing out found ber In Colorado. Robert ' Maltland was one of tbe big men of 1 the west. He had departed from Philadelphia Phil-adelphia at an early age and had settled set-tled to Colorado while it was still In I the formative period. Tbere he bad I grown up with the state. The Phil- i adelpbU Maltlsnds could never under stand It or explain It. Bob Maltland must have been, tbey argued, a reversion rever-sion to an ancient type, a throwback to some robber baron long antecedent to William Penn. And tbe speculation was true. Tbe blood of some lawless adventurer of the past, discreetly forgot for-got by the conservative section of tbe family, bubbled In bis veins unchecked by the repressive atmosphere ot bis home and Immediate environment. Ho bad thoroughly Identified himself him-self with his new surroundings and had plunged Into all the activities of the west. During one period of his life be bad actually served as sherlft of one of tbe border counties, and it was a rapid "bad man" Indeed, who enjoyed any advantage over blm when It came to drawing his "gun." Ills skill and daring had been unquestioned, unques-tioned, he had made a name for himself him-self which still abides, especially In the mountains where things yet remained re-mained almost as primitive as tbey bad been from the beginning. His fame had been accompanied by fortune, too; the cuttle upon a thousand thou-sand hills wero bis, tbe treasures of mines of fabulous richness were at bis command. He lived in Denver In one of the greatest of the bonanza palaces on the hills of that city, confronting con-fronting the snow-capped mountain range. For the rest he held stock in ull sorts of corporations, was a director di-rector In numerous concerns and so on the reader can supply the usual catalogue, they are all alike. He had married late In life and was the father of two little girls and a boy, the oldest old-est sixteen and the youngest ten. Going east, which he did not love, on an Infrequent business trip, he had renewed his acquaintance with his brother and the one ewe iamb of liU brother's flock, to wit, the aforementioned afore-mentioned Knld. He bad been struck, as everybody was, by the splendid personality of the girl and had striven earnestly to disabuse ber mind of tbe prevalent Idea that tbere was nothing much worth while on tbe continent beyond the Allegheny except scenery. "What you need. Knld. Is a ride across the plains, a sight of real mountains, moun-tains, besldo which these little foothills foot-hills In Pennsylvania that people back here make so much of wouldn't bo noticed. You want to get some of tbe spirited, gtorlou freedom of Ibe west Into your conservative straight laced little body." "In my day, Robert," reprovingly remarked re-marked his brother, Knld father, "freedom was the last thing a young lady gently born and delicately nurtured would have coveted." "Your day Is passed, Steve." returned re-turned the younger Maltland wltb hocking carelessness. "Freedom Is what every woman desires now, especially espe-cially when she is married. You are not In love with anybody, are you, Enid?" "Wltb not a soul." frankly replied the girl, greatly amused at tbe colloquy col-loquy between the two men. who, though mothered by tbe same woman, were as dissimilar as what shall I say, tbe east is from tbe westT Let It go at that. 'That all right." said ber uncle, relieved apparently. "1 will take you out west and Introduce you to some real men and" "If I thought It possible," Interposed Mr. Stephen Maltland In bis most austere and dignified manner, "that my daughter," with a perceptible emphasis em-phasis on tbe "my," a If be and not the daughter were tbe principal being under cogsldpratlon, "should ever so far forget what belongs to ber station In lire and ber family aa to allow ber affection to become engaged by anyone any-one who, from bis birth and upbringing upbring-ing In the er oh unlicensed atmosphere atmos-phere of the western country would be persona non grata to dignified society so-ciety of this ancient city and" "Nonsense," Interrupted the younger young-er brother bluntly. "You bave lived here wrapped up In yourselves and your dinky little town so long that mental asphyxiation Is threatening you." "I will thank you, Robert," said his brother wltb something approaching the manner In which he would have repelled a blasphemy, "not to refer to Philadelphia as er what was your wrist extraordinary word?" "'Dinky,' If my recollection serves." "Ah. precisely. I am not sure a to the meaning of the term, but I conceive it to be something opprobrious. opprobri-ous. You can say what you like about me and mine, but of Philadelphia, no." "Oh, the town's right enough," returned re-turned bis brother, not at all impressed. im-pressed. "I'm talking about people now. There are just aa fine men and women In the west a in New York or Philadelphia." "I am sure you don't mean to be offensive, Robert, but really tbe asso-cint'.on asso-cint'.on of Ideas In your mention of us witli that common and vulgar New Yoi la erun pleasant," fairly sbud-derud sbud-derud tbe elder Maltland. "Jin only urging you tj recognize the quality of the wentero people. I duty yy they are of a finer type than tbe average here." '"n tu your standpoint, no doubt," con; In ted his brother severely and some? hat wearily as If the matter wer i pt worth all this argument. "All that I want of them Is that tbey stay In tbe est where tbey belong and not strUe ;o mingle wltb the east; there is a Lnrrler between us and them whU h :t is not well to cross. To permit per-mit aay Intermixtures of er race or Tb people out there are white. Steve," Interrupted bis brother sar-donkaljr. sar-donkaljr. "I wasn't contemplating Introducing In-troducing Enid here to Chinese, or negrge, or Indians, or" "Dun't you see," said Mr. Stephen MaltLnd, stubbornly waving aside this sarcastic and Irrelevent comment, com-ment, "from your very conversation tbe st gulf that there Is between you and me? Although you bad every advantage in life tbat birth can give you. we are I mean you have changed ro greafty," be bad quickly added, loathe to offend. Hut he mistook tbe light In bis brother' eyes; It wa a twinkle, not a flash. Robert Maltland laughed, laughed with what bis brother con- eclved to be Indecorous boisterous- ( cess. "How little you know of the bone , and sinew of this country, Steve," be exclaimed presently. Robert Maltland could not comprehend how It Irritated hi stately brother to be called , "Steve." Nobody ever spoke of blm but as Stephen Maltland. "Hut Lord, , I don't blame you." continued the westerner. "Any man whose vision is . barred by a foothill couldn't be ex- , pected to know much of tbe main range and what' beyond." "Tbere Isn't any danger of my fall- , Ing In love with anybody," said Enid t at last, with all the confidence of two , triumphant social season. " think 1 t must be Immune even to dukes." she t aid gaily. j "I referred to worthy young Amer- leans of" began ber father who, to l do hliu Justice, was so satisfied with bis own position tbat no foreign title t dazzled blm in tbe least degree t "Klttenhouse Square," cut in Rob I rrt Maltland with amused sarcasm, i "Well. Enid, you eeni to bave run the gamut of the east pretty thor- jughly; com out and spend tbe summer sum-mer with me In Colorado. My Denver v bouse is open to you; we bave ranch t mid the foothills, or if you sre gam t we can break away from civilization t entirely and find some unexplored, un- n known canon In the heart of tbe tuoun- e tains and csmp there. Weil get back to nature, which seems to be tmpo- t ilt.le Id Philadelphia, and you will P things and learn things that you win a never tee or learn anywhere else. It'll , do you good, too; from what I bear, h you bave been going the pace and p those cheeks of yours are a little too k pale for so splendid a girl; you loos too tired under tbe eyes lor youth and i beauty." "I belltv I am not ry fit," auj the girl, "and If Utber will permit- a "Of course, of course," said Stephen Maltland, "you are your own mUtres anyway, and having no mother" Enid mother bad died in ber infancy in-fancy "I suppose tbat I could not Interfere In-terfere or object if I wished to, but no marrying or giving In marriage. Remember that." "Nonsense, father," nnHwered the young woman lightly.- "I am not anxious anx-ious to assume the bonds of wedlock." wed-lock." "Well, that settles It," said Robert Maltland. "Weil give you a royal good time. I must run up to New York and Hoston for a few days, but I shall be back In a week and I can pick you up then." "What Is tbe bouse in Denver; Is It Pr may I ask, provided with all modern mod-ern convenience and " began the elder Maltland nervously. Robert Maltland laughed. "What do you take us for, Pteve; do you ever rend the western newspapers?" news-papers?" "I confess tbat I bave not given much thought to the west since I studied geography and tbe Philadelphia Philadel-phia papers have been thought uffl-dent uffl-dent for the family lnc " "Good Lord," exclaimed Maltland "The house cost half a million dollars, dol-lars, If you must know It, and If there H Crushed Her to Him and Kitted Her. I anything tbat modern science can contribute to comfort and luxury tbat Isn't In It, I don't know wbat It I. Shall It be the bouse In Denver, or tbe ranch, or a real camp In tbe wilds, Enid?" "First the bouse In Denver," said Enid, "and then the ranch and then the mountains." "Rlght-O; tbat shall be the program." pro-gram." "Will my daughter' life be perfectly perfect-ly safe from tbe cowboys, Indian and desperadoes?" "Quite safe," answered Robert, wltb deep gravity. "Tbe cowboy no longer shoot up tbe city and It bas been years since tbe Indians bave held up even a trolley car. Tbe only real desperado In my acquaintance Is the mildest gentle gen-tle old stage driver In tbe west." "Do you keep up an acquaintance wltb men of tbat class still?" asked til brother In great surprise. "You know I was sheriff in a bor-Jer bor-Jer county for a number of year ind-" "Rut you niuit surely bave with-lrawn with-lrawn from all sucb society now." "Out west." said Robert Maltland, 'when we know a man and like blm, then we bave slept by blm on the lain, ridden wltb him through the oountAlns. fought with blm against iome border terror, some bad man hlrstlng to kill, we don't forget him. e don't cut bis acquaintance, and It loesn't make any difference whether he one or tbe other of us Is rlcb or )tor. I bsve friend who can't frame i grammatical sentence, who habitual-y habitual-y eat wltb their knives, yet w.lo are ibsolutely devoted to me and I to hem. The man Is the thing out here." He smiled and turned to Cnld. "Alway excepting the su-ireniacy su-ireniacy of woman," he added. "How fascinating." exclaimed tbe ;trl. "I want to go there right away."; And this was the train of events ihlch wrought the change. Pehold . he young lady astride of a horse for f, he first time In her life In a divided 1 klrt. that fashion prevslent elsewhere iot having been accepted by tbe best questrieanes of Philadelphia. She 1-s.s riding ahead of a lumbering noun-gin noun-gin wagon surrounded by otb'r rld-rs. rld-rs. which was locded with baggage, rawn ty four sturdy broncos and tot-owed tot-owed by a number of cbstlnate little urros at present unincumbered witn acks wblcb would be used wben they ot further rrom civilization nd the i ijf wit no longer practicable tor any-hlng any-hlng on wheels. Mlt Enid Maltland was clad in a ty that would have caused ber lather troke of apoplexy tf be could bave l Mr. lan-t Armstrong Wii Cfliptrjttty in Lova With f ni MkIUkJ. fefei) fiipTO IfeS m ' ikmfm mm ; "Your Day Ha Patttd. Steve," Returned the Younger Maltland. 1 |
