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Well, heres yourchance to make her yours. If your father cant make you behave
somebody else must. I dont suppose Id look very well digging around in this
dirt, musedJaney. Please, if you cant forget it, at least you neednt rub it in.
Janey, dear, you look sort of down, he commiserated, kissing her. Randolph,
returned Janey, sweetly explaining, I didnt mean thatkind of a kick. Suddenly,
Randolph bent to kiss her full on the lips.
He glared at her in mingled wrath
and distress.
Patter was saddled waiting for her, a fine little baymustang.
Youve said it, my daughter, declared Endicott, clapping hishands.
I never sawit
when it wasnt muddy an shore tastin of cows.
Endicott, youre taking advantage
of human nature, repliedRandolph, with agitation. Ivelearned to fight my
natural instincts. He waved to her and began to descend the slide ofweathered
rock.
Theawkwardness of her action made Janey more indignant than ever.
The
beauty and color and solitude, the vastness of it had calledto something deep
in her. Arent you just inventing an opportunity to ride with me?
Endicott, its
because I really love Janey. If he annoys you hell be a daid redskin damn
quick.
I warn you not to fall again within my reach, he declared, grimly. She
was supposed to be very angry with her father, but she wasnt. No,Dad, youre
vastly mistaken in Phils character. There are cliff dwellinsstill in good state
of preservation, an many ruins. One of theIndians was nothing if not frankly
admiring.
Janey thought she could take care ofthe rest.
Janey did not take much
notice of them,despite their transparent acts and words.
She would reduce himto
such a state of love-sick misery that he would want to die. Yet there was a
tempering voice she would notlisten to. But if you got too nice to him things
might happen.
Whereupon he forced the pick from her and dragged her, not at
allgently, up out of the trench. I daresay youll not stay long enough tosee
one. I shall congratulate Phil on punishing you properly.
I dont suppose Id
look very well digging around in this dirt, musedJaney.
Maybe Im kidding
myself, murmured Janey, with a snicker. She would reduce himto such a state of
love-sick misery that he would want to die.
Telegraph communications from New
York had been eminently satisfactory.
Randolph stared at her incredulously,
with infinite disapproval.
Next the hum of a motorcar broke
herabsorption.
Randolph sat down on a slab of rock and regarded her as one
baffled.
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