What do
you reckon Miss Sheba wants with a fat, lop-sided lummox like you along
with her?"
Pete grew purple with embarrassment. He had not intended anything more
than civility and he wanted this understood.
"Hmp! Ain't you got no sense a-tall, Gid? If Miss Sheba's hell-bent on
goin' to meet Elliot, I allowed some one ought to go along and keep the
dark offen her. 'Course there ain't nothin' going to harm her, unless
she goes and gets lost--"
Sheba's smile cooled the heat of the stage-driver. "Which she isn't
going to do. Good of you to offer to go with me. Don't mind Mr. Holt.
Everybody knows he doesn't mean half of what he says. I'd be glad to
have you come with me, but it isn't necessary at all. So I'll not
trouble you."
Darkness fell quickly, but Sheba still held to the trail. There was no
sign of Elliot, but she felt sure he would come soon. Meanwhile she
followed steadily the tracks he had made earlier in the day.
She stopped at last. It was getting much colder. She was miles from the
camp. Reluctantly she decided to return. Then, out of the darkness, he
came abruptly upon her, the man whom she had come out to meet.
Under the magic of the Northern stars they found themselves again in
each other's arms for that brief moment of joyful surprise.
Pages:
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277