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〃Me bring Wangee girl to cache；〃 replied the Indian； pointing to
the wood。 〃Honest Injin。〃
Another bright idea struck Mr。 Fairley。 But it required some
elaboration。 Hurrying the squaw with him through the pelting rain；
he reached the shelter of the corral。 Vainly the shivering
aborigine drew her tightly bandaged papoose closer to her square；
flat breast； and looked longingly toward the cabin； the old man
backed her against the palisade。 Here he cautiously imparted his
dark intentions to employ her to keep watch and ward over the
ranch； and especially over its young mistress〃clear out all the
tramps 'ceptin' yourself； and I'll keep ye in grub and rum。〃 Many
and deliberate repetitions of this offer in various forms at last
seemed to affect the squaw； she nodded violently； and echoed the
last word 〃rum。〃 〃Now；〃 she added。 The old man hesitated； she was
in possession of his secret； he groaned； and； promising an
immediate installment of liquor； led her to the cabin。
The door was so securely fastened against the impact of the storm
that some moments elapsed before the bar was drawn； and the old man
had become impatient and profane。 When it was partly opened by
Flip he hastily slipped in； dragging the squaw after him； and cast
one single suspicious glance around the rude apartment which served
as a sitting…room。 Flip had apparently been writing。 A small
inkstand was still on the board table； but her paper had evidently
been concealed before she allowed them to enter。 The squaw
instantly squatted before the adobe hearth； warmed her bundled
baby； and left the ceremony of introduction to her companion。 Flip
regarded the two with calm preoccupation and indifference。 The
only thing that touched her interest was the old squaw's draggled
skirt and limp neckerchief。 They were Flip's own； long since
abandoned and cast off in the Gin and Ginger Woods。 〃Secrets
again；〃 whined Fairley； still eying Flip furtively。 〃Secrets
again； in coursein coursejiss so。 Secrets that must be kep
from the ole man。 Dark doin's by one's own flesh and blood。 Go
on！ go on！ Don't mind me。〃 Flip did not reply。 She had even lost
the interest in her old dress。 Perhaps it had only touched some
note in unison with her revery。
〃Can't ye get the poor critter some whiskey？〃 he queried； fretfully。
〃Ye used to be peart enuff before。〃 As Flip turned to the corner to
lift the demijohn； Fairley took occasion to kick the squaw with his
foot； and indicate by extravagant pantomime that the bargain was not
to be alluded to before the girl。 Flip poured out some whiskey in a
tin cup； and； approaching the squaw； handed it to her。 〃It's like
ez not；〃 continued Fairley to his daughter； but looking at the
squaw； 〃that she'll be huntin' the woods off and on； and kinder
looking after the last pit near the Madronos； ye'll give her grub
and licker ez she likes。 Well； d'ye hear； Flip？ Are ye moonin'
agin with yer secrets？ What's gone with ye？〃
If the child were dreaming； it was a delicious dream。 Her magnetic
eyes were suffused by a strange light； as though the eye itself had
blushed； her full pulse showed itself more in the rounding outline
of her cheek than in any deepening of color； indeed； if there was
any heightening of tint； it was in her freckles； which fairly
glistened like tiny spangles。 Her eyes were downcast； her
shoulders slightly bent； but her voice was low and clear and
thoughtful as ever。
〃One o' the big pines above the Madrono pit has blown over into the
run；〃 she said。 〃It's choked up the water； and it's risin' fast。
Like ez not it's pourin' over into the pit by this time。〃
The old man rose with a fretful cry。 〃And why in blames didn't you
say so first？〃 he screamed； catching up his axe and rushing to the
door。
〃Ye didn't give me a chance；〃 said Flip； raising her eyes for the
first time。 With an impatient imprecation； Fairley darted by her
and rushed into the wood。 In an instant she had shut the door and
bolted it。 In the same instant the squaw arose； dashed the long
hair not only from her eyes； but from her head； tore away her shawl
and blanket； and revealed the square shoulders of Lance Harriott！
Flip remained leaning against the door； but the young man in rising
dropped the bandaged papoose； which rolled from his lap into the
fire。 Flip； with a cry； sprang toward it； but Lance caught her by
the waist with one arm； as with the other he dragged the bundle
from the flames。
〃Don't be alarmed；〃 he said； gayly； 〃it's only〃
〃What？〃 said Flip； trying to disengage herself。
〃My coat and trousers。〃
Flip laughed； which encouraged Lance to another attempt to kiss
her。 She evaded it by diving her head into his waistcoat； and
saying； 〃There's father。〃
〃But he's gone to clear away that tree？〃 suggested Lance。
One of Flip's significant silences followed。
〃Oh； I see；〃 he laughed。 〃That was a plan to get him away！ Ah！〃
She had released herself。
〃Why did you come like that？〃 she said； pointing to his wig and
blanket。
〃To see if you'd know me；〃 he responded。
〃No；〃 said Flip； dropping her eyes。 〃It's to keep other people
from knowing you。 You're hidin' agin。〃
〃I am；〃 returned Lance； 〃but；〃 he interrupted； 〃it's only the same
old thing。〃
〃But you wrote from Monterey that it was all over；〃 she persisted。
〃So it would have been；〃 he said gloomily； 〃but for some dog down
here who is hunting up an old scent。 I'll spot him yet； and〃 He
stopped suddenly； with such utter abstraction of hatred in his
fixed and glittering eyes that she almost feared him。 She laid her
hand quite unconsciously on his arm。 He grasped it； his face
changed。
〃I couldn't wait any longer to see you； Flip； so I came here
anyway；〃 he went on。 〃I thought to hang round and get a chance to
speak to you first； when I fell afoul of the old man。 He didn't
know me； and tumbled right in my little game。 Why； do you believe
he wants to hire me for my grub and liquor； to act as a sort of
sentry over you and the ranch？〃 And here he related with great
gusto the substance of his interview。 〃I reckon as he's that
suspicious；〃 he concluded； 〃I'd better play it out now as I've
begun； only it's mighty hard I can't see you here before the fire
in your fancy toggery； Flip； but must dodge in and out of the wet
underbrush in these yer duds of yours that I picked up in the old
place in the Gin and Ginger Woods。〃
〃Then you came here just to see me？〃 asked Flip。
〃I did。〃
〃For only that？〃
〃Only that。〃
Flip dropped her eyes。 Lance had got his other arm around her
waist； but her resisting little hand was still potent。
〃Listen；〃 she said at last without looking up； but apparently
talking to the intruding arm； 〃when Dad comes I'll get him to send
you to watch the diamond pit。 It isn't far； it's warm； and〃
〃What？〃
〃I'll come； after a bit； and see you。 Quit foolin' now。 If you'd
only have come here like yourselflikelikea white man。〃
〃The old man；〃 interrupted Lance； 〃would have just passed me on to
the summit。 I couldn't have played the lost fisherman on him at
this time of year。〃
〃Ye could have been stopped at the Crossing by high water； you
silly；〃 said the girl。 〃It was。〃 This grammatical obscurity
referred to the stage coach。
〃Yes； but I might have been tracked to this cabin。 And look here；
Flip；〃 he said； suddenly straightening himself； and lifting the
girl's face to a level with his own； 〃I don't want you to lie any
more for me。 It ain't right。〃
〃All right。 Ye needn't go to the pit； then； and I won't come。〃
〃Flip！〃
〃And here's Dad coming。 Quick！〃
Lance chose to put his own interpretation on this last adjuration。
The resisting little hand was now lying quite limp on his shoulder；
He drew her brown； bright face near his own； felt her spiced breath
on his lips； his cheeks； his hot eyelids； his swimming eyes； kissed
her； hurriedly replaced his wig and blanket； and dropped beside the
fire with the tremulous laugh of youth and innocent first passion。
Flip had withdrawn to the window； and was looking out upon the
rocking pines。
〃He don't seem to be coming；〃 said Lance； with a half…shy laugh。
〃No；〃 responded Flip demurely； pressing her hot oval cheek against
the wet panes； 〃I reckon I was mistaken。 You're sure；〃 she added；
looking resolutely another way； but still trembling like a magnetic
needle toward Lance； as he moved slightly before the fire； 〃you're
SURE you'd like me to come to you？〃
〃Sure； Flip？〃
〃Hush！〃 said Flip； as this reassuring query of reproachful
astonishment appeared about to be emphasized by a forward amatory
dash of Lance's； 〃hush！ he's coming this time； sure。〃
It was； indeed； Fairley； exceedingly wet； exceedingly bedraggled；
exceedingly sponged out as to color； and exceedingly profane。