fall to the floor。 Then he vaulted back over the counter。 Wipin'
the blood off his hands； he throwed his kerchief down in Bruce's
face。 Bruce wasn't dead or bad hurt。 He'd jest been beaten bad。
He was moanin' an' slobberin'。 Isbel kicked him； not hard； but jest
sort of disgustful。 Then he faced thet crowd。 'Greaves； thet's what
I think of your Simm Bruce。 Tell him next time he sees me to run or
pull a gun。' An' then Isbel grabbed his rifle an' package off the
counter an' went out。 He didn't even look back。 I seen him nount
his horse an' ride away。 。 。 。 Now； girl； what hev you to say？〃
Ellen could only say good…by and the word was so low as to be almost
inaudible。 She ran to her burro。 She could not see very clearly
through tear…blurred eyes； and her shaking fingers were all thumbs。
It seemed she had to rush awaysomewhere； anywherenot to get away
from old John Sprague； but from herselfthis palpitating； bursting
self whose feet stumbled down the trail。 Allall seemed ended for
her。 That interminable story！ It had taken so long。 And every
minute of it she had been helplessly torn asunder by feelings she
had never known she possessed。 This Ellen Jorth was an unknown
creature。 She sobbed now as she dragged the burro down the canyon
trail。 She sat down only to rise。 She hurried only to stop。 Driven；
pursued； barred； she had no way to escape the flaying thoughts； no time
or will to repudiate them。 The death of her girlhood； the rending aside
of a veil of maiden mystery only vaguely instinctively guessed； the
barren； sordid truth of her life as seen by her enlightened eyes； the
bitter realization of the vileness of men of her clan in contrast to
the manliness and chivalry of an enemy； the hard facts of unalterable
repute as created by slander and fostered by low minds； all these were
forces in a cataclysm that had suddenly caught her heart and whirled
her through changes immense and agonizing； to bring her face to face
with reality； to force upon her suspicion and doubt of all she had
trusted； to warn her of the dark； impending horror of a tragic bloody
feud； and lastly to teach her the supreme truth at once so glorious
and so terriblethat she could not escape the doom of womanhood。
About noon that day Ellen Jorth arrived at the Knoll； which was the
location of her father's ranch。 Three canyons met there to form a
larger one。 The knoll was a symmetrical hill situated at the mouth of
the three canyons。 It was covered with brush and cedars； with here and
there lichened rocks showing above the bleached grass。 Below the Knoll
was a wide； grassy flat or meadow through which a willow…bordered stream
cut its rugged boulder…strewn bed。 Water flowed abundantly at this
season； and the deep washes leading down from the slopes attested to
the fact of cloudbursts and heavy storms。 This meadow valley was dotted
with horses and cattle； and meandered away between the timbered slopes
to lose itself in a green curve。 A singular feature of this canyon was
that a heavy growth of spruce trees covered the slope facing northwest；
and the opposite slope； exposed to the sun and therefore less snowbound
in winter； held a sparse growth of yellow pines。 The ranch house of
Colonel Jorth stood round the rough comer of the largest of the three
canyons； and rather well hidden； it did not obtrude its rude and
broken…down log cabins； its squalid surroundings； its black mud…holes
of corrals upon the beautiful and serene meadow valley。
Ellen Jorth approached her home slowly； with dragging； reluctant steps；
and never before in the three unhappy years of her existence there had
the ranch seemed so bare； so uncared for； so repugnant to her。 As she
had seen herself with clarified eyes； so now she saw her home。 The
cabin that Ellen lived in with her father was a single…room structure
with one door and no windows。 It was about twenty feet square。 The
huge； ragged； stone chimney had been built on the outside； with the
wide open fireplace set inside the logs。 Smoke was rising from the
chimney。 As Ellen halted at the door and began unpacking her burro
she heard the loud； lazy laughter of men。 An adjoining log cabin had
been built in two sections； with a wide roofed hall or space between
them。 The door in each cabin faced the other； and there was a tall
man standing in one。 Ellen recognized Daggs； a neighbor sheepman；
who evidently spent more time with her father than at his own home；
wherever that was。 Ellen had never seen it。 She heard this man drawl；
〃Jorth； heah's your kid come home。〃
Ellen carried her bed inside the cabin； and unrolled it upon a couch
built of boughs in the far corner。 She had forgotten Jean Isbel's
package； and now it fell out under her sight。 Quickly she covered it。
A Mexican woman； relative of Antonio； and the only servant about the
place； was squatting Indian fashion before the fireplace； stirring a
pot of beans。 She and Ellen did not get along well together； and few
words ever passed between them。 Ellen had a canvas curtain stretched
upon a wire across a small triangular comer； and this afforded her a
little privacy。 Her possessions were limited in number。 The crude
square table she had constructed herself。 Upon it was a little
old…fashioned walnut…framed mirror； a brush and comb； and a dilapidated
ebony cabinet which contained odds and ends the sight of which always
brought a smile of derisive self…pity to her lips。 Under the table
stood an old leather trunk。 It had come with her from Texas； and
contained clothing and belongings of her mother's。 Above the couch
on pegs hung her scant wardrobe。 A tiny shelf held several worn…out
books。
When her father slept indoors； which was seldom except in winter；
he occupied a couch in the opposite corner。 A rude cupboard had
been built against the logs next to the fireplace。 It contained
supplies and utensils。 Toward the center； somewhat closer to the door；
stood a crude table and two benches。 The cabin was dark and smelled
of smoke； of the stale odors of past cooked meals； of the mustiness
of dry； rotting timber。 Streaks of light showed through the roof
where the rough…hewn shingles had split or weathered。 A strip of
bacon hung upon one side of the cupboard； and upon the other a haunch
of venison。 Ellen detested the Mexican woman because she was dirty。
The inside of the cabin presented the same unkempt appearance usual
to it after Ellen had been away for a few days。 Whatever Ellen had
lost during the retrogression of the Jorths； she had kept her habits
of cleanliness； and straightway upon her return she set to work。
The Mexican woman sullenly slouched away to her own quarters outside
and Ellen was left to the satisfaction of labor。 Her mind was as busy
as her hands。 As she cleaned and swept and dusted she heard from time
to time the voices of men； the clip…clop of shod horses； the bellow of
cattle。 And a considerable time elapsed before she was disturbed；
A tall shadow darkened the doorway。
〃Howdy； little one！〃 said a lazy； drawling voice。 〃So y'u…all got home？〃
Ellen looked up。 A superbly built man leaned against the doorpost。
Like most Texans； he was light haired and light eyed。 His face was
lined and hard。 His long； sandy mustache hid his mouth and drooped
with a curl。 Spurred； booted； belted； packing a heavy gun low down
on his hip； he gave Ellen an entirely new impression。 Indeed。 she was
seeing everything strangely。
〃Hello； Daggs！〃 replied Ellen。 〃Where's my dad？〃
〃He's playin' cairds with Jackson an' Colter。 Shore's playin' bad；
too； an' it's gone to his haid。〃
〃Gamblin'？〃 queried Ellen。
〃Mah child； when'd Kurnel Jorth ever play for fun？〃 said Daggs； with
a lazy laugh。 〃There's a stack of gold on the table。 Reckon yo' uncle
Jackson will win it。 Colter's shore out of luck。〃
Daggs stepped inside。 He was graceful and slow。 His long' spurs
clinked。 He laid a rather compelling hand on Ellen's shoulder。
〃Heah； mah gal； give us a kiss；〃 he said。
〃Daggs； I'm not your girl；〃 replied Ellen as she slipped out from
under his hand。
Then Daggs put his arm round her； not with violence or rudeness；
but with an indolent； affectionate assurance； at once bold and
self…contained。 Ellen； however； had to exert herself to get free
of him； and when she had placed the table between them she looked
him square in the eyes。
〃Daggs； y'u keep your paws off me；〃 she said。
〃Aw； now； Ellen； I ain't no bear；〃 he remonstrated。 〃What's the
matter； kid？〃
〃I'm not a kid。 And there's nothin' the matter。 Y'u're to keep your
hands to yourself； that's all。〃
He tried to reach her across the table； and his movements were lazy
and slow； like his smile。 His tone was coaxing。
〃Mah dear； shore you set on my knee just the other day； now； didn't you？〃
Ellen felt the blood sting her cheeks。
〃I was a child；〃 she returned。
〃Wal； listen to this heah grown…up young woman。 All in a few days！
。 。 。 Doon't be in a temper； Ellen。 。 。 。 Come； give us a kiss。〃
She deliberately gazed into his eyes。 Like the eyes of an eagle；
they were clear and hard； just now warmed by the dalliance of the
moment； but the