"Will you dine with us in an hour?" asked Endicott.
The Texan nodded. "Thanks," he said, formally, "I'll be here." And as
the two disappeared through the door, he gathered up the reins, crossed
to the feed barn where he turned the animals over to the proprietor,
and passing on to the rear, proceeded to take a bath in the watering
trough.
Punctually on the minute he entered the hotel. The meal was a solemn
affair, almost as silent as the ride from the river. Several attempts
at conversation fell flat, and the effort was abandoned. At no time,
however, did the Texan appear embarrassed, and Alice noted that he
handled his knife and fork with the ease of early training.
At the conclusion he arose, abruptly: "I thank you. Will you excuse
me, now?"
Alice nodded, and both watched as he crossed the room, his spurs
trailing noisily upon the wooden floor.
"Poor devil," said Endicott, "this has hit him pretty hard."
The girl swallowed the rising lump in her throat: "Oh, why can't he
meet some nice girl, and----"
"Women--his kind--are mighty scarce out here, I imagine."
The girl placed her elbows upon the table, rested her chin upon her
knuckles, and glanced eagerly into Endicott's face:
"Win, you've just got to buy a ranch," she announced, the words fairly
tumbling over each other in her excitement.
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