Page:BM Bower - Her Prairie Knight.djvu/112

 "I think," said Beatrice, drawing her hand away, "we will not discuss that subject, either."

"Why?" Keith's eyes continued to woo.

"Because."

It occurred to Beatrice that an unsophisticated girl might easily think Keith in earnest, with that look in his eyes.

Dorman, scowling at them over his shoulder, unconsciously did his divinity a service. Beatrice pursed her lips in a way that drove Keith nearly wild, and took up the weapon of silence.

"You said you women are alone—where is milord?" Keith began again, after two minutes of lying there watching her. "Sir Redmond is in Helena, on business. He's been making arrangements to lease a lot of land."

"Ah-h!" Keith snapped a twig off a dead willow, near.

"We look for him home to-day, and Dick drove in to meet the train."

"So the Pool has gone to leasing land?" The laugh had gone out of Keith's eyes; they were clear keen.

'Yes—the plan is to lease the Pine Ridge 108