Page:The Cow Jerry (1925).pdf/258

 regret that had been the forerunner of the other. But that ache had been growing in her conscience day by day since she flared up and burned with the wicked little flame of her unjust anger the silver cord that had bound her interests to Tom Laylander's. She was ashamed that she had urged him to do wrong, herself put up as the reward for his infidelity to his life's most sacred principles. Not much of a temptation, she reflected bitterly. Tom had done well to say farewell, and turn his back and ride away, his faith to his simple ideals unbroken.

"There's been cattle here within a day or two," said Maud, pointing to the ground with her whip, calling attention to the trampled tall grass in the broad river bottom, which they were crossing. "I guess here's where St. Thomas of Texas had his lovely little cows."

"They don't seem to he here now," said Louise, clinging desperately to the pitching buckboard as she looked around.

"Gee! it's nearly sundown, and us only comin' to the river," said Maud. "We'll have to crack it up a little, Louise, or we'll never get there. We're two miles above the crossin' now, I've dodged around so much to find soft places for you. How's your sun-pain?"

"Better, I think."

"Sure. It'll leave you as soon as the sun sets."

"There's a wagon over by the river," said Louise.

Maud pulled up, slowly, leaning back to take up the slack of the lines, looking sharply ahead.

"That's right. Looks like a chuck wagon. Withers