lmost feudal
leader of a tribe which lived outside the law. To deny him a certain
nobility of appearance was impossible. Young Beaudry guessed that he
was arrogant, but this lay hidden under a manner of bluff frankness.
One did not need a second glance to see from whom the younger
Rutherfords had inherited their dark, good looks. The family likeness
was strong in all of them, but nature had taken her revenge for the
anti-social life of the father. The boys had reverted toward savagery.
They were elemental and undisciplined. This was, perhaps, true of
Beulah also. There were moments when she suggested in the startled
poise of her light body and the flash of her quick eyes a wild young
creature of the forest set for night. But in her case atavism
manifested itself charmingly in the untamed grace of a rich young
personality vital with life. It was an interesting speculation whether
in twenty years she would develop into a harridan or a woman of unusual
character.

The big living-room of the ranch house was a man's domain. A
magnificent elk head decorated one of the walls. Upon the antlers
rested a rifle and from one of the tines depended a belt with a
six-shooter in its holster. A braided leather quirt lay on the table
and beside it a spur one of the boys had brought in to be riveted.
Tossed carelessly into one corner were a fishing-rod and a creel. A
shotgun and a pair of rubber waders occupied the corner diagonally
opposite.

But there were evidences to show that Beulah had modified at least her
environment. An upright piano and a music-rack were the most
conspicuous. Upon the piano was a padded-covered gift copy of "Aurora
Leigh." A similar one of "In Memoriam" lay on the mantel next to a
photograph of the girl's dead mother framed in small shells. These
were mementoes of Beulah's childhood. A good copy of Del Sarto's John
the Baptist hanging from the wall and two or three recent novels
offered an intimation that she was now beyond shell frames and
padded-leather editions.

Miss Rutherford hobbled away to look after her ankle and to give orders
for supper to the ranch cook. Conversation waned. The owner of the
place invited Roy out to look over with him a new ram he had just
imported from Galloway. The young man jumped at the chance. He knew
as much about sheep as he did of Egyptian hieroglyphics, but he
preferred to talk about the mange rather than his reasons for visiting
Huerfano Park.

Ju