The Trail Horde

tives, hot and dry from a long run through an arid, sandy desert that stretched westward from the shores of civilizat

isolation so profound that passengers in the coaches turned to one anothe

there had been no tank. And a prophet of Business, noting certain natural ad

olf River section began to ship stock from the new station, rather t

ly and steadily until its fame began to trickle through to the outside world-though

ancient appearance. Its roof sagged in the center, its walls were bulging with weakness. But it sto

ral, and some open sheds, to establish its enterprises one block southward. There, fringing a wide, unpa

ted, with here and there a two-storied structure, or a brick ar

ach building was space, suggestive of the unending plains that surrounded the town. Willets sat, serene in its space and solitude, unhurried, uncramped, sprawling over a stretch of grass level-a dingy,

ould look past the red station into the empty corrals beside the railroad track. Jim Lefingwell, Warden's predecessor, had

f a tall, slender man, and had he stayed slender he might have carried his flesh gracefully. But Warden had lived well, denying himself nothi

rty-five. But he looked older, for a certain blasé sophistication that shone from his ey

comfortable-looking collar and a neat bow tie. His hair was short, with bristles in the roll of fat at t

ws on the sill, her hands crossed, her chin resti

ched Warden with a steady gaze. She too, was hatless, seemingly conscious of the beauty of her hair, wh

drew her elbows from the window-sill, twisted around, so that she fa

u, Gary?" she asked with

ened. "Well, I'm not

ts-and the

ral-over there

it's e

t's

think you would be more pleased if the corral were full-

eep it empty until it is fil

you and not I who is to deal with these clod-hopp

ed of it alr

ee one interesting person, or a good-

engagement, Dell

uld be harmless, I assure you-mere moral exercise. Do you ima

rinned Warden; "tha

felt hat on her head at a precise angle, making certain that the coils of hair under it were arranged in the most effective manner. She tucked a stray wisp i

be afraid I've eloped with you. No," she added, as Warden advanced t

nding the stairs. He watched the closed door for an instant, frowning disappointedly; then h