And Wilbur went on: "She's Eastern, Pierre, and out here visiting the
daughter of old Barnes who owns about a thousand miles of range, you
know. How long will she be here? That's the question I'm trying to
answer for her. I met her riding over the hills--she was galloping
along a ridge, and she rode her way right into my heart. Well, I'm a
fool, of course, but about this girl I can't be wrong. Tonight I'm
taking her to a masquerade."
He pulled his horse to a full stop.
"Pierre, you have to come with me."
CHAPTER 16
Pierre stared at his companion with almost open-mouthed astonishment.
"I? A dance?"
And then his head tilted back and he laughed.
"My good times, Dick, come out of the hills and the skyline, and the
gallop of Mary. But as for women, they bore me, Dick."
"Even Jack?"
"She's more man than woman."
It was the turn of Wilbur to laugh, and he responded uproariously
until Pierre frowned and flushed a little.
"When I see you out here on your horse with your rifle in the boot and
your six-gun swinging low in the scabbard, and riding the fastest bit
of horseflesh on the ranges," explained Wilbur, "I get to thinking
that you're pretty much king of the mountains; but in certain
respects, Pierre, you're a child.
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