Theodore Goodridge Roberts

“ Jacques treated him with a slight suggestion of superiority. It was evident to me that the senior Jeanbard liked Stack but did not approve of his blood and surname. Stack was certainly a fine figure of a man; and his eyes were of the reckless, devil-may-care kind that prove extraordinarily attractive to most women. I watched, talking and smoking comfortably by the stove; and I decided that they had not yet had any serious effect on Rose Jeanbard. ”

“ Every now and then a wheel went over a rock, a root or a log of an imperfect culvert, jouncing us sharply. Stack drove for a long time in silence. At last he spoke, suddenly.
"I'll bet ten dollars it wasn't old Ruben fired that shot," he said. "I ain't tryin' to defend him, mind you, but that wouldn't be his way. He'd know all about it, plan it, like as not, but when it comes to pullin' a trigger on a man—no, not for Ruben! He's short on nerve; and nerve's what's needed for the shootin' of a man in cold blood.' Whoever's workin' with him, he's the man with the rifle. ”

“ I kept under cover and grew hungry and hungrier as the idle hours crawled up and dragged past. The sun drew to the western horizon at last, dipped a red edge behind black spruces and finally sank out of sight. The western red faded slowly and the clear twilight slowly thickened to dusk. I placed the pistol and two clips of cartridges in the oiled-silk pouch with my tobacco, wound and tied the pouch securely and buttoned it into a hip-pocket. ”