William MacLeod Raine

“ Self-esteem was his stock in trade. He wanted it understood that Broadway was his habitat and to come to Texas at all was a condescension. With the women of the company he insisted on establishing special relationships. Dorothy Trefoyle was at first a little flattered by the swiftness of his interest in her, but Raleigh got his congé as soon as the leading lady discovered that Fenwick would not stand any nonsense. She was genuinely in love with the Lunar star, and she did not intend to risk her happiness on account of a flirtation. ”

“ Roady, unused to the sinuous ways of women, could not understand why Jocoste let Raleigh hang around her if she did not like him. The man was her devoted cavalier. He tried to make friends with Mustapha and even with Hero, who always drew back and showed his strong teeth with an ominous growl, whereas the bulldog would let McCarty roughhouse him all he pleased.
The cowpuncher found himself discussing the matter with Kittie Collins one day when he had stopped at the house to tell her that her father would not be home to lunch and would like some sent to the studio. ”

“ Nora McCorkle asked him one day after Raleigh had been baiting him for the general entertainment.
Roady's chin dropped in surprise. The young woman was wrinkling her pretty nose at Hero's ugly one as she flung the unexpected question at him. He took off his disreputable hat and scratched the brindle thatch beneath.
“Why, I dunno, Miss Nora. I don' reckon he aims to be mean. O' course I ain't lookin' for trouble with no one.”
She tilted her Leghorn hat and flashed a derisive smile up at him. “Any old time he don't mean to be mean. Some men you have to whang decency into with a buggy whip. ”

“ Her horse, Mustapha does stunts,” explained Keating. “Expect you'd like to get a chance to wash before dinner.”
“Yes. Sure,” agreed Raleigh absently.
His gaze was still focused upon the young woman's back. She walked with a smooth, sinuous, animal grace, with an ease and suppleness that gave her a peculiar effect of vitality.
“Some dame,” the actor added in comment.
“We think a good deal of her. She has helped us pull off some great animal stuff with her horse and dog. Well, see you later, Mr. Raleigh.” ”

“ She had been with the Lunar Company about two months and every day grew more valuable.
“She's some little actress herself,” Keating confided to Roady McCarty, a cowpuncher of the company, “but that horse Mustapha is a peach. And her bulldog Hero—say, I sometimes wish a few of you lads had canine sense.” ”

“ Course he's old, but—”
“He's not old at all,” she interrupted indignantly. “A man ought to be older than a woman when they—” She left her sentence unfinished and substituted a faint and embarrassed “Oughtn't he?”
“Blamed if I know, Miss Kittie.” Roady rumpled his mop of tawny rebellious hair. “I'm no chaperoon. Ask Miss Trefoyle. She's engaged and orter know.”
Others besides McCarty were puzzled at Mademoiselle Jocoste's seeming complaisance at the attentions of Harold Raleigh.
“What are you pulling off on us, Nora?” ”

“ She's a headliner on the big time, and I'm—well, I'm just plain old Sam Keating. Nix on the romance stuff. I'd sure get in Dutch if I made a pass like that. I'd ought to can the fool notion.” His face presently relaxed to a smile. “It takes an artist to get on to her play. Wonder what in Mexico her little game is. She's sure a pippin. It's a cinch that four-flusher gets his a-plenty. Suits me fine. Mr. Harold Raleigh ain't just popular with Sam Keating. Always trying to crab the scene when he's on with Bruce—always grabbing the stage and eating up footage when he's close to the camera. ”

“ Roady supposed he must have done something to offend the man. It did not occur to him that Harold Raleigh was by nature the kind of bully that always tramples upon the live creature unable to resent injustice effectively. ”

“ She was in his arms and he was kissing her ardently.
At sound of the footsteps the lovers fell apart hurriedly. An uneven voice called down the trail, “Who is it?”
“You'll be glad to know it isn't Neil Collins, Mr. ”