Zane Grey

“ Jane now began to have her own little aching, haunting secret which was so hard to put out of her mind. Every letter and every hint of Frank Owens made her remember. Therefore she decided to put a check to Andy’s sly double-dealing. She addressed a note to him and wrote: “Dear Andy:—That day at the train when you thought I was a poor old schoolmarm you swore you were not Frank Owens. Now you swear you are! If you were a man who knew what truth is you’d have a chance. But now—No! You are a monster of iniquity. ”

“ Jane could not fail to grasp that he might even be worse than Tex, but at least he did not make love to her with physical violence. She enjoyed that dance and admitted the singular, forceful charm about this man. Jones demanded, rather than begged, for another dance, and though she laughingly explained her predicament in regard to partners, he said he would come after her anyhow. Then followed several dances with new partners, between which Jane became more than ever the centre of attraction. ”

“ Frank Owens.
To that end Jane made her way down the porch to greet her cowboy visitor. She made herself charming and gracious, and carried off the embarrassing situation—for Springer was present—as if it were perfectly natural. And she led Jones to one of the rustic benches down the porch.
Manifest, indeed, was it that young Jones felt he had made a conquest. He was the most forceful and bold person Jane had ever met. Soon he waxed ardent. Jane was accustomed to the sentimental talk of cowboys, but this fellow was neither amusing nor interesting. He was dangerous. ”

“ Why, even Springer himself is sweet on you.”
“How dare you!” flashed Jane, suddenly aghast.
“I ain’t afraid to tell the truth,” declared Tex, stoutly. “He is. The boys all say so. He’s grouchier than ever. He’s jealous. He watches you—”
“Suppose I told him you had dared to say such things?” interrupted Jane, trembling on the verge of strange emotion.
“Why, he’d be tickled to death. He hasn’t got nerve enough to tell you himself.”
This cowboy, like all his comrades, was hopeless. She was about to attempt to change the conversation when Tex took her into his arms. ”

“ The town had gradually filled up with Saturday visitors. “Boys, there’s the boss,” suddenly broke out Andy, pointing; and he ducked into the nearest doorway, which happened to be that of another saloon. It was half full of cowboys, ranchers, Mexicans, tobacco smoke and noise. Andy’s companions had rushed pell-mell after him; and not until they all got inside did they realize that this saloon was a rendezvous for cowboys decidedly not on friendly terms with Springer’s outfit. Nevada was the only one of the trio who took the situation nonchalantly. ”

“ But on the moment the four cowboys appeared dumb. “Are—are you Mr. Springer?” asked Miss Stacey.
“Yes,” he replied, and he took off his sombrero. He had a dark, frank face and keen eyes.
“I am Jane Stacey,” she explained hurriedly. “I’m a school teacher. I answered an advertisement. And I’ve come from Missouri because of letters I received from a Mr. Frank Owens, of Springer’s Ranch. This young man met me. He has not been very—explicit. I gather that there is no Mr. Owens—that I’m the victim of a cowboy joke ... But he said that Mr. Springer won’t stand for a joke on a poor old schoolmarm.” ”

“ I’ll meet the lady an’ do the talkin’. I’ll let her down easy. An’ if I cain’t head her back to Missouri we’ll fetch her out to the ranch an’ then leave it up to Springer. Only we won’t tell her or him or anybody who’s the real Frank Owens.”
“Tex, that ain’t so plumb bad,” declared Andy, admiringly. “What I want to know is who’s goin’ to do the talkin’ to the boss?” queried Panhandle. “It mightn’t be so hard to explain now. But after drivin’ up to the ranch with a woman! You all know Springer’s shy. Young an’ rich, like he is, an’ a bachelor—he’s been fussed over so he’s plumb afraid of girls. ”

“ Wal, boss, it ain’t any safe bet thet you can beat me,” returned Jones, sullenly, as he got up. As they rushed together Jane had wit enough to pick up the gun, and then with it and Jones’, to get back to a safe distance. She wanted to run away out of sight. But she could neither do that nor keep her fascinated gaze from the combatants. Even in her distraught condition she could see that the cowboy, fierce and active and strong as he was, could not hold his own with Springer. They fought over all the open space, and crashed into the cedars and out again. ”

“ An’ that you may find out,” he laughed. “Of course, I could never come up to—say—Frank Owens. But let’s dance. I shall have little enough of you in this outfit.”
So he swung her into the circle of dancers. Jane found him easy to dance with, though he was far from expert. Jane felt strange and uncertain with him. Then soon she became aware of the cessation of hum and movement.
“Sure that was the best dance I ever had,” said Springer, with something of radiance in his dark face. “An’ now I must lose you to this outfit comin’.” ”

“ Something had come over her. It was late fall, but the sun was warm that afternoon. Before her lay the valley range, and beyond it the foothills rose, and above them loomed the dark beckoning mountains. ”

“ Apparently the rancher took Tex seriously.
“He sure is wild, Tex, and I know you’re a poor hand with a horse. If he throws you, why you’ll have your own horse.” Miss Stacey turned away her eyes. There was a hint of a smile on her lips. Springer got in beside her and, taking the reins without another glance at his discomfited cowboys, he drove away.
A few weeks altered many things at Springer’s Ranch. ”

“ Jane Stacey.
Profound silence followed Tex’s perusal of the letter. The cowboys were struck dumb. But suddenly Nevada exploded: “My Gawd, fellars, today’s the nineteenth!”
“Wal, Springer needs a schoolmarm at the ranch,” finally spoke up the practical Andy. “There’s half a dozen kids growin’ up without any schoolin’, not to talk about other ranches. I heard the boss say this hisself.”
“Who the mischief did it?” demanded Tex, in a rage with himself and his accomplices.
“What’s the sense in hollerin’ aboot thet now?” returned Nevada. “It’s done. She’s comin’. She’ll be on the Limited. ”

“ But Jones fought them.
“You blame fool,” finally yelled one of them. “He’s not packin’ a gun. It’d be murder.”
That brought Jones to his senses, though certainly not to calmness. “Mister Nevada—next time you hit town you’d better come heeled,” he hissed between his teeth.
“Shore. An’ thet’ll be bad for you, Beady,” replied Nevada, curtly. Panhandle and Andy drew Nevada out to the street, where they burst into mingled excitement and anger. Their swift strides gravitated toward the saloon across from the post-office. ”

“ Beacon, Arizona.... Boys, this heah Frank Owens is all of us.”
“Huh! Mebbe he’s a darn sight more,” added Andy.
“Looks like a low-down trick we’re to blame for,” resumed Tex, seriously shaking his hawk-like head. “Heah we reads in a Kansas City paper aboot a school teacher wantin’ a job out in dry Arizonie. An’ we ups an’ writes her an’ gets her ararin’ to come. Then when she writes and tells us she’s not over forty—then we quits like yellow coyotes. An’ we four anyhow shook hands on never writin’ her again. Wal, somebody did, an’ I reckon you-all think me as big a liar as I think you. ”

“ Manifestly he meant his cowboys Tex, Nevada, Panhandle and Andy, who presented themselves four abreast, shiny of hair and face.
“Good luck,” he whispered. “If you get into trouble let me know.”
What he meant quickly dawned upon Jane. Right then it began. She saw there was absolutely no use in trying to avoid or refuse these young men. The wisest and safest course was to surrender, which she did. “Boys, don’t all talk at once. I can dance with only one of you at a time. So I’ll take you in alphabetical order. I’m a poor old schoolmarm from Missouri. It’ll be Andy, Nevada, Panhandle and Tex.” ”

“ Springer’s orders.” Jane started with surprise and then blushed rosy red. Tex, also, appeared confused at his disclosure. “Miss Stacey, I oughtn’t have said that. It slipped out. The boss said we needn’t tell you, but you were to be watched an’ taken care of. It’s a wild range. You could get lost or thrown from a horse.”
“Mr. Springer is very kind and thoughtful,” murmured Jane.
“The fact is, this heah ranch is a different place since you came,” went on Tex as if emboldened. “An’ this beatin’ around the bush doesn’t suit me. All the boys have lost their haids over you.” ”

“ Andy and Panhandle leaned back against the bar. They had been in such situations before and knew who would do the talking for them. “Howdy, Jones,” replied Nevada, coolly and carelessly. “We happened to be in here by accident. Reckon we're usually more particular what kind of company we mix with.”
“Ahuh! Springer's outfit is sure a stuck-up one,” sneered Jones, in a loud tone. “So stuck-up they won't even ride around drift-fences.”
Nevada slightly changed his position. “Beady, I've had a couple of drinks an' ain't very clear-headed,” drawled Nevada. ”

“ And Panhandle and Nevada echoed him.
“I'll ride over on my hoss, an' see you all meet the lady,” added Andy.
Tex had lost his scowl, but he did not look as if he favorably regarded Andy's idea. “Hang it all!” he burst out, hotly. “Can't some of you gents look at it from her side of the fence? Nice fix for any woman, I say. Somebody ought to get it good for this mess. If I ever find out—”
“Go on with your grand idea,” interposed Nevada.
“You all come with me. I'll get a buckboard. I'll meet the lady an' do the talkin'. I'll let her down easy. ”

“ Your fightin’ will only make it interestin’. Come here, you deceitful little cat.” And he lifted her out of her saddle over in front of him. Jones’ horse, that had been frightened and plunging, ran away into the cedars. Then Jones proceeded to embrace Jane. ”