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.""You needn't concern yourself about me," said Janey, spiritedly."And I'llhave you know I'm not blasé.Did you ever see me look old or bored?""Certainly not old, but bored--yes indeed, and with your humble servant,myself.""You don't bore me any more, Phillip," replied Janey."You have become amystery.Your possibilities are unlimited.""Much obliged," rejoined Randolph, with nonchalance."I hope I can live up toyour idea of my development.""When will you start amusing me?" asked Janey, with a provoking little smile."There's no time like the present.""Very well, begin.You have only to be perfectly natural.""That is what I thought.So I need not exert myself.After breakfast come withme for a walk.I know where to find some horned toads.""How far is it?""Quite near.In the big wash over the ridge.But I advise you to change thatchild's dress for something comfortable and protecting.""Goodness! This is a tennis skirt and blouse.""Who'd guess it," returned Randolph, dryly."Be ready in about an hour."Janey went to her room.Phillip had been quite businesslike.She had fanciedhe would take her for a long ride someday, which would give him betteropportunity to make off with her.Surely he would not attempt the abductionwhile on a short stroll near the post.But she felt uncertain about him.Shehad best be prepared.To this end she considered what it would be best towear.If she donned riding clothes and boots, which she heartily wanted to do,it would rouse Randolph's suspicions.Outside of that all her clothes wereunsuitable for the kind of a jaunt she was likely to have.She gave Randolphabout one day and one night before fetching her back to the post.That,however, was long enough for his purpose, though she remembered her fatherhinting otherwise.Janey searched among her things, and finally found an oldwoolen outing skirt, absurdly short.It would have to do.She selected theheaviest stockings she could find, which were thin at that, tennis shoes, ablouse with high collar and long sleeves.She put on a soft felt hat andgloves.Then as an afterthought she slipped a vanity case into the pocket ofPage 27ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlher short sport coat, and tried to choose the things she would need badly, incase she were kidnaped.But pocket space was limited.Thus equipped, and fullof suppressed mirth, yet not free from other agitation, she sallied forth tomeet Mr.Randolph.Janey knew she had occupied more than an hour, but she was surprised to findhe was not waiting for her.Nor was her father anywhere in sight."Something'sup I'll bet," soliloquized Janey.She went out to see the cowboys ride awaywith Bennet.They were a disconsolate lot, and gazed at her from afar.Upon her return to the house she met Randolph.His boots were dusty, and hisface heated from exertion.He looked too grim and tense for a little walk.Unless he meant to propose to her! Or else carry out her father's plan.Janeyknew it was one or the other; and she trembled.But Phil seemed too concernedwith himself to note that she was not wholly at ease.And in another instantJaney regained composure."Here you are," he said, as he met her."Glad you're a little more sensiblydressed.""I thought maybe you'd have me digging round in the sand after horned toads,"she replied."Daresay you'll be digging round for more than that before we get back."He led her out the side exit of the yard, where the foliage of peach trees andthe house obscured their departure from anyone who might have been lookingfrom the post."Horned toads are really one of the wonders of the desert," he said, as hewalked briskly out toward the rise of ground."They have protectivecoloration.It is very difficult to see them.They are beautiful, with eyeslike jewels.At rare times when angry one will emit blood from its eyes."While he talked he was leading Janey up the ridge.Then in a few moments theywere over and going down on the other side, out of sight of the post.Hetalked horned toads until he had exhausted his fund of natural history, thenhe switched to desert scenery.Janey knew he was only marking time,endeavoring to absorb her so that she would scarcely notice the distance theyhad come and that it was still far to any break in the floor of the desert.She helped him by listening intently.It was a full ten miles to the wash."Phil, didn't you say it was only a little walk?" she asked, innocently."Why, yes.Isn't it?""If you'd ask me I'd say it was long.Where do we go from here?" returnedJaney, gazing down into the sandy void.There was no trail she could see,though in the sand just below she discerned horse tracks.Randolph jumped downoff the bank to the slope, which was several feet under the level."Come," he said, and Janey detected a slight change of tone."Gee.I can't get down there," she replied, fearfully."If you won't let me lift you down, why, slide.""Slide!--Mr.Randolph, I'm not a baseball player."Quick as a flash, then, he reached for her, clasped her knees and lifted herso that she fell over his shoulder."Oh!" cried Janey, in genuine surprise.How powerful he was! She might havebeen a sack of potatoes.He carried her several strides down before Janeybegan to protest and squirm.She would have kicked if her legs had been free.At any rate her struggle and the steep soft slope of sand caused Randolph tolose his balance and fall sidewise.Janey rolled off his shoulder and sat up.Randolph stumbled to his feet, and seeing her sitting there wide-eyed andblank he burst into laughter.Janey could not help following suit."Mr.Randolph, is this how you hunt horned toads?" she asked sternly."No.But why did you overbalance me? I could have packed you down to thebottom.""My position was scarcely dignified.In the future if it is necessary to packme, as you call it, please give me a moment to prepare.""All right.Come on.Let's see if you're any good on seven-league boots," hesaid, and strode down with giant steps.Janey tried to imitate him, succeeded admirably, and reached the bottom of thePage 28ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlwash in good time."My shoes are full of sand," she announced, and sat down to remove them."Don't let a little thing like that fuss you.It may happen again.""You're quite gay, all of a sudden," remarked Janey, as she shook the sand outof her shoes."Yes.Why not? It's something to see Miss Janey Endicott as she is thismorning," he responded, eying her with a glint of admiration."I suppose you mean me in this short skirt," she returned, calmly."But youneedn't look.It was the only old thing I had."Soon she was following him down the wash.It appeared to be quite deep, with adry stream bed of rock and gravel at the bottom.Desert plants grew sparselyalong the banks.Randolph did not look back nor speak, and he walked a littletoo swiftly for Janey who lost a few paces.Presently they turned a corner,and Janey spotted what she had been expecting--two saddled horses [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]