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Carley's eyes opened and beheld this man in an attitude of supremely

derisive protest

"You look like a sick kitten," he added "When I get me a sweetheart or

wife I want her to be a wild cat"

His scorn and repudiation of her gave Carley intense relief She sat up

and endeavored to collect her shattered nerves Ruff gazed down at her

with great disapproval and even disappointoin' to kill you?" he

queried, gruffly

"I'm afraid--I did," faltered Carley Her relief was a release; it was

so strange that it was gratefulness

"Wal, I reckon I wouldn't have hurt you None of these flop-over Janes

for ht have run

acrost a fellar thet was no gentle statements that had ever been made to Carley, this

one seemed the most remarkable

"What'd you wear thet onnatural white dress fer?" he dee

"Unnatural?" echoed Carley

"Shore Thet's what I said Any woht Why, you looked like--like"--here he

floundered for adequate expression--"like one of the devil's angels An'

I want to hear why you wore it"

"For the same reason I'd wear any dress," she felt forced to reply