FAITH'S FARM
Angus was riding fast for Faith Winton's ranch. Rain had fallen steadily
for two days, and was still falling. The hills were veiled to their
bases in low clouds. Mists hung everywhere, rising from little lakes,
hanging low over the bottoms, clinging to the tree-tops of the
benchlands. The rain would do good, undoubtedly, but it could not repair
the damage of the drouth.
Angus had not seen Faith for a fortnight. As he rode, head down against
the rain, half unconsciously he began to picture unimportant details. Of
course, on such a beastly day, she would be at home. There would be an
open fire, and perhaps music. Music and an open fire! The combination
suited him. Perhaps--
A live bomb landed beneath Chief's feet with an explosion of barking.
The big horse, taken by surprise, bounded and kicked. And as Angus
caught him hard with the rein and a word picked at random from a
vocabulary suited to the comprehension of western horses, he saw Faith
Winton.
She was cased against the rain in a long slicker, and a tarpaulin hat
protected her fair head. Beneath the broad brim of it her face, rosy and
clear-skinned, laughed up at him as he brought Chief up with a
suddenness which made his hoofs cut slithering grooves in the slop.
"Jehu, the son of Nimshi, rideth furiously. Also he useth vain words to
his steed."
Angus reddened, for a man's remarks to his horse are in the nature of
confidential communications.
"I didn't see you," he said, dismounting beside her.
"Melord of many acres honors the poor ranch maiden. Methought he had
forgotten her existence."
"You know better than that."
"Well, perhaps I do. I hope your flume is all right now. But of course
this rain--"
He did not undeceive her.
"I never expected to see you out on a day like this."
"Like this? Why, I never could stay in, on a rainy day. I must get out.
Good for the complexion."
"I can see the complexion part of it. I wonder if you know how becoming
that slicker hat is?"
She laughed up at him. "Of course I know. Do you think I'd wear it if I
didn't?"
"I never saw one on a girl before."
"No? They're supposed to be purely masculine, I know." She cocked the
hat on one side and sang:
"If it be a girl she shall wear a golden ring,
And if it be a boy he shall fight for his king,
With his tarpaulin hat, and his coat of navy blue
He shall pace the quarter-deck as his daddy used to do."
Her rich contralto rang down the misty aisles beneath the dripping firs.
"Fine!" Angus applauded. "That's a great old song." She nodded and swung
into the old, original refrain, her voice taking on the North Country
burr:
"O-ho! it's hame, lads, hame, an' it's hame we yet wull be--
Back thegither scatheless in the North Countree;
Hame wi' wives an' bairns an' sweethearts in our ain countree--
Whaur the ash, an' the oak, an' the bonnie hazel tree,
They be all a-growin' green in our ain countree."
"I like those old songs," Angus approved.
"So do I. Modern songs seem to me cheap things, written just to sell.
But the old ones--the real, old songs that were the songs of generations
before us--weren't really written at all. Somehow, when I sing them I
feel that I am almost touching the spirits of those who sang them many
years ago." She stopped abruptly. "And now you'll think I'm silly!"
"Not a bit. Spirits! Old Murdoch McGillivray--"
"Who was he?"
"A friend of my father's. He had the gift."
"The gift?"
"I mean the second sight."
"You believe in that?"
"Well, he foretold his own death."
"Not really?"
"It comes to the same thing. The last night he was at our house he was
playing the pipes, and suddenly he stopped and would play no more.
Before he left he told my father he had seen himself lying dead beside
running water. A week after that they found him dead beside the creek.
What would you think?"
"I don't know," Faith admitted. "It's a thin veil, and some may see
beyond." She shivered. "I wish you had the second sight yourself. Then
you might tell me what to do."
"About what?" he asked.
"Uncle Godfrey has made me an offer for my land, and I don't know
whether to accept it or not."
"Will he give you a fair price?"
"He offers the price paid for the land and the cost of the improvements
I have made."
It seemed to Angus that Godfrey French had some conscience left. But it
might be less conscience than fear that the girl would find out how he
had cheated her father. Restitution was practically forced on him if he
had the money to make good, and apparently, in spite of what Judge Riley
had said, he had.
"I would take his offer," Angus advised reluctantly, for it meant that
he would lose his neighbor.
"Why?"
"Why? Why, I've always told you you can't make a success of ranching."
"And I've never admitted it. I'm gaining experience. And land is going
up."
"Some land."
"Then why not this? What is the matter with my land?"
Angus evaded the direct challenge. "The place is too big for you.
There's a lot of it, like that little, round mountain, that's no good at
all."
"Which is directly against your contention that the place is too big for
me. But if this land is worth what was paid for it, it should be worth
more to-day."
Suddenly Angus began to wonder what had spurred French's conscience.
"Why does he want to buy?"
"Partly, he says, to take a white elephant off my hands; and partly for
Blake."
"For Blake?" Angus exclaimed in amazement.
"Blake wants a ranch of his own. You don't believe it?"
"Not a word of it."
"Perhaps Uncle Godfrey is merely inventing that reason. He may have no
other than a desire to take the property off my hands, if he thinks I
can't work it profitably."
"It seems funny," Angus said, thoughtfully. "If he wants to buy for
Blake he may offer more. I don't think, after all, I'd be in a hurry to
decide."
"I'll take that advice, and wait. But here we are at the house. Put
Chief in the stable. You'll stay for supper, of course."
Angus stayed. But all evening he was preoccupied. Again and again he
went over the puzzle. Why did Godfrey French want to buy that dry ranch?
Why had he given a reason which was not a reason? Why had he lied about
Blake? He could find no satisfactory answers to these questions.
His reflections were interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Blake
himself, and Blake was obviously half-drunk. He acknowledged Angus'
presence with a nod and a growl, and thereafter ignored him, devoting
himself to Faith. His attitude toward her was familiar, and when at his
request she went to the piano glad to escape his conversation, he leaned
over her, placing a hand on her shoulder, an action which made Angus
long to break his neck. But she rose from the piano.
"No, I won't play any more. You must have some refreshments. Tea, coffee
or cocoa?"
"Not strong on any of 'em," said Blake. "But all right if _you_ make
'em. Drink anything _you_ make, li'l girl!"
Without reply Faith left the room, and without invitation Angus followed
her. In the hall she turned fury blazing in her eyes.
"He's disgusting!"
"Shall I send him home?"
"He wouldn't go. I wish he would."
"I can make him go," Angus said hopefully. "I'd like to."
"No, no, that wouldn't do. I'll just have to put up with him. Perhaps
he'll be better. Why, there's somebody in the kitchen. I didn't know
Mrs. Foley had a visitor. Why, it's your man, Gus!"
Gus was established in a chair which he had balanced on its hind legs
against the wall. Around its front legs his huge feet were hooked. A
pipe was clenched in his teeth, and on his face was placid content.
"Yaas," he announced, "Ay ban purty gude man on a rench. Ay roon dat
rench for Engus, yoost like Ay roon him for hes fader."
"Ye run th' ranch f'r th' ould man, did ye?" Mrs. Foley commented.
"Sure," Gus affirmed. "Me and him we roon him. Engus, he don't know much
about a rench. If it ent for me, Ay tank he mek dam' fule out of the
whole t'ing."
"Gawd, but ye hate yerself!" said his auditor. "If ye know so much, why
ain't ye got a half section or bether of yer own, instid of dhrillin'
along a hired man?"
"Vell, Ay don't see yoost vat Ay like," Gus explained. "Ay mek gude
money."
"Who gets it?" asked Mrs. Foley. "Th' barkeep?"
Big Gus grinned. "Mebbe he gat some. But Ay got a stake saved up. Ven Ay
see a gude rench mebbe Ay buy him. But a faller alone on a rench haf
purty hard time. He needs a woman to cook and vash by him."
"Is that so?" snorted Mrs. Foley. "But, be me sowl, I b'lieve ye're
tellin' the stark, naked trut' as ye see ut. That's all the loikes iv
yez sees in a woman."
"Soome time," said Gus reflectively, "mebbe Ay gat me a voman."
"Hiven help her!" said Mrs. Foley piously. Gus surveyed her calmly.
"If Ay gat a voman," he announced, "Ay skall gat one dat ent no fule."
"Any woman ye get will be," Mrs. Foley retorted with a meaning which got
past Gus entirely.
"Vell, Ay don't know," he returned. "Some vomans is gat soome sense ven
dey gat old enough. Ay don't vant no good-lookin' young dancin' girl dat
don't know how to cook. Ay gat me soome day a rench, and a gude strong
voman like you, and settle down."
Faith smothered her mirth with difficulty. "There's a pointer for you,
Angus!" she whispered.
"Mrs. Foley will murder him now," he returned.
"Ye have ut down fine," Mrs. Foley snorted, "an' all I hope is that ye
get a woman that'll lay ye out wid a rowlin' pin in life, an' wid a
cleaner shirt nor ye have on now, when yer time comes. An' ut's me
that's lit candles, head an' feet, for foour men already. Though belike
ut's no candles ye'll have to light yer way up or down. Phwat belief are
ye, ye big Swede?"
Gus scratched his head and pondered.
"Ay vote democrat in Meenneesota," he replied, "but Ay tank Ay ban
socialist now."
"Agh-r-r!" snarled Mrs. Foley. "I mean phwat religion are ye, or ain't
ye?"
Gus scratched his head again.
"Ay tank mebbe Ay ban Christian," he said doubtfully.
"Ay tank mebbe ye're a Scandahoovian haythen," Mrs. Foley mimicked.
But the entrance of Faith and Angus cut short her further theological
research. Faith explained her wants.
"It's for Blake French, Mary," she said. "He's--well, we thought he
might feel better if--"
"Is he dhrunk, bad scran till him?"
"Half," Angus nodded.
"Then, instid of feedin' him why don't ye t'run him out?"
"I'd be glad to, but--"
"No, no," Faith broke in, "he may be better--"
"A bad actor an' a raw wan is that same lad," Mrs. Foley announced with
conviction, "an' comin' around here too much. I am not yer mother, but
if I was--"
"Please, Mary!" Faith cried, her cheeks scarlet.
"Well, well," Mrs. Foley observed, "coffee an' pickles is th' best thing
f'r him, barrin' p'ison. Go yer ways, an' I'll bring ut in whin ready."
They returned to the living room and the society of Blake. He met them
with a scowl. He chose to interpret the fact that he had been left alone
in the light of an insult. He was surly, glaring at Angus. The coffee,
cold meat and pickles which presently appeared did not change his mood.
The liquor dying in him left a full-sized grouch as a legacy.
Angus ignored his attitude. Faith tried to make conversation, but it was
a failure. Time passed and it grew late. Apparently Blake was waiting
out Angus. The latter did not know what to do, but he had no intention
of leaving Blake behind him. Finally, however, he was forced to make a
move. He bade Faith good night. She turned to Blake.
"Good night, Blake."
"Oh, I'm not going yet," he announced.
"It's late, Blake, and I'm tired."
"I want to talk to you."
"Not to-night, please. Come to-morrow."
"No, I'll talk to you to-night."
"Not to-night, Blake."
"Well, you will," Blake declared with an oath. "Trying to get rid of me,
are you? And I suppose this Mackay--"
"That will do now," Angus interrupted. "Be careful what you say."
"Say!" Blake roared, his temper getting the better of his prudence,
"I'll say what I like. What business have you hanging around here? It's
time--"
"It's time you went," Angus told him, "and you're going, do you savvy?
Come along, or I'll take you."
"You--" Blake began, but got no further, for Angus slapped the words
back against his teeth and caught him by wrist and collar.
The struggle was short and sharp. A couple of chairs went over. And then
Angus got his grip.
"Give him th' bummer's run!" shrieked Mrs. Foley from the door.
"Open the front door!" Angus commanded Gus.
When it was open he shot Blake through with a rush and outside released
him.
"Now, Blake French, I want to tell you something," he said. "You have a
dirty tongue in your head. See that you keep it between your teeth, and
mind that never again do you come here drunk. For as sure as you do and
I hear of it, I will break half the bones in your body. Is that plain
enough for you?"
Blake swore deeply. "I'll get you for this," he threatened.
"Then get me right," said Angus, "for the next time I lay my hands on
you I will break you. Remember that."
Riding homeward beside Gus he thought over the events of the evening. It
seemed fated that he should lock horns with Blake. He regretted that he
had not thrown him out sooner. For the latter's threat he did not care
at all. As he looked at it Blake had not enough sand to make his words
good.
"Ay tank," said Gus, "dat faller, Blake, he'd do purty dirty trick."
"Maybe."
Gus was silent for a mile.
"Dat's purty fine voman," he announced.
"Yes," Angus agreed absently, "Miss Winton is a fine girl."
"Ay ent mean her," said Gus; "Ay mean dae Irish voman."
Angus grinned in the darkness. "Sure," he said, "she's a fine, strong
woman."
Gus sighed.