It was a
woman, reading a book.
As he saw her, I heard a great breath heave up inside Thornton's chest.
The woman looked up, stared for a moment, and then dropped her book with
a welcoming cry such as I had never heard before in my life. She sprang
down the steps, and Thornton leaped from the wagon. They met there a
dozen paces from me, Thornton catching her in his arms, and the woman
clasping her arms about his neck.
I heard her sobbing, and I saw Thornton kissing her again and again, and
then the woman pulled his blond head down close to her face. It was
sickening, knowing what I did, and I began helping the driver to throw
off our dunnage.
In about two minutes I heard Thornton calling me.
I didn't turn my head. Then Thornton came to me, and as he straightened
me around by the shoulders I caught a glimpse of the woman. He was
right--she was very beautiful.
"I told you that her husband was a scoundrel and a rake," he said gently.
"Well, he was--and I was that scoundrel! I came up here for a chance of
redeeming myself, and your big, glorious North has made a man of me. Will
you come and meet my wife?"
THE STRENGTH OF MEN
There was the scent of battle in the air. The whole of Porcupine City
knew that it was coming, and every man and woman in its two hundred
population held their breath in anticipation of the struggle between two
men for a fortune--and a girl.
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