Zane Grey The Man of the Forest

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."IfPage 192ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlI ain't hoodooed I'm a two-bit of a gambler!""Sartin you're hoodooed, " said Shady Jones, in scorn."Is thet jest dawnin'on you?""Boss, you play like a cow stuck in the mud," remarked Moze, laconically."Fellars, it ain't funny," declared Anson, with pathetic gravity."I'm jestgittin' on to myself.Somethin's wrong.Since 'way last fall no luck--nothin'but the wust end of everythin'.I ain't blamin' anybody.I'm the boss.It's methet's off.""Snake, shore it was the gurl deal you made," rejoined Wilson, who hadlistened."I told you.Our troubles hev only begun.An' I can see the wind-up.Look!"Wilson pointed to where the girl stood, her hair flying wildly all over herface and shoulders.She was making most elaborate bows to an old stump,sweeping the ground with her tresses in her obeisance.Anson started.He grew utterly astounded.His amaze was ludicrous.And theother two men looked to stare, to equal their leader's bewilderment."What 'n hell's come over her?" asked Anson, dubiously."Must hev perked up.But she ain't feelin' thet gay!"Wilson tapped his forehead with a significant finger,"Shore I was scared of her this mawnin'," he whispered."Naw!" exclaimed Anson, incredulously."If she hain't queer I never seen no queer wimmin," vouchsafed Shady Jones,and it would have been judged, by the way he wagged his head, that he had beenall his days familiar with women.Moze looked beyond words, and quite alarmed."I seen it comin'," declared Wilson, very much excited."But I was scared tosay so.You-all made fun of me aboot her.Now I shore wish I had spoken up."Anson nodded solemnly.He did not believe the evidence of his sight, but thefacts seemed stunning.As if the girl were a dangerous and incomprehensiblething, he approached her step by step.Wilson followed, and the othersappeared drawn irresistibly."Hey thar--kid! " called Anson, hoarsely.The girl drew her slight form up haughtily.Through her spreading tresses hereyes gleamed unnaturally upon the outlaw leader.But she deigned not to reply."Hey thar--you Rayner girl!" added Anson, lamely."What's ailin' you?""My lord! did you address me?" she asked, loftily.Shady Jones got over his consternation and evidently extracted some humorfrom the situation, as his dark face began to break its strain."Aww!" breathed Anson, heavily.Page 193ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Ophelia awaits your command, my lord.I've been gathering flowers," shesaid, sweetly, holding up her empty hands as if they contained a bouquet.Shady Jones exploded in convulsed laughter.But his merriment was not shared.And suddenly it brought disaster upon him.The girl flew at him."Why do you croak, you toad? I will have you whipped and put in irons, youscullion!" she cried, passionately.Shady underwent a remarkable change, and stumbled in his backward retreat.Then she snapped her fingers in Moze's face."You black devil! Get hence! Avaunt!"Anson plucked up courage enough to touch her."Aww! Now, Ophelyar--"Probably he meant to try to humor her, but she screamed, and he jumped backas if she might burn him.She screamed shrilly, in wild, staccato notes."You! You!" she pointed her finger at the outlaw leader."You brute to women!You ran off from your wife! "Anson turned plum-color and then slowly white.The girl must have sent arandom shot home."And now the devil's turned you into a snake.A long, scaly snake with greeneyes! Uugh! You'll crawl on your belly soon--when my cowboy finds you.Andhe'll tramp you in the dust."She floated away from them and began to whirl gracefully, arms spread andhair flying; and then, apparently oblivious of the staring men, she broke intoa low, sweet song.Next she danced around a pine, then danced into, her littlegreen inclosure.From which presently she sent out the most doleful moans."Aww! What a shame!" burst out Anson."Thet fine, healthy, nervy kid! Cleangone! Daffy! Crazy 'n a bedbug!""Shore it's a shame," protested Wilson." But it's wuss for us.Lord! if wewas hoodooed before, what will we be now? Didn't I tell you, Snake Anson? Youwas warned.Ask Shady an' Moze---they see what's up."" No luck '1l ever come our way ag'in," predicted Shady, mournfully."It beats me, boss, it beats me," muttered Moze [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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