The Young Runaway by Zane Grey

Author:Zane Grey [Zane Grey]
Language: eng
Format: epub

TWO incidents, the bold overtures of a cowboy named Reed and the arrest of Andrew Bonning, spoiled what would have been a perfectly marvelous day for Martha Ann.

That very morning on the way to the rodeo Martha had received a letter from her mother, not only forgiving her for the mad escapade to which she had confessed, but also enclosing a check to defray her expenses home. Martha had arrived in Casper with her new friends, excited and happy. The crude overture of a cowboy whom the Glemm girls knew had disturbed her, because the man had evidently heard of her hitchhiking, and had assumed that to be sufficient license to make an advance which had to be squelched in no uncertain words. Then Andrew's spectacular riding of the steer, ludicrous as it was, had won her unwilling admiration. These had been forgotten, however, in the excitement of the rodeo, the magnificent horses and the daring trick riders, until Andrew's fight and arrest had broken up the show for Martha Ann.

It chanced that she had been a witness to both. Nellie Glemm, leaving her seat to meet some friends coming up the steps, had halted with them to look over the rail. Something evidently had happened below. People were leaving their seats. At the moment there was nothing going on on the track. Suddenly Nellie had turned to beckon her sister, Martha and the two other girls.

"There's Smoky Reed now," said the Glemm girl, pointing. "Cal Brice, and the Hazelett boys...Making fun of the young man who drove you to town. Bligh's hired hand, isn't he?"

"Yes. That's Andrew...his name is Andrew Bonning," returned Martha Ann.

"I've seen him before," said one of the girls.

"Handsome fellow," added Nellie.

"Say, look at him parade! That Brice outfit won't do a thing to him."

"Girls. He's just showing off—for their benefit," Martha had hastily interposed. "Andrew isn't the least conceited."

"This is going to be fun," replied Nellie. "I'll say he has his nerve with him. That's a bad outfit."

The ensuing harangue and fight, the interception by the sheriff and Andrew's arrest had quite robbed Martha Ann of any further enjoyment in the rodeo.

"Looks like your big boy picked a fight with Smoky's outfit," declared Nellie Glemm, meaningly, after they had returned to town to their hotel.

"He's not mine," replied Martha Ann, hastily feeling her cheeks grow hot.

"Well, he sure made hash out of Smoky. And wasn't it rich when he hit Cal Brice in the breadbasket?"

"Will they keep him—in jail?" queried Martha nervously.

"They sure will, if he can't pay his fine."

"Jim Fenner went with him. I hope they have enough money."

Martha Ann felt on pins and needles. She was at a loss how to escape from these spirited Western girls, all so friendly and eager for her enjoyment, without giving them further reason to think that she was interested in Andrew. Still she simply had to find out if he had been released. The idea of his being kept in jail over night was intolerable. The

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