Read Online the High Graders (1965) by Louis L'amour - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Louis L'amour
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daughters i n one of Philadelphia's oldest and wealthies t families, but she possessed an adventurou s spirit, and despite all the protests their tw o families could offer, they went west.
For a while Dr. Clagg had remained a n Army surgeon, attached to various posts i n New Mexico and Arizona. When he left th e service a distant cousin, Clagg Merriam , who was in business in Rafter, suggested that they com e there, and almost two years ago they had done so , prepared to settle down.
At thirty-four Dr. Rupert Clagg wa s erect, tall, and handsome, bronzed as an y cowhand, and bearing an arrow scar on his cheekbone.
His office was filled with frontier atmosphere , but his home remained a corner of the New Englan d where he had been born.
He liked having people around, and had been please d when Laine Tennison arrived to be their hous e guest. Laine and Dottie had attended schoo l together in Philadelphia, and Dottie had bee n thrilled when Laine had written, mentioning comin g west for her health.
"Although I don't know why," Dottie ha d confided to her husband. "She was always the pictur e of health."
"Maybe she just wants to get away."
"A love affair!" Dottie was at onc e delighted and positive. "She's had a n unhappy love affair!"
"Laine?" Clagg was skeptical.
"Even a girl as beautiful as she is can b e disappointed," Dottie protested.
Recognizing the fact that his wife could be a s excited over an unhappy love affair as a happy one, he did not argue the point.
"I'm going to invite her for a visit,"
Dottie had said. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Mind? Laine? By all means invite her."
She had arrived a few weeks late r and had proved an attentive listene r to Dottie's endless chatter about people and happening s around Rafter. Laine, it seemed, was interested i n all the trivia of life in a western mining town , and not the least bit bored.
Dr. Clagg offered few comments unti l Laine suggested that riding in the open air might b e good for her health. Then he said, "By all means," a nd added, a shade wryly, "Just don't overd o it."
On this evening, when Clagg Merriam was als o there for supper, Dr. Rupert glanced at Lain e across the table. "Your color is better," h e said. "You were riding today?"
"Driving. I rented a buckboard from that nic e old man at the livery stable and drove out past th e Glory Hole."
"That nice old man," the doctor sai d ironically, "is a disreputable old outlaw."
"Really? He seems so sweet."
"I saw a new man in town today," Dotti e said, "and a handsome devil, too. One of the big , rugged outdoor types. He was coming from th e sheriff's office."
"Speaking of men," Dr. Clagg commente d casually, "Ben Stowe was asking about you. H e noticed you driving around alone and wondered who yo u were. He was most interested."
"You can't blame Ben," Clagg Merria m said. "After all, Miss Tennison is a ver y beautiful girl."
"Why, thank you, Mr. Merriam." Lain e flashed him a quick smile. "But I am sure tha t wasn't the reason."
"He asked if you were from San Francisco,"
Dr. Rupert said. "but when I told him you were fro m Philadelphia he lost interest."
"Oh? So he doesn't like Philadelphi a girls!" Dottie exclaimed. "You should hav e told him that Laine has an uncle in Sa n Francisco ... and a rich uncle, at that!"
Clagg Merriam glanced thoughtfully a t Laine, but made no comment. Dr. Rupert, alway s an observant man, caught the expression o n Laine's face. It had stiffened at Dottie' s comment, and in the instant that Merriam looked a t her, Laine shot Dottie a quick, protestin g look.
Later, when the two men sat alone over brand y and cigars, Merriam commented, "Mis s Tennison seems the picture of health. I t hink," he added judiciously, "that they caugh t hers in time."
"I wouldn't think it too safe for a girl to g o riding around alone in a place like this. After all , the mines brought in all sorts of riffraff."
"She can look after herself, Clagg. And I b elieve the people here are
For a while Dr. Clagg had remained a n Army surgeon, attached to various posts i n New Mexico and Arizona. When he left th e service a distant cousin, Clagg Merriam , who was in business in Rafter, suggested that they com e there, and almost two years ago they had done so , prepared to settle down.
At thirty-four Dr. Rupert Clagg wa s erect, tall, and handsome, bronzed as an y cowhand, and bearing an arrow scar on his cheekbone.
His office was filled with frontier atmosphere , but his home remained a corner of the New Englan d where he had been born.
He liked having people around, and had been please d when Laine Tennison arrived to be their hous e guest. Laine and Dottie had attended schoo l together in Philadelphia, and Dottie had bee n thrilled when Laine had written, mentioning comin g west for her health.
"Although I don't know why," Dottie ha d confided to her husband. "She was always the pictur e of health."
"Maybe she just wants to get away."
"A love affair!" Dottie was at onc e delighted and positive. "She's had a n unhappy love affair!"
"Laine?" Clagg was skeptical.
"Even a girl as beautiful as she is can b e disappointed," Dottie protested.
Recognizing the fact that his wife could be a s excited over an unhappy love affair as a happy one, he did not argue the point.
"I'm going to invite her for a visit,"
Dottie had said. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Mind? Laine? By all means invite her."
She had arrived a few weeks late r and had proved an attentive listene r to Dottie's endless chatter about people and happening s around Rafter. Laine, it seemed, was interested i n all the trivia of life in a western mining town , and not the least bit bored.
Dr. Clagg offered few comments unti l Laine suggested that riding in the open air might b e good for her health. Then he said, "By all means," a nd added, a shade wryly, "Just don't overd o it."
On this evening, when Clagg Merriam was als o there for supper, Dr. Rupert glanced at Lain e across the table. "Your color is better," h e said. "You were riding today?"
"Driving. I rented a buckboard from that nic e old man at the livery stable and drove out past th e Glory Hole."
"That nice old man," the doctor sai d ironically, "is a disreputable old outlaw."
"Really? He seems so sweet."
"I saw a new man in town today," Dotti e said, "and a handsome devil, too. One of the big , rugged outdoor types. He was coming from th e sheriff's office."
"Speaking of men," Dr. Clagg commente d casually, "Ben Stowe was asking about you. H e noticed you driving around alone and wondered who yo u were. He was most interested."
"You can't blame Ben," Clagg Merria m said. "After all, Miss Tennison is a ver y beautiful girl."
"Why, thank you, Mr. Merriam." Lain e flashed him a quick smile. "But I am sure tha t wasn't the reason."
"He asked if you were from San Francisco,"
Dr. Rupert said. "but when I told him you were fro m Philadelphia he lost interest."
"Oh? So he doesn't like Philadelphi a girls!" Dottie exclaimed. "You should hav e told him that Laine has an uncle in Sa n Francisco ... and a rich uncle, at that!"
Clagg Merriam glanced thoughtfully a t Laine, but made no comment. Dr. Rupert, alway s an observant man, caught the expression o n Laine's face. It had stiffened at Dottie' s comment, and in the instant that Merriam looked a t her, Laine shot Dottie a quick, protestin g look.
Later, when the two men sat alone over brand y and cigars, Merriam commented, "Mis s Tennison seems the picture of health. I t hink," he added judiciously, "that they caugh t hers in time."
"I wouldn't think it too safe for a girl to g o riding around alone in a place like this. After all , the mines brought in all sorts of riffraff."
"She can look after herself, Clagg. And I b elieve the people here are
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