[Frontispiece: _The Captain tore at the shoulders and neck of the gray horse with his gleaming teeth_. Page 96]
"I Conquered"
By HAROLD TITUS
With Frontispiece in Colors
By CHARLES M. RUSSELL
A. L. BURT COMPANY
Publishers New York
Published by Arrangements with Rand, McNally & Company
_Copyright, 1916,_
By Rand McNally & Company
THE CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. Denunciation II. A Young Man Goes West III. "I've Done My Pickin'" IV. The Trouble Hunter V. Jed Philosophizes VI. Ambition Is Born VII. With Hoof and Tooth VIII. A Head of Yellow Hair IX. Pursuit X. Capture XI. A Letter and a Narrative XII. Woman Wants XIII. VB Fights XIV. The Schoolhouse Dance XV. Murder XVI. The Candle Burns XVII. Great Moments XVIII. The Lie XIX. Through the Night XX. The Last Stand XXI. Guns Crash XXII. Tables Turn; and Turn Again XXIII. Life, the Trophy XXIV. Victory XXV. "The Light!" XXVI. To the Victor
"__I CONQUERED"
CHAPTER I
Denunciation
Danny Lenox wanted a drink. The desire came to him suddenly as he stood looking down at the river, burnished by bright young day. It broke in on his lazy contemplation, wiped out the indulgent smile, and made the young face serious, purposeful, as though mighty consequence depended on satisfying the urge that had just come up within him.
He was the sort of chap to whom nothing much had ever mattered, whose face generally bore that kindly, contented smile. His grave consideration had been aroused by only a scant variety of happenings from the time of a pampered childhood up through the gamut of bubbling boyhood, prep school, university, polo, clubs, and a growing popularity with a numerous clan until he had approached a state of established and widely recognized worthlessness.
Economics did not bother him. It mattered not how lavishly he spent; there had always been more forthcoming, because Lenox senior had a world of the stuff. The driver of his taxicab--just now whirling away--seemed surprised when Danny waved back change, but the boy did not bother himself with thought of the bill he had handed over.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: I Conquered by Harold Titus
- 2: Danny detested those which bound
- 3: How go Danny broke his query abruptly
- 4: So much that the elbows threatened to give
- 5: Danny raised his hands in a half gesture of pleading
- 6: On the buffet stood a decanter
- 7: Danny Lenox walked it this June day
- 8: You go south from Denver to Colorado Springs
- 9: Danny pushed aside the curtain to enter
- 10: Extending the flask toward Danny
- 11: And Danny commenced to draw parallels
- 12: No wonder Danny Lenox felt inconsequential
- 13: After a moment Danny looked away
- 14: Danny looked at him quickly again
- 15: On the threshold Danny stopped
- 16: Turning to look at the loitering Danny
- 17: Danny looked dubiously at the array
- 18: And heard Jed shout an answering greeting
- 19: Cautiously Jed Avery had watched Danny's face
- 20: Danny turned back to his questioner
- 21: Danny followed Jed in the cigarette rolling
- 22: From one to another passed Rhues
- 23: Jed Avery yawned loud and lingeringly
- 24: Jed and Danny rode out into the morning side by side
- 25: Jed gnawed off a fresh chew and repocketed the plug
- 26: Mebby some others has th' sand
- 27: Slapping Danny on the shoulder
- 28: But Danny knew that day was aging
- 29: Danny opened his lips to speak
- 30: Jed stopped and pointed out the directions to his companion
- 31: And even the unbroken talk of Jed
- 32: Jed and Danny searched for horses along two parallel ridges
- 33: And he would demand departure or homage from Danny Lenox
- 34: Sonny you couldn't keep it from me
- 35: And Young VB became truly useful
- 36: Young VB went and got it early in the melee
- 37: It's a Percheron one of Thorpe's stallions
- 38: The impact of flesh against flesh was terrific
- 39: Nothing curious about that to VB
- 40: VB was relieved when the buying had been accomplished
- 41: VB was on the road in half an hour
- 42: And VB answered It does help
- 43: Young VB was unprepared for the big moments of his life
- 44: Was drawing closer to his slower mares
- 45: But VB did not think of anything beyond the next stride
- 46: The stallion tried once more to rally his mates into escape
- 47: Driving his reeking pony mercilessly
- 48: His hindquarters slipped downhill
- 49: And VB recovered himself only by grabbing the saddle fork
- 50: The pony under VB grunted and strained
- 51: Even as he made his last floundering
- 52: VB stepped from the doorway and walked toward Jed
- 53: All the time VB scolded softly
- 54: And VB answered Six days from dawn till dark
- 55: Jed just to keep its light fighting back the darkness
- 56: VB had no cause to search for identities
- 57: And if a thing like that will make my bambino happy
- 58: VB stopped squinting to listen
- 59: Bob Thorpe turned a slow gaze on VB
- 60: Young VB slept restlessly that night
- 61: VB looked for the mare and colt
- 62: Rhues misconstrued his emotion
- 63: Rhues and the other followed him
- 64: VB stepped over the prostrate form
- 65: Matson and Julio are every bit as bad as Rhues
- 66: VB would hurry back with the Captain
- 67: But for the most part she spoke directly to Jed
- 68: And VB maintained a stubborn reticence
- 69: VB was always reserved up to a certain point before her
- 70: Jed and VB made the ride after supper
- 71: VB stood in the doorway and watched
- 72: VB looked at Gail a bit wildly
- 73: Gail followed VB when he went outside
- 74: And although VB was for going on early
- 75: Then asked What time did VB get home last night
- 76: You don't mean you suspected VB
- 77: Jed and VB went about the winter's work in a leisurely way
- 78: VB slapped the Captain's neck gladly
- 79: When Jed came into the cabin VB asked him
- 80: As he approached both recognized Rhues
- 81: Before Jed could make answer she had gone on
- 82: And VB found his self possession returning
- 83: While VB listened and wondered at her breadth of view
- 84: It's nice to have people taking you seriously
- 85: Young VB was a man who feared his own love
- 86: And VB still stood by the gate
- 87: Heard him talk to the stallion piteously
- 88: VB sat motionless and a little limp in his chair
- 89: And VB caught that disquieting vibration
- 90: VB whispered as he threw on the saddle blanket
- 91: All the bitterness VB had endured
- 92: VB let the animal carry him on and on
- 93: VB drew the head still tighter
- 94: The Mexican who ran with Rhues
- 95: For the moment VB wanted to rebel
- 96: For the first time taking his eyes from VB
- 97: The opener raised again and the bartender
- 98: On his words the counting of chips ceased
- 99: Then Rhues whispered his quick plans
- 100: The means counted with Young VB
- 101: His arms flopped as no arm ever should flop
- 102: The shack where he had left the horse swam before his eyes
- 103: Delilah went forth upon her commission
- 104: No light showed from the Rhues cabin
- 105: Saw then that Matson's finger was leveled at Rhues
- 106: And Rhues said grudgingly Well
- 107: Julio reached for the pile of bills Rhues shoved toward him
- 108: Then the cautious voice of Rhues
- 109: Another voice called softly to Rhues
- 110: Rhues cried above the splashing
- 111: For twenty strides VB sat there
- 112: For had not VB gloried in that ride to Ranger
- 113: No craving for VB's life prompted Rhues now
- 114: Cursing VB and their weakening mounts
- 115: VB could hear the horse breathing through his mouth
- 116: The men behind could see VB and they were firing
- 117: For VB had gone down to his test
- 118: VB put a hand on Jed's shoulder
- 119: Jed came in from tending the horses
- 120: Perhaps something less than modest
- 121: Were held sheets of limp paper
- 122: Then Jed came up and greeted the newcomer silently