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desirable sheeting falling on the wagon floor。 It apparently suggested a
new idea to the former salesman。 〃I say！ let's play 'damaged stock。' See；
I'll tumble all the things down here right on top o' the others； and sell 'em
for less than cost。〃
The girl looked up。 The suggestion was bold； bad； and momentarily
attractive。 But she only said 〃No；〃 apparently from habit； picked up her
doll； and the boy clambered to the front of the wagon。 The incomplete
episode terminated at once with that perfect forgetfulness； indifference；
and irresponsibility common to all young animals。 If either could have
flown away or bounded off finally at that moment； they would have done
so with no more concern for preliminary detail than a bird or squirrel。
The wagon rolled steadily on。 The boy could see that one of the
teamsters had climbed up on the tail…board of the preceding vehicle。 The
other seemed to be walking in a dusty sleep。
〃Kla'uns；〃 said the girl。
The boy； without turning his head； responded； 〃Susy。〃
〃Wot are you going to be？〃 said the girl。
〃Goin' to be？〃 repeated Clarence。
〃When you is growed；〃 explained Susy。
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Clarence hesitated。 His settled determination had been to become a
pirate； merciless yet discriminating。 But reading in a bethumbed 〃Guide
to the Plains〃 that morning of Fort Lamarie and Kit Carson； he had
decided upon the career of a 〃scout；〃 as being more accessible and
requiring less water。 Yet； out of compassion for Susy's possible
ignorance； he said neither； and responded with the American boy's modest
conventionality； 〃President。〃 It was safe； required no embarrassing
description； and had been approved by benevolent old gentlemen with
their hands on his head。
〃I'm goin' to be a parson's wife；〃 said Susy； 〃and keep hens； and have
things giv' to me。 Baby clothes； and apples； and apple sass and
melasses！ and more baby clothes！ and pork when you kill。〃
She had thrown herself at the bottom of the wagon； with her back
towards him and her doll in her lap。 He could see the curve of her curly
head； and beyond； her bare dimpled knees； which were raised； and over
which she was trying to fold the hem of her brief skirt。
〃I wouldn't be a President's wife；〃 she said presently。
〃You couldn't！〃
〃Could if I wanted to！〃
〃Couldn't！〃
〃Could now！〃
〃Couldn't！〃
〃Why？〃
Finding it difficult to explain his convictions of her ineligibility；
Clarence thought it equally crushing not to give any。 There was a long
silence。 It was very hot and dusty。 The wagon scarcely seemed to
move。 Clarence gazed at the vignette of the track behind them formed by
the hood of the rear。 Presently he rose and walked past her to the tail…
board。 〃Goin' to get down；〃 he said； putting his legs over。
〃Maw says 'No；'〃 said Susy。
Clarence did not reply； but dropped to the ground beside the slowly
turning wheels。 Without quickening his pace he could easily keep his
hand on the tail…board。
〃Kla'uns。〃
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A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
He looked up。
〃Take me。〃
She had already clapped on her sun…bonnet and was standing at the
edge of the tail…board； her little arms extended in such perfect confidence
of being caught that the boy could not resist。 He caught her cleverly。
They halted a moment and let the lumbering vehicle move away from
them； as it swayed from side to side as if laboring in a heavy sea。 They
remained motionless until it had reached nearly a hundred yards； and then；
with a sudden half…real； half…assumed； but altogether delightful trepidation；
ran forward and caught up with it again。 This they repeated two or three
times until both themselves and the excitement were exhausted； and they
again plodded on hand in hand。 Presently Clarence uttered a cry。
〃My！ Susylook there！〃
The rear wagon had once more slipped away from them a considerable
distance。 Between it and them； crossing its track； a most extraordinary
creature had halted。
At first glance it seemed a doga discomfited； shameless； ownerless
outcast of streets and byways； rather than an honest stray of some drover's
train。 It was so gaunt； so dusty； so greasy； so slouching； and so lazy！
But as they looked at it more intently they saw that the grayish hair of its
back had a bristly ridge； and there were great poisonous…looking dark
blotches on its flanks； and that the slouch of its haunches was a peculiarity
of its figure； and not the cowering of fear。 As it lifted its suspicious head
towards them they could see that its thin lips； too short to cover its white
teeth； were curled in a perpetual sneer。
〃Here； doggie！〃 said Clarence excitedly。 〃Good dog！ Come。〃
Susy burst into a triumphant laugh。 〃Et tain't no dog； silly； it's er
coyote。〃
Clarence blushed。 It wasn't the first time the pioneer's daughter had
shown her superior knowledge。 He said quickly； to hide his discomfiture；
〃I'll ketch him； any way； he's nothin' mor'n a ki yi。〃
〃Ye can't； tho；〃 said Susy； shaking her sun…bonnet。 〃He's faster nor a
hoss！〃
Nevertheless； Clarence ran towards him； followed by Susy。 When
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A WAIF OF THE PLAINS
they had come within twenty feet of him； the lazy creature； without
apparently the least effort； took two or three limping bounds to one side；
and remained at the same distance as before。 They repeated this onset
three or four times with more or less excitement and hilarity； the animal
evading them to one side； but never actually retreating before them。
Finally； it occurred to them both that although they were not catching him
they were not driving him away。 The consequences of that thought were
put into shape b