Shoe-Bar Stratton - Chapter 2

Stratton suddenly turned his back and stared blankly through the open door. With the same unconscious instinct which had moved him to conceal ¹ his face from the old man, he fumbled ² in one pocket and drew forth ³ papers and tobacco sack. It spoke ⁴ well for his self-control that his fingers were almost steady as he deliberately ⁵ fashioned a cigarette and thrust it between his lips. When he had lighted it and inhaled ⁶ a puff ⁷ or two, he turned slowly to Pop Daggett again., ,"You sure know how to shoot a surprise into a fellow, old-timer," he drawled. "A woman rancher, eh? That's going some around this country, I'll say. How long has she--er--owned the Shoe-Bar?", ,"Only since her pa died about four months back." Pop Daggett assumed an easier pose; his tone had softened ⁹ to one of garrulous ¹⁰ satisfaction at having a new listener to a tale he had worn threadbare. "It's consid'able of a story, but if yuh ain't pressed for time--", , ,Daggett's small, faded blue eyes regarded him curiously ¹²., ,"Did yuh ever meet up with this here Stratton?" he asked abruptly ¹³., ,He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦
。,She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。