The Odds

Odds, The

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Title: The Odds And Other Stories
Author: Ethel M. Dell
Release Date: July 28, 2005 [EBook #16380]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE ODDS
And Other Stories By ETHEL M. DELL
Author of "Rosa Mundi," "The Bars of Iron," "The Keeper of the
Door," "The Knave of Diamonds," "The Obstacle Race," "The Rocks
of Valpré," "The Way of an Eagle," etc.
1922

CONTENTS
The Odds Without Prejudice Her Own Free Will The Consolation Prize
Her Freedom Death's Property The Sacrifice
Other Books By Ethel M. Dell

* * * * *

The Odds

"If he comes my way, I'll shoot him!" said Dot Burton, her blue eyes
gleaming in her boyish, tanned face. "I'm not such a bad shot, am I,
Jack?"
"Not so bad," said Jack, kindly. "But don't shoot at sight, or p'r'aps
you'll shoot a policeman--which might be awkward for us both!"
"As if I should be such an idiot as that!" protested Dot. "I wasn't born
yesterday, anyhow."
"No?" said Jack. "Somehow you look as if you were."
"Don't you be a donkey, Jack!" said his young sister, with an impudent
snap of the fingers under his nose. "Being ten years older than I am
doesn't qualify you for that superior pose. You're only a man, you know,
after all."
"Buckskin Bill is only a man, but he's a pretty tough proposition," said
Burton, with a frown.
She smoothed the frown away with caressing fingers. "I know. That's
why I'd like to shoot him. But he's sure to be caught now, isn't he?

They've got him in a trap. He'll never wriggle through with Fletcher
Hill to outwit him. You said yourself that with him on the job the odds
were dead against him."
"Oh, I know. So they are. But he's such a wily devil. Well, I'd better be
going." Jack Burton arose with the deliberate movements of a heavy
man. "I'm sick of this business, Dot. If it weren't for you, I believe I'd
chuck it all and go into business in a town."
"Oh, darling! How silly!" protested Dot. "What a good thing I came out
when I did! Things seem to be at a rather low ebb with you. But cheer
up! What's a few head of cattle when all's said and done? When once
this rascal is laid by the heels, you'll make up quicker than you know.
Of course you will. Don't let yourself get downhearted! What is the
good?"
He smiled a little. There was something heartening in the girl's slim
activity of pose apart from her words. She looked indomitable. He
pulled her to him and kissed her.
"Well, take care of yourself, Dot! You won't be frightened? You
needn't be. He won't come your way. Hill has sworn solemnly to keep
an extra guard in this direction. He may call around himself before the
day is over. It wouldn't surprise me. Don't shoot him if he does! At
least, give him a feed first!"
"Oh, really, Jack!" the girl protested. "I shall be cross with you before
long. You'd better go quick before it comes on."
She put her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug. Her
sunburnt face was pressed to his. "Now, you won't do anything silly?"
she urged him, softly. "I don't like parting with you in this mood. I wish
I were coming too."
"Rubbish! Rubbish!" he said. "You stay at home, little shepherdess, and
look after the lambs! I won't be late back. Mind you are civil to
Fletcher Hill if he turns up! He'll be a magistrate one of these days if he
plays his cards well."

"If he catches the biggest cattle-thief in Australia?" suggested Dot,
screwing her face into a very boyish grimace. "I wouldn't care to get
promotion for that job, if I were a man. But I'll be vastly polite to him if
he turns up. You've never seen me doing the pretty, have you? But I
can--awfully well--when I try."
Her brother laughed. "Oh, don't be too pretty, my child! It's a dangerous
game. Good-bye! Don't go far away!"
"My dear man! As if I should have time!" ejaculated Dot.
She gave him another squeeze and let him go.
There were a great many things to be done