Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-26
BEIGE.

nighfall, urging his lean mustang for
ward YEARLY, and coughing now and
then a heavy, hollow cough that told its
own story.
There were only two houses on the
mesa, stretching shaggy and somber
with grease-wood from the base of the
mountains to the valley below-two I'M
painted redwood dwellings, with their
clumps OF trailing pepper trees and tat
tered bananas, mere specks of clvlliza-
ton against stern background of noun
tain side. The traveller halted before
one Of them, bowling awkwardly as the
master Of the house came out.
"Mr. Brandt. reckon?'
Joel Brandt looked keenly into the
strangers face. Not bad face certain
ly; sallow and drawn with suffering,
one of those hopelessly pathetic faces,
barely saved from the grotesque by a
pair of dull, wistful eyes.
Not that Joel Brandt saw y-thing
grotesgue or pathetic about the man.
another sickly looking stranger out
here Can you keep him? Or may be
GiC L CA III SIVC I'LL DcI
Mrs Brandt shook her head in house
wifely meditation.
mo, Mrs. Fox can't, that's certain.
She has an asthma and two bronchitises
there now. What is the matter with
him, Joel?'
The strangers harsh, resonant cough
answered.
"Keep him? to be sure. You might
know I'D keep him, Joel; the night airs
no place for man with cough like
that Bring him into the kitchen right
away"
The new conner spread his bony hands
over Mrs. Brandt's CHEEKY fire, and the
soft, dull eyes followed her movements
wistfully.
''The fire feels kind % honey, ma'am :;
Californy amt much Of place for fires,
it pears"
"Been long on the coast, stranger?'
Joel squared himself intorrogatively.
"Bout week. I'm from Indianny.
Rrice's my name-Posey Brice the boys
in the glass mill called me- was blow
ed up il glass once" The speaker turn
ed to show an ugly scar on his neck.
"Didn't know where I was for six weeks
thought hadn't lit. When come to
there was Loisy potterin' over me; but
amt been Rugged since.'
Married."
The mans answer broke through the
patient homeliness Of his face at once He
fumbled in his pocket silently like one
who had no common disclosure to make.
what dye think o. them, stranger?
Joel took the little black case in his
hand reverently. A woman's face-not
grand or fair even-some bits of tawdry
fnery making its plainness plainer-and
beside it round-eyed boy pumped into
high chair, and two little feet sticking
sturdily out in Joel's face.
Mrs, Brandt looked over her husbands
shoulder with kindly curiosity.
''lhc boy favors YOU amazingly about
the mouth, but he's got his mothers eyes,
and they are sharp KNOWN eyes too. He's
bright one I'll be bound"
Yours, reckon
Yes, that's LoisY and the boy" fight
ing the conscious pride in his voice like
one who tried to do his honors meeklv.
He took the well-worn case again, eaz.
ing into the two faces an instant with
place. The very way he handled it was a
caress, fastening the little brass hook with
scrupulOus care.
"Ill be sendin' fur EN- when 1 get red
of this pesterin' cough"
4 very quiet, unobtrusive guest Mrs.
Brandt found the man Brice talking little
save in sudden gush of confidence, and
always of his wife and child; choosing
quiet corner of the kitchen in the chill
California nights, where he watched his
hostess def movements with wistful ad-
miration.
CRY hunting, Brice; the doctors most
ly say it's healthy"
And Brice tried hunting as Joel adj
vised. Taking the gun from its crotch
over the door after breakfast, and wan
dering for hours in the yellow wine-like
air Of the mesa, he came in at noon and
nightfall always empty handed; yet no
one derided his failure. There was some
thing about the man that smothered de-
rision.
And so the hunting came to an end
without bloodshed. Whether the doctors
were right or whether it was the mingled
resin and honey Of the sage and chapar-
rel, no one cared to ask. Certain it is
that the "pesterin' cough" yielded little
and the bent form grew a trife more
erect.
Il think likely it's the lookin' up, ma
am. Mountains seem to straighten fell
low some way. Pears to me somebody
writ once Nv littin' his eyes to the hills
for help. Mebbe not, though. I amt
much at recoilectin' verses. Loisv's
powerful hand that way"
Perhaps the man was right. It was the
looking up.
= He followed Joel from the table one
morning, stopping outside, his face full
Of patient eagerness.
"I'm gittin' right smart o strength,
neigbber. Eff there's odd jobs you could
gil me; I'd be slow, mebbe, but seems
like most anything nd be better'n settin
round"
Joel scratched his head, rehectively.
The big brawny handed fellow felt no
disposition to smile at his weaker brother.
"Fox and was saying yesterday we'd
like to put another man on the ditch:
it'll be easy work for Ea week, till we
strike rock again. Then there is the
grease-wood. It's always on hand. You
might take it slow, grubbin' when you
was able. guess we'll find Won jobs
oDouoh mon -