The National tribune., 1892-09-15

}~ breathing thing on
Alkali Fla, even to
the lizards, into the
shade.
There were just three rooms in the shack,
and 'Lish's was the end one next to the kitch-
en- The little house was closed as tight as q
drum to keep ia whatever of the nights cool
ness remained in it, which was little enough.
'Lish-the whole of it was Alicia-sat in her
room and talked with her mother, who was
peeling potatoes in the kitchen. Although In
separate rooms their sharp Missourian voices
were clear enough TO each other. There was
Just one thing to talk about, and nearly every
thing on earth that could be said about it had
been said: so they had been going over it all
again. 1t was Pap's big strike.
at amt dead sure, We know, Lish," wound
up the mother; but it looks as near like 1t as
one Jack rabbit looks like eraother."
"Ol Pap's workin' awful hard, amt he,
Maw?"
81 reckon he is
'Lish looked out through the small window.
Her glance shot past the two rails that glim-
mered under the angry sun, down there by
Alkali Fiat Station, past the two scurrying Dust
demons that showed there was air IN motion
somewhere. even though sporadically. and away
over to the blue buttes. There was notch in
the far butte-Scrub Canyon they called 1t.
Pap was working there in that notch, under
that awful sun. in the restless way that Zap
always worked. He was there alone digging
his pick into the dry ground aud scanning each
clod and broken rock for the yellow specks that
meant SO much to him, and that were to put
something better than a shake roof over their
heads.
She felt for him that horrible heat; she saw
the drops of sweat trickle from his brow and
plasn upon the rocks, making their dark mark
there for an instant and drying up in another;
she felt rs she put it, the spring goln' out OF
horD ,r,rt xva
But he wouldn't let me help him-never
would even eff be was a-workin' his two hans
off," she sighed.
Then she went and set the table for dinner.
They ate in silence, Lish and NAV" There
was no good talking it all over again. 1t would
not do to count too much on il, anyway. Other
strikes had been in promise. year after year,
and nothing had come Of them, absolutely moth
ing. -.elHogs
The afternoon wore on. The glare had gone
out Of the day. They opened the house to let
In the growing GOODNESS outside, watching for
"ol' Pap's" dust meantime. and wondering
what news be would bring. He was late, but
he had been late before. They sat on the door
step and glued their eyes to the notch in the
butte which had begun to blur as the sun had
gone TO make an oven Of some other part OF the
world.
There he comes" 'Lsh would say; but it
was only dust demon trying to trick them.
of an early moon shone down, and still they
watched. 2. aA-
"Guess I'd better 20 over an see Ell KANT
raise him." said 'Lish. "An' eff he's a-goin' ter
stay out all night, he'll need blanket. I'll
take him one, an come back with the news,
whatever it is Git the blanket out, Nav, an
I'll go an buckle the sbeenskin onto or JIM"
The desert night told its secrets to the
girl as she rode the slow mustang over the trail
TO the buttes. And the desert night holds
many secrets for those who care TO hear them;
bat il did not whisper the darkest of them to
'Iish that night. The air came warm and then
chill as she passed through the different strata
that were from low, hot plain or frigid mount
sin-top Old Jim was so slow. He minded no
more the ficks from the strap-end than he
did the bffsifing OF the CROSSWORD past his
lean form HE did make q plunge now and
then; but that was when cactus-splne pricked
his side. b'..-
At last the girl reached the canyon. which
seemed TO be done in black and white, SO light
did the moon make the exposed parts, and SO
inky were the shadows 1t was frightfuly
Quiet in there. As she went along she heard
the whinny of her fathers horse, tethered be-
side the wall Of rock. She left Old Jim to
MUNICH the mesquite near by, while she tripped
up a steep trail, and came to the cash her
father had made with pick and shovel In the
lone canyon-side.
There he was, sitting on the ground and
leaning against rock, The moon shone upon
bis patched overails and upon his dusty shirt;
but she could not see his face for his head was
bent forward and was hidden By the brim Of
bis SLOUGH hat.
"Pap," her sharp voice stabbed the quiet,
al came up ter ef you ever comm
home. brung blanket, Pap. case yer wanted
10 stay all night. You ougbter a. come home
hours and hours ago, stead O. workin' an
workin' till you was all tagged out"
He did not lift his head. A puff of cold wind
came down the canyon, aud, striking the girls
breast, made her shiver.
"Sleepin' on the rocks. Wal, swun! Tux
too much outen the black bottle pll bet"
She stepped nearer.
"UulIo Pap. You amt drunk sgin, be
you? Pap Pspl I'm clean 'shamed O. you !"
She leaped to the rock, gave him dig in the
side Of his leg with her stogtly- leathered toe,
and then shook his shoulder.
Pap wake up You'll catch yer death
a-cold, sleepin' out this way. An here we've
ben a-watchin' out fer We, an watchin' till
our eyes was most give out, while you've BEN
up here hayiu' good OF guzzln' time. all by
yeTself, am not carin' cuss. It's playin' Us
oarned mean. Pap an you know it"
She shook his shoulder again. His head fell
back. The face was chalky white
God, Pap! What is it?"
She felt his face. Ii was stone cold The
touch froze her. She felt his heart The
throb was gone out of it.
Pap, Pap!" and sill the canyon heard her
sharp desolate cry; my oil Pap! He amt
deadP
big lizard went scattering down the slope,
an owl in scrub-oak near by gave q dismal
boot, and the coyotes set up their throaty
bowls.
She gulpcd and Fasped. Her breath seemed
cut of. She would have fallen at his side, but
that her ear caught the coyotes howls and
caught, TOO. their horrible meaning. She
stayed herself by her two hands against the
rock aud tried to get her breath. The coyotes
howled again, in awful chorus, and she shud-
Sered.
4" They shan't get you, Pap; they shan't get
you. I'll take you hcme."
Her breath came free as she spoke. She
erasped the dead mans shoulders, and, keep
tag as much of his body from the ground rs