Arizona republican., 1892-09-04
FOR DAVID.

untll distance blended them Into one.
 Back of it fiared the wide main street, with stores and cottages indiscriminately mingled, which marks the disconsolate prairie town. Beyond, inclosed by a white picket fence, struggled the deso- late graveyard.
 The only thing in plenty which nature supplied was room. There was an abundance of space. It was quite a walk to cross the street Neighbors' houses stood aloof. Nobody was crowd ed, even in the graveyard.
 The telegraph operator, satiated with landscape, leaned back, stretched him. self prodigiously, yawned audibly and collapsed in his chair, which creaked in vexed remonstrance, He tossed a re, mark over his shoulder, "So this is what you are yearnin for, Daveg'
 Dave took his cane, and limping to the door viewed the inertness in silence. Then he reused himself and said cheer fully:
 "A telegraph operator is all I'm good fur since got hurt"
 Seems like the com'ny might have done more for you when you got smashed up in their own accident. 'Twouldn't have hurt 'em none to keep you as a conductor" grumbled his friend.
 Suddenly the afternoon stiffness was broken by excited voices and the sharp barking and yapping of dogs. Joe brought his feet to the floor in hurry. II can't leave the machine, Dave. Go and see what the rumpus is about. l bet Brier Rose is up to somethin. II takes that there girl to stir up the boys. No, Foxy" he said to his terrier, who was whirling around in an ecstasy of an. ticipation, ''you stay here. If Brier Rose is at the bottom of it, little feller like you might get lost in the shuffie."
 Dave obediently limped up the street, where, in the midst of crowd of rough men, stood a girl holding some little ami nal high above her head, while the dogs leaped and snapped around her.
 The girl, with scarlet cheeks, begged and scolded and threatened them all to their infinite amusement.
 "Call off your dawg, Jim," she said fercely to the owner of the largest whose leaps sometimes almost reached the quivering little object in her hands. ''Throw down the beast an l will, he answered.
 If that there dawg gives another jump I'll pizen him before sun up" she said slowly.
 Jim made lunge for the dog and sat on him to keep him down, while the crowd hooted in derision of his obe. dience.
 Whats all thisg" cried Dave, coming up and pushing his way through their midst.
 "Brier Rose is being held up," cried a voice.
 The crowd yelled with delight. The girls whole face became white with rage as she singled out the speaker.
 "You'n pay for that, Ben Miles, as you've paid before" she said.
 "Call off those brutes," cried Dave rapping the nearest dog with his cane. "For shame, to tease a womanv Look a-hyer, stranger" said young giant menacingly. He lowered above Dave, who stood his ground.
 "Pm lame and no account in fight, said Dave; "but half man ain't goin tc see woman tormented."
 "Who in thunder" began his threat. ener; but Ben Miles laid hand on his arm.
 Hold on, Jim," he said; that there: Dave Comstock, conductor of the smashed up No. T."
 Not the feller that got hurt savin the baby?"
 "The same"
 "Sho, strangerr' said the modified Jim. You're welcome to interfere. Give us yer hand. We wouldn't hurt her ful nothin. Bless my stars! Brier Rose can take care of herself better'n most men,"
 The dogs were all held now, and tht girl put her tired arms down. ShC looked curiously at the man, whose brave story she knew by heart, as shC heard him defend her.
 To be sure, she had been defended be. fore; there was hardly man who would not have risked his life to save hers, but they leased her unmercifully when they got the chance. Daves interference was on new line. She did not quite understand it, but it appealed to her al once.
 When Dave went back to the station to tell Joe the latter roared with de light.
 "Just like herl Exactly like herr' hC cried, slapping his leg so inhumanly that his lame friend winced for him.
 Who is Brier RoseY he repeated il answer to Dave's question. "You don't know much if you don't know old Bry ans daughter She's the best knowr girl from Horseshoe Gap to Powder Crik. Old Bryan's been engineer on the road ever since the track was laid. All eyes she was then as she Is now. What wasn't eyes was temper. Same now slVln that now she bosses the boys iI addition to old Bryan. She can run aI engine with the best of 'em. Bryan's taught her all the tricks, and he thinks the sun rises and sets for just her.
 Strange she would defend gopher when she's so hard on the boys" ob served Dave
 That's just it. That's Brier Rosel enes got noTe tarns pets; she's frfsrti'