The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-01-12

ludu WIFI any VI tH6 Dogs. one AIN
even got head fur anybody but old
Bryan; you notice make no mention of
heart concernin Brier Rose: don't krpr
to talk Of what she amt got-and just
now she's specially bewitched about
him. After keepin straight for forty
years he's taken to drink. The girl
knows he'll lose his job if the company
gets wind of it and she watches him
like hawk"
whats Bryan's run.
Horseshoe to Powder erik. She knows
every inch of the track and siding. And
wisht you could see her handle the
critter. She knows all Bryan does, and
she's a heap site quicker calclatin than
the old man. It's with while to see her
oil and clean the machine. She goes
over it spry as kitten"
"She's handsome" said Dave simply.
"Humph! Handsome is as handsome
does" observed Joe grumpily. 'She is
cold as ice and hard as rock. It's my
belief that she amt got no heart same
as other wimmin. And sassy? LORI
In spite of what he had heard, or per-
haps because of what he has heard, all
things, even the melancholy town itself,
grew rose colored to Dawes sunny eyes.
With his unfailing cheerfulness he
waited hopefully for news of his ap-
pointment at Red Valley, and lowered,
as if fascinated, around engine A.
Neither the boys nor old Bryan were
slow to notice this, the latter having ac-
cepted such attentions periodically from
all the young men. 1t was SO inevitable
proceeding that up to the time Of the
Middleton's dance they paid no attention
to it,
But that night something extraordi-
nary occurred.
The next day, as Brier Rose rode
down the street on her hardy little pony,
the boys gathered around her eagerly,
notwithstanding the fact that she had a
stout little whip in her hand. They had
something new ad strange to tease her
about.
"Brier Rose, ~,iled out Jim az she
drew rein, "you don't care nothin about
dancin, do YOU"
you'd ruther set all the eyenin
wouldn't you, now?"
"Dyou like the name O. Dave, or Dc
you reckon you'd rather have Com
stock"
Rose looked from one to the other a
the bottled up taunts fell rapidly upor
her ears, her cheeks and lips growing
scarlet. For once her ready tongue
failed her. Small need to ask then
what they meant. Too we'll she knew
But was her subjugation apparent il
such trifle? And so soon? And DAY,
as yet had said nothing. Emboldene'
by her silence, they went further.
"What does he say about it?"
The shamed crimson leaped to he
very temples and receded, leaving he
face pitifully white. Her wounde,
pride now painted for but one thing
way out. Probably he knew 1t toe
She saw him coming down the street.
''Do you love him? Say, Brier Rose
do you love Dave?" cried the one farthes
from her whip.
Her courage came back at Dawes az
proach, and the spell Of her unwonte
silence was broken.
"Do 1 love him?" she cried, LOOKING
him fairly in the face. II come neare
to hating himr'
She turned her horse sharply, and tn
blows the boys had expected fell on he
fiery little pony. He craned his nee
8 and went up the street on a dead run
but fast as Rose flew the grieved look i
Dave Comstocks blue eyes kept pac
. with hee.
That night Joe fidgeted around, III
9 able to decide whether or not he shout
speak to Dave about the occurrence {
the afternoon. Dawes genial smile an
s CHEEKY hopefulness were gone. He 81
with his face buried in his folded arm
; Joe coughed noisily and said nothing
l. Dave looked down at his poor maine
foot.
9 Joe, do you know that little baby
. saved from the wreck had brown ey
:. like Brier Rose? remember the bal
smiled when held it out to the me
o You know my foot was caught and
couldn't move. I've never seen Bri
' Rose smile at me that way. If I h,
IS saved her perhaps she would. Do "
think so, Joe?'
8 At home Rose was thinking of Il
% story of Dawes bravery in the wreck
train, of the lives he had saved, Of |
% defense of her.
And today in return she had mock
him. Aye, if the look he gave her spo
d truly, she had cut him to the hea
o Tears-tears in the eyes of Brier Rose
II The position Of telegraph operator
70 Red Valley was given to Dave Comstoc
81 The afternoon freight, heavily loade
had just pulled clumsily out of t
10 Weeping Willow station with Dave
he the rear platform of the way car.
20 The A having come down on the re
10 Of the freight as second engine now sto
on the siding waiting to 60 back
O. Horseshoe for the midnight express.
"a Old Bryan was up in crowd of m
W in front Of the postoffice. Brier RI
ey watched him anxiously. AS long as
co kept away from the Owl she felt ca
10 He knew she was watching him.
at also knew that she would not hesit
to come after him if the Owl proved
On strong an attraction. Therefore he k
To- away.
She trod fearlessly along the side
ne the boiler, rubbing the handrail wit
ny black, oil sodden cloth. She toucl
the engine as If she loved it. Every p
IN Of it shone like the sun. Every va
ut worked with precision. Every scr