Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-02
WHAT HAPPENED TO HAL
LIE.
pYsARAu BIERcE scAnnoRouou.

Fourteen years Is very long time
10 pass away without anything happen
ing to body" was what her father had
remarked when she persisted IN
the assertion; and Phil, her grown-up
brother, had quizzically asked If she
would be satisfied with anything less
than lassoing crocodile in one of the
Colorado mountain lakes or shooting
dodo in the canyon below.
81 don't expect the impossible" she
had retorted "but do want something
that might be called happening /"
The hunting excursions with the boys,
the round-ups on the plateau, the
mountain climbing and theagate hunting
AL these she refused to consider in the
category of happenings. They were ex-
pected things and happenings we're
we'll" something that she had not
looked for-very long, at least, she ex-
planned.
But, according to her own definition,
several things happened very soon. In
the first place, her father and mother,
who went every year at the time OF full
moon in September, to Pueblo, had prom
ised to take her with them on this trip;
but the very day before they started her
mother called her aside for private talk
At its close Halle emerged from the sit
ting room with suspiciously swimming
eyes.
{" Try not to mind it this time, dear"
said her mother. - You know that we
are to take your Aunt Catherine, and if
YOU think how i'll she has been and how
much she will suffer from the discomfort
of being crowded, and how necessary it
is that her poor nerves be not annoyed In
any way, / am sure that you will find
some pleasure in the sacrifice OF your
long looked for trip"
So she watched them depart, only
heaving great sigh as they disappeared
from view.
II should say that here is happen
ing with n vengeance" remarked her
twin brother, Hall, by way of consola-
ton. but / wouldn't mind it tho ;
and we will 90 up after agates. Maybe
we will find one as q mate for the one
/ YOU want set for q button-that will be
another kind of happening"
But even that favoritc amusement had
| lost its charm.
at is bound to be poky the best way
you can fix it, she replied, gloomiiy
''Then, too. it would not be right to go
off. There is nobody here but Phil and
us, and Phil isn't to be depended on to
stay"
"You forget Garcia and Manuel, said
Hall.
They are never left alone"
That is so. Heigho! don't know
but wish with you that something woulc
happen"
Halle was right about Phil. Tha
noon one of the boys came down from
the upper ranch TO tell of the stampede
of the cattle, and their suspicion that i
was caused by mountain lion. Instant.
Phil was alert. He had long wanted
mountain lions skin, and it did not TAX
long for him to convince himself tina
his presence was indispensable at the
other ranch.
"Pll go up for a couple of days, an
Fred and you can look after everything
Manuel will take good care of things
Isn't that so, ManuelI"
Isl, Senor." The man showed a glis
tening row of tecth as he answered.
"And am sure that Garcia is to b
depended on"
The woman bobbed her head withou
hearing; for she was as deaf as a post.
! "And don't like it bit, said Halle
as Phil rode off.
As for Hall, had he not secretly wishe
to go with Phil, he would have though
it Just the thing to be leftin charge. A
! it was, he was discontinued, and roame
about, leaving Halle to her own device
It was dull enough for her, as Care
was no company ut all. But compar
came. At night, two men-Mexicans-
rode up from the mountain road al
stopped to talk with Manuel.
"rhey want TO stop all night" sa
Hall manuel says that they are ,
right"
8 And that would be good reason WI
would not have them stay" Halle d
INJURED. But Hall laughed at her.
''Pshawl Here's girl that is alwa
wanting something to happen, and
& afraid il will at the same time"
. II an not" was the indignant repl
'Only it might not be what / wanted
'sThey can stay in the adobe part, a
Manuel is all right to look after then
So they stayed, though Halle kept wis
. ing in her heart that something wou
bring Phil back. But he did not come, a
Hall sleepily declared that nobody ne
fret. The consequence was that 10
after he had gone to sleep Halle was
Y Pills room next the adobe part, list'
ing to the conversation going on amo
the men. The thin partition made &
an easy thing to do. Late in the mig
she tiptoed to Halls bedside.
z "Wake up Hall There is some p
among these men. / can't quite I
y derstand = there's so much MexiC
" Greaser talk; but know they think
y waiting for Papa's coming back, q
mean to meet them in the upper C
yon."
Now, Halle, you have imagir
half Of that, expect" yawned III
drowsily, as he prepared to turn over.
!, "But / haven't, really. Hall, WI
= upi i tell you heard something ab
money, too; and you know that p
brings up the pay for the boys
time"
Manuel must have got hold Of
y fact someway. The old rascall" !
was awake now. eff Phil were Q
l herew