The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-13

well. slightly. You can wheel him on
a 50-cent piece. I'd show you If had
time" He mounted and rode UP to
where George was sitting.
well, goodbye, Mr.. Exwell," he
said. You'd better think that over
again. about what we were speaking of.
] I think you'd find twould pay, after
/ all" and he swung his quirt with re-
port like a pistol and went whirling
down the street, leaving cloud Of fine
white dust hanging in the air along his
trail
George laughed to himself as Mr.
| DAILY rode away. Hes queer speci-
men," he unused II was foolish TO talk
to him so freely. However, 1 shall prob
ably never see him again. He has
| long business head, though, and if all
| wanted was to get rich / should take
his advice"
The street was broad and perfectly
| straight, and George could look out to
| the horizon in either direction. II like
street that's open at both ends" he
thought, and tipped his chair back and
watched the dust which marked Mr.
Daly's path across the desert like smoke
| from locomotive.
LAS far as I can see," Georges
thoughts ran on, sit rests with me to
| float this scheme or not, as please, and
ufA h. r
should like to do it. 1 haven't doubt
it would be a great benefit to the in
habitants of this benighted land"
| The plain before him glmmered
dreamily in the heat. Mr.. Daily, of Crys-
tai Canyon, had dwindled to a speck
which George saw come to the top Of a
swale, waver for second or two in the
heat waves and fade out. A vision of
the knoll overlooking the bend of the
peaceful New England river rose to his
mind, the spot where his new house
was to stand He thought of the two
| big oaks before the door and the beau
tiful pines on the point opposite. Then
the front legs of his chair came to the
ground with a decisive thud.
mo, sir" he thought IF watering
this Abandoned country means two
years more of waiting before / settle
down, the country can go dry. / can
find plenty of investments which will
pay quicker than that. Well keep things
moving by putting in the fumes. They
look well and don't cost much. Then
If the desert can't bloom, it can wait
till it is ready to pay me for the use
of my money"
A little barefooted girl came toward
him, wading along the ditch and look
ing intently down at her little brown
feet George watched her as she ap-
preached, absorbed in her childish fam
cies. "A child of the desert" was his
thought.
She was slender little figure, the
face, hands and little bare legs
Drowned by the sun and warm winds in
which she lived. She stopped when
she came into the shade, and took off
her sunbonnet to put into it some peb-
bles which she selected with care from
the ditch. George noticed that her eyes
were brown, clear and dark.
II wonder" he thought with amused
interest, whether she selects them for
color or shape or just the right COM
bination of BOTH
He took from his pocket a rounded
bit of moss agate which he had picked
UP the day before, and placing it on the
palm of his hand held it before her as
she would have passed him. She drew
back quickly at this intrusion into her
little world, glanced up shyly at George
an instant, then backed off step OF
two.
How do you like that one?' he in,
quired gravely.
She stopped and looked UP at hin
again, searchingly this time, at his face
and outstretched hand. 1t was the crit
ical moment, but George did not smile
he extended the pebble toward her. She
looked at it moment, then held up q
tiny palm on which George laid The
agate. She examined it carefully.
do you think it is pretty?" he asked
Yes" she said, looking UP at hin
with a little, quick smile, then dowr
again. The battle was won.
Would il go well with the others,
asked George.
She sat down on the grassy bank o.
the irrigation ditch and ranged hel
treasures before him. He moved hi!
chair back and leaned forward with hi!
forearms resting on his knees. Ther'
were only five, and she laid the agate
first beside one, then another.
1T goes beside this one" she an
nounced finally, laying aside a bit o
dark feldspar.
Should you like to keep it?" HI
asked.
Yes" she said. May To-
why. yes" said George. II think
could spare it,"
81 never found one like this on ou
ranch" she said, turning it over ant
over on her palm and bending the lit
tie brown head over it.
Where is your ranch?" queriet
George.
! 4, Fr%-- ~ -