The times., 1898-04-03
NIRAGE oF TIE xEsA


hrnsh. an apparently easFlrss waaden fre=-
tle. b.E and rough st FIRST. bnt dwiafHnz
as it reerled from his point ~ vision into
delicate tracery of lines and finally
fading away into nothing I'm the distance.
was the prospect upon which Kenneth
McDougal had looked each evening Of an
approximate thousand days. leaning
against the door-post of his shanty. pipe
in mouth and hands in pockets, as was
his post-prandal habit
On the inside wall of the shanty were
tes timoniaIs of former incumbents as to
the undesirability of the place as a per-
manent residence; but in spite of these
McDougal had accepted the post of en-
gineer of the Coyote Pumping Station
for the sake of the generous salary that
went with it. The thought of a certain
fair Helen, who shared his patience if
not loneliness did much TO make the sue
cession of monotonous days and duties
tolerable and robbed the scene he was
contemplating of half it's unloveliness.
Gazing toward the west he perceived
two figures coming toward him across
the mesa. Small and shadowy against
the evening sky at first then palmer and
palmer, until he knew that they were
man and woman; then that both were
young, and that the woman wore no hat.
her fair hair floating out behind her as
though she came quickly. Her features
he could not distinguish. AS he looked,
she drew away from her companion,
though he held out a OBTAINING hand.
McDougal glanced backward into the
cabin to see if it were fit for the advent
of unexpected guests. This occupied
but a fraction of Il second yet when he
turned his eyes westward again, he saw
only the mans figure The woman was
gone, vanished in a moment. as though
the ground had opened and swallowed
her.
He was still staring stupidly ahead
when the man came up and nonchalantly
threw himself on the bench at the door
way, stretched himself at full length
upon it. and observed: You'll excuse
me if L take a nap first and tell you my
ife's history afterward. I'm deuced tir-
ed-tramped ever since daylight, and just
sighted your place as | was about to
give out" He clasped his hands under
his tousled brown head and was asleep
before McDougal could reply. a natural
slowness to action, coupled with the
strange circumstance connected with his
guests arrival depriving the poor fellow
of the power to put into words the ques-
ton he longed to ask. He went into the
cabin and started the preparation of a
meal, and then went out, following the
pipeline along which the strangers had
come, scanning the prairie in every di-
rection, and STOPPING to examine the
sandy path for any evidence of foot
prints. His search was vain, however.
and remembering his duties as host he
turned homeward.
He was nearing the cabin rapidly, when
suddenly he paused, compelled by some
force he could not have explained Across
his face there seemed to blow a breeze
laden with the strong. dank smell of
reedy waters. mingled with the heavy
perfume Of lilies budding blossoming.
and deCaying in some dark waterway.
He was almost overcome by it, but with
an effort he moved on. In an instant
il was gone; in yet another he was at
the cabin door, confronting his awaken
ed guest.
You look pale" the young man OBJ
served. easily; 81 hope my sudden ar
rival hasn't put you out" and he smiled
into his hosts puzzled face.
Il do feel a little upset McDougal re-
piled THE truth is / guess this long
spell Of my own society was about scat
teTing the few wits l was ever blessed
with. Now, you won't believe il, but
when you came up there, there was a
hDEHdl with you, ana WNen TOOK my
eyes off you for a moment, she vanish
ed. She isn't on the mesa, for I've look
ed. but just as ! passed the spot where
saw her last, | seemed to smell water
lilies. and rushes, and all that sort OF
watery thing"
Rather n strange smell for these
parts" remarked the youth, loosely
seeing all the water you have runs
| through a six-inch pipe
str trots F.1
but let's have supper" he added hos
| pitably; you must be hungry after your
| long tramp" He drew up a chair for his
guest.
The table was spread with the best
| the cupboard afforded, but the chief dist
| "a roasted prairie chicken-caught the
| strangers eye.
Chicken, by Jove! Well, this is fine
after barracks fare. There, the cats out
of the bag, so l might as well confess
| I'm a deserter from the regulars, and
| there's a good round sum on my head by
| this time: but I'm not afraid to trust
| myself to you; I've proved that, haven't
| /, by giving away the story? l might
have invented one. you know
Il have little sympathy with desert,
| ers," said McDougal. gravely, but since
| you are one, it is just as well that you
should acknowledge it. 1t might be awk
! added, generously, there may have beer
| extenuating circumstances"
The circumstances were these: | wa:
| color-sergeant in the EightY-third. The
| colonel had a pretty niece stopping will
! him. A lot of the fellows were in love
/ with her, and she liked them all-mt
among the rest: Three nights ago sht
| disappeared and unfortunately, | disap
| peared the same night. Her friends KEEP
/ IL quiet from the camp until her body
| was accidentally found in a creek th'
next afternoon. Then, when / got bacl
! that night, one of the fellows told me th,
| story and the rumor that connected M
| name with it. He advised me to skip
which / did. and here | am, 200 miles from
/ the scene Of action, and at your service.
so far there seems to be very littl'
| that is extenuating," said the elder man
| sternIy. IF you had nothing TO do witt
the girls death, you could surely prove
/ it,"
well. no: that was the worst of it
! You see, there had been a party o
| Apaches camping near us during tn
/ Spring, and Nita-Nita was a beauty. No
such pretty face-you know. Apache
| aren't handsome as rule, but arms!-
! and shoulders
McDougal frowned, and the boy Wen
I on: 'You see. the Indians were going t
| break camp. and / had TO see Nita ones
more. / did see her. and the time passed
you've no idea; and when ] left her th'
! tribe had already started, and she haC
to ride hard to catch them. So, you see
| | couldn't prove an alibi il i cared to-
who killed the girl?" asked Mr.. Dou
/ gal.
'Oh. Maud killed herself; I'm dead sur.
J ot that In fact. she said she meant to
but / didn't believe her at the time
/ McDougal looked at his companion
| sternly. How did she look?" he said.
Handsome. some thought" answered