Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-14
and fried bacon with Strong, thel

"itlDuu oHu ' MY cdilic iuto lno Luuui
with "A globeless kerosene lamp in her
hand, placed it in the middle of the
table, flung Il pine knot in the fire and
hobbled slowly out again.
The insistent rain, male invisible by
the interior illumination of lamp and
freight, battered dismally upon the
hard beaten surface of the dooryard.
The clock on the rough pine shelf oveT
the fireplace gave "a ~premonitory cluck
and struck seven,
Whey made IA second grand entree,
laden down with plates and cups and
saucers, which she arranged upon the
table with considerable clatter and nc
taste whatever. She was hobbling slow
ly toward the door once more when
something caused her to lift her turban-
ed head and to stand still in an alert
attitude of surprised attention.
II yhers w'eels," she said, turning
automatically toward the two men on
the hearth.
"Wheels!'
They laughed incredulously. No one
ever sought Neck or Nothing on wheels
under the brightest sunlit skies. Who
should be cropping thither in this storm
drenched darkness?
"You kin smoker s'long as you aint
got no manners, butt yhers 'em all de
same. DEFY done stop"
She hobbled to the front door and
flung it open with assertive violence
sending a yellow band of light athwart
the wet beaten walk between the cabin
and the still.
"She is right. Hail Columbia! Who
can it be-" said Seth, rising quickly in
his establishment.
Strong lifted himself more deliberate
ly. Not even the unprecedented posi-
bility of visitors to Neck or Nothing OIL
this inclement evening could stir hin
beyond the point Of looking behind thu
door for his umbrella and lifting hi.
lantern from the floor with a tentative
swing to decide if there was any oil il
it. Then he joined Seth and Whey il
the open doorway.
What they saw was a close %buttoned,
mud despatched carryall, between thu
shafts of which stood a steaming, weary
beast Of burden with detected, dow
dropped head and dripping harness,
What they heard was the sound O.
voices parleying behind the wet cur
tains-women's voices, young voice.
which stimulated the curiosity of tho
two men without enlightening them.
II suppose we've got to see il
through" said Strong, and he plunged
resolutely out into the rain, closely fol
lowed by Seth. A few strides brought
them to tho stile, against whose outer
steps the carriage was drawn closely TO,
the convenience of the travellers.
A child's fretful protest against bro
ken slumber, a woman's %querulous re
Spouse, a cheerful gurgle Of encourage
ment, a lifted curtain and q boundles
surprise.
"Wellr"
"'Pon honor!'
"Strong Martini"
mamie ColyerV"
OF course the woman was the first tt
grow coherent.
eff it were not SO excessively dam
on this stile, 1 should feel impelled t
sit right down on this platform until
got the better Of my feelings. Annabel
Ann, my dear, where do you suppos
we have fetched up inally?"
A white, tired face, pretty but pee
wish, had been thrust from between tn
parted curtains. To it Miss Colyer ha'
addressed herself.
cat Mr.. Martins, haven't we? Yo1
told that awful imbecile to take US t
Mr.. Martins"
"En / done it," said the lawful i'm
beetle" in stolid resentment. "Then
thar is bofe of 'em Misterses Martin"
"There is no denying that" sal
Strong, with such a bright ring to hi
voice that Seth glanced away from tn
phenomenon of their lady visitors t
stare at Strong in fresh bewilderment.
He had no clew to Strong's n low
secret. Mamie Colyer's name and he
bold championship of his cause were to
sacred for idle comment.
"And your mother will take two bad
ly wrecked women and q furnished chill
in for the night?" Mamie was demand
ing eagerly, looking down upon then
from the stile, with her skirts gathers
closely about her trim ankles in prepa
ration for descent.
"My mother lives three miles iron
here" said Strong, holding out hi
hand to assist her.
She drew back with a frightene'
gasp.
Goodness! Anna, do you hear that?'
81 don't hear anything but this cross
ugly boy crying for something to eat
Adrien, I shall certainly go crazy if yo'
don't shut up
Mamie sprang resolutely to tn
ground.
"Lead the way, Mr.. Martin. We car
not spend the night on this stile. Driy
or, fetch in Mrs. Strong's bags an
boxes"
Strong had already tucked her col
little hand in his arm and turned hi
face toward the cabin. It was good {
have her there. Her sweet, strong face
seen only dimly al yet by the light G
his lantern, was unchanged. Her powe
of lifting the burdens from other shoul
ders was in full force yet, He scarcel
gave a thought to the mystery Of he
companions name.
"Isn't this just toofunny?" She cue
died a trile closer to him. Don't b
selfish, you are carrying two-thirds G
that umbrella over your shoulder
and one-third over mine"
Pardon me-"
He Immediately shifted the entir
protection to her, by which time. the