Evening star., 1899-07-08

tually come back for heri She took up a
position where two rough wheel ruts and
tracks intersected each other, one of which
must be the missing trail. She noticed. too,
the broader footprints of cattle without
the following wheel ruts. and instead of
traces the long, smooth trails made by the
dragging of logs, and knew by these tokens
that she must be near the highway or some
WoOdman S hut or ranch. She began to be
thirsty. and was glad, presently, when her
quick rustic ear caught the tinking of
water. Yet 1t was not so. easy to discover,
and she was getting footsore and tired
again before she found it, some distance
away, in gully coming from fissure in a
dlslOcated piece of outcrop. 1t was beauti-
fully clear, cold and sparkling, with a
slightly sweetish taste. yet unlike the
brackish ''aikali' of the plains. 1t refreshed
and soothed her greatly SO much so that,
reclining against a tree. but where she
would be quite visible from the trail, her
eyes closed dreamily, and presently she
slept.
When she awoke the shafts of sunlight
were striking almost level into her eyes.
She must have slept two hours; her father
had not returned: she knew the passage of
the wagon would have awakened her. She
began to feel strange, but not yet alarmed
it was only the uncertainty that made
her uneasy. Had her father really gone
on by some other trail? Or had he really
hurried on and left her, as he said he
would? The thought brought an odd ex-
citement to her rather than any fear. A
sudden sense of freedom, as if some calling
chain had dropped from her. sent singular
thrill through her frame. Yet she felt con-
fused with her independence-not knowing
what to do with it, and momentarily daZ-
z1ed with the possible gift. At this mo-
ment she heard voices. and the figures Of
two men appeared on the trail.
They were talking earnestly, and walk
ing il familiar with the spot-yet gazing
around them as If at some novelty of the
aspect
And look there" said one there has
been some serious disturbance of that out
crop" pointing in the direction of the
spring; the lower part has distinctly sub
sided" He spoke with a certain authority
and dominance of position, and was evil
IDENTIFY the superior, as he was the elder of
the two, although both were roughly dress
ed.
Yes, it does kinder look as if it had
lost its holt-iike the ledge yonder."
And you see l am right-the movement
was from east to west" continued the old
er man.
The girl could not comprehend what they
said, and even thought them a little silly.
But she advanced toward them, at which
they stopped short. staring at her. With
feminine instinct she addressed the more
important one
''Ye amt passed no wagon nor team goin'
on, heV YEP
What sort OF a wagon?' said the man.
EN- grant waggen-two yaller hosses.
Old NANNY dad-drivfn.'' She added the
latter knship protecting influence
against strangers, in spite of her previous
independence.
The men glanced at each other.
How long ago?"
The girl suddenly remembered that she
had sleDt two hours.
Sense noon" she said hesitatingly.
''Since the earthquake?'
''Wot's that?"
The man came impatiently toward her.
How did you come here?''
far he on fn a1 IL T rao1x-
on dad missed the trail and hez got off
somewhere where l can't find him"
What trail was he on-where was he
going?"
Sank Hozay 1 reckon. He was goin'
up the grade-side O. the hill. He must
hev turned off where there's big rock
hanNin' over
Did you see him turn Off"
NO"
The second man, who was in hearing
distance. had turned away, and was os-
tentatiously examining the sky and the
treetops; the man who had spoken to her
Joined him, and they said something in a
low voice. Then they turned again, and
came slowly toward her She. from some
obscure sense of imitation, stared at the
treetops and the sky as the second man
had done. But the first man now laid his
hand kindly on her shoulder and said, ''Sit
down"
Then they told her there had been an
earthquake so strong that it had thrown
down a part of the hillside including the
wagon trail. That a wagon, team and
driver such as she had described had been
carried down with 1t, crushed to fragments,
and buried under a hundred feet of rock in
the gulch below. A party had gone down
to examine. but 1t would be weeks perhaps
before they found 1t, and she must be
prepared for the worst. She looked at them
vaguely and with fearless eyes.
''Then ye reckon dads dead?"
1--WE fear it,
Then wot's goin' to become o. me?" she
said simply.
They glanced again at each other.
Have you no friends in California;" said
the elder man.
Mary one"
What was your father going to do?'
Dunno | reckon he didn't either
You stay here for the present" said the
elder man, meditatively. Can you milk? ?"
The girl nodded "And ! suppose you
know something about looking after stock p"
he continued
The girl remembered that her father
thought she didn't but this was no time for
criticism, and she again nodded
Come with me- said the elder man, ris-
ing. 81 suppose he added glancing at her
ragged frcck, everything you have is in
the wagon?" She nodded, adding with the
same cold naivete, 1T amt much."
They walked on, the girl following: at
times straying furtively on either side as
If meditating an escape in the woods
which, indeed, had once or twice been