The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-03-03

THE sandstorm had passed, leaving
the air vibrant and electric. The
dashed earth was distorted from the
punishment il had endured.
Mrs. Elliott emerged from the farth-
est corner OF the lee room-there were
but four-and made an attack on the
heaps of alkali dust that covered the
floor. Her weapons were fire shovel
and coal scuttle. A mere broom would
have availed no more than feather.
She was n northern woman making
acquaintance with the new southwest.
She had mentally pronounced In favor
of Hades. Domestic help in the south
west is case Of Chinaman or nothing.
Mrs. Elliott would have preferred a
cobra.
A shadow fell silently across the tiny
entrance way and soft voice said:
"Good evenin'."
Madam resented the southernism. 1t
was only afternoon. However, she
looked toward the open door and ac-
copied the challenge.
"D'y'all want a girl?"
Mrs. Elliott gripped her shovel fra
ly TO prevent herself from throwing her
arms around the woman's neck.
'Will you walk IMP"
She family remembered tradition
regarding servants entrances and 9TH
err devices of civilization, but they were
intangible yapors, beating idly against
the rocks of primitive conditions.
The Texan smiled gently, and her
brown eyes were as friendly as dogs.
She seated herself masked calmly
rocking back and forth and apparently
seeing no reason TO pause in the chew
ing of her gum.
"Are you looking for place."
"Yes. Y'see, m husbun has jes died,
an of c'ose i cayn't live alone in tent
out on the pain"
Mrs. Elliott bowed in recognition Of
Texas conventionalities.
al thought mebby y'll 'ud low me put
my tent in y'all's back ynhd. Then I'd
be safe an cu'd wo'k feb y'all."
The idea was good. Mrs. Elliott
grasped 1t with concealed eagerness.
"les; m husbun lef me shack an
pah o. mules and a wagon"
Her shipper could not be called purse
proud. but IL was certainly well salts
fed. Husband been dead long?"
Bout three weeks Her cheerful
ness was suspicious.
"Was he good TO your"
81 reckon he was as good as most,
when he was sober. Sometimes when
he'd been drinkin' he ust beat me-"
This had apparently been no cause
for resentment, but was regarded with
mild unconcern as the usual course Of
nature.
"What is your name?"
"Loo-eye-za."
Mrs. Elliott gasped, but her necessi-
ties were great.
"Loo-eye-za," she said, with n gulp,
"you may come tomorrow"
Early the next morning the shack and
shackhold effects appeared, in charge OF
lazy, shiftless looking and unkempt
Texas ranger, smelling vilely of tobac-
co and whisky. Looeyeza followed with
smiling elaboration.
"Who Is that man?" asked Mrs. Eli
oft.
"IIe says his name is Mack Taylor"
In New Mexico il is the part of wis
dom 90 take a mans word for his name,
and TO make no further inquiries.
"Is he friend OF yours?"
"He lives Oft yondeh, an got him 10
move m shack feb me. / never saw
him befoh."
When the full New Mexican moon
hung overhead that night, flooding the
plains with silver sheen for a hundred
miles. unwontcd voices reached Mrs
Elliotts ear. She made an crrand into
the back yard. On a bench In the tent
door sat Loocycza and Taylor. His feet
We're on another bench. and he had shed
his coat. lie had the air OF man per
lcctly al home
III ics' come ovch t'sce ef I'd got Mrs
RENDERS shack fixed all right" he ex
claimed, ihrusting bis pipe behind hin
and trying 10 appear unconcerned. Loo
eycza's smile was conscious and silly.
Looeycza took no trouble 10 adius
herself 20 her new conditions. she lc
them fail around hei and shape them
selves as they would. Her smile wa
Mrs. Elliptts despair. She ceased Z,
wonder her husband had beaten her.