The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-09-25

Ven you tum along. I'll Jump out end
Kill you"
Gay demurred.
ooh, it's on'y make b'lsve. yese
kind O. Tnjuns don't kill nobody" And
he stuck a contemptuous finger toward
the innocent Coyote. IT'S on'y PEACHES
at kills. an vey's none yound here,
mommie says. I'm 'Pache, so you
better look out"
1t was II dubious sport for Gay, aud
when It came 10 the killing part she
screamed Justify.
you've woked him Up an 'poiled u
all, said Dubs In tone OF accusation.
NOW he'll want his knife"
Sure enough, the Coyote That Bites
did shake his brown legs and arms
quite vigorously, but the last two big
swallows Of mescnl held him dswn.
SO, after turning over and burying his
hatchetlike face In the sand, he nay
! quiet again.
When he had thus turned over, was
brought into view tho rifle. which had
been concealed by his dirty blanket
Dubs eyed the weapon with coyetous
eyes. He could not withstand the temp.
tatlon of feeling 1t all over. standing
II up on its butt and trying TO shoulder
II, but this last feat no could hardly
accomplish. Just what II was that
kept his fingers off tho hammer and
trigger and prevented sound that
would surely have brought the Coyote
IN MI. ,,rlth 4 r
not tell. but Dubs played with that
fascinating weapon nearly an hour,
while Gay poured sand over tho car
tridges. hiding nearly all OF them from
view.
BY this time the suns rays were on
the long slant. and the children were
very hungry By this time, too. the
Apache was growing restless. Tor the
mescal Ind nearly lost Its grip upon
him. train laundering by. or. much
less, II 'swlft' brushing against his
black foot n spider dropping on his
leg, or even n big fly buzzng Mt his
car-nny of these would have set his
demon force into play again.
But the children could not walt for
such demonstrations as these, though
why 1t did not occur TO Dubs that tho
Coyotes err needed tickling with II
grease wood twig the Lord only knows
Tho wind was UP. and tho wires were
murmurlng louder than ever. Tho wee
ones had sported In tho black shadows
long enough-had played with tho fanSs
OF the deadly serpent until they were
tired and their stomnchs were empty.
So they set or on u trot for home.
Just M they turned the bend and
came In sight OF tho low roof of the
station dust devll' swept by the
rocks where lay the Coyote That Bltes.
lie jumped to his feet, grasped his
empty sheath. gave II mad whoop and
started about In feverlsh rage. There
was his knife. hnlf covered by the
sand. and there was his rifle. far from
his side. Here waa tho cartridge belt
empty. and all about him In the sand
were countless little footprints.
A bewildered look stole over his face,
but 1t passed away when his eyes rest.
ed ON the empty demijohn. The OK
preston that replaced II was one of do
monlncal feroclty, and the lust OF
slaughter lny heavily upon him. Bul
| tho cartrldges-wh where were they2 He
saw Guys mound of sand and, kicking
It, gavo grunt of delight to SEQ the
brnzcn capsules that were scattered
right and left by his foot.
He picked them all up. grunting over
each one. Filling tho belt and grasptng
his rifle. he started on In the direction
In which tho small footprints led. Like
bloodhound. no chased along the
track. His eyes scanned tho plain AT
every turn, and his breath was hot and
strong. But when no turned tho big
curve and saw tho station he know that
he was lato-toO lato-Rnd he gave u
grunt of disgust and was OF like the
wind over side trail that led toward
the sunset.
In the low rooted station house the
mother crooned TO tired little Gay. iy-
ing 80 soft and limp In her arms. She
looked out over the desert, saw the sun
touching the tips OF the solemn giant
cacti with purple dots, saw the prickly
pear shrubs holding their grotesQuo
arms above the great sweep Of sand
that ran down TO the low horizon and
felt tho inspiration OF tho scene. as she
had often felt II before. for tho desert
has beauty that Is nil Its own. She
knew that other women In the great
cities and In the cool. green valleys
might pity her III that dcsolate spot.
but she felt that she needed not their
pity. Dubs came and leaned his head
against her arm where she sat. aud lit
tie Gay nestled down with tired sigh.
Yes. there was much. she thought for
which to be thankful
And In truth there was.