The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-09
"A RED-EYE CONSPIRACY.
D. H. TALMADGE.-

Three men, met by chance, stood in
the doorway of 1.-The Dazzler"-Red-
eyes popular wet goods emporium
one blistering day, and watch
ed forth man, little more than
a boy in appearance, as he forced his
way with evident effort through the
heat waves and dust puffs of the street.
The three men were of the type
common to mining camps of the West.
They bore a look, hard baked to the
point of cracking. They were lean Of
body and prominent of bone. Their
clothes were not Of the sort one sees
upon people who parade in certain
thoroughfares in New York; but their
eyes met other eyes without Waver-
ing, and the grip of their fists was
something to be remembered.
Seeing them in the doorway of the
Dazzler, a tenderfoot would have made
a mistake of judgment. He would
not have guessed the tallest of the
to be physician, properly accredited
by one Of the best of Eastern schools.
Nor would he have guessed the Short
est of the three, the one whose right
ear was lacking, to be the Mayor Of
Redeye. Nor would he have guessed
the last and gnarliest of the trio to
be the minister Of the gospel in the
The doctor pointed at the man plod-
ding down the street. There is a
game rooster" he said. Game out
here two years ago because his wife
had consumption. Their doctor in
Chicago was a classmate of mine, and
he advised them to come to Reddy's
because was here. I thought twas
devilish kind Of him. considering that
they didn't have enough money to buy
a OIL
You always was lucky cuss, Doc"
observed the Mayor dryly.
well, I certainly was in this case.
An acquaintance with those two kids
Is worth a year of any mans time or
a barrel of his best cough syrup. 1
was a bit shy when Larry-his names
Larry Donovan-brought me the letter
from his doctor, but after a while I
got another letter, and, say! from
fact is, gentlemen the girl-Molly's her
name-didn't know she. had consum-
ton; she thought twas Larry that
had it, else she wouldn't have agreed
to his giving up his job and starting
out for strange land practically with
out money, as they did. The boy. tried
to get job at bookkeeping after he
got here, but he couldn't seem to con-
meet with one, and pretty soon some
body or something put the idea into
his head of raising vegetables, ana
that's what he's been doing for liv-
ing ever since"
The minister looked sympathetic,
the mayor surprised.
Eyes, by George! he's actually made
living at raising vegetables in this
soil. He's got stuff in him. that kid"
'T should remark!'' calculated the
minister.
"How's the grip" asked the mayor.
"She's getting WELL but the boy
say, you fellows, come in here and sit
down; I've got a scheme want to put
to you.'
They followed him to one of the ta-
bles within the cool depths of the Daz-
zler and for an hour the three talked
earnestly their heads close together.
The Colorado hills lifted their hoary
submits into the summer sky. A
stream danced and sang at the foot
of long gray slope. Up the slope
perhaps half way was a roughly built
wooden house and in the doorway was
a woman shading her eyes from the
fierce brightness of the sun.
She was woman good to look upon.
Her gown of the simplest calico, her
feet in carpet slippers many sizes too
large. Her hair hung free. Her skin
bore the tan of Wind and sun. She
was not beautiful, only good to look
upon.
Presently she sighted the man for
whom she had been waiting and watch
ing and she ran to meet him, losing
her slippers as she went. He saw her
coming and quickened his laggard
pace. Together they approached the
house.
Larry" the woman asked, "did you
have luck?
Sure I did; all colors Of 1T. Strange
how crazy these people are for veget-
ables. I sold all had and could have
done it again without half trying. If
we could only raise enough dear, clip
ping bonds we'd be at the end of ten
years, but it's hard work to make them
grow here"
TOO hard, I'm thinking, Larry
You're not looking rugged. There's
bit of a hump in your back, and you
don't spring when you walk.
He treasured her, laughing at the
concern in her tone, but in his heart
he knew she spoke the truth. Some
thing was wrong with him. He was
easily fatigued. At times there came
upon him a sudden dizziness.
I'm all right, Molly" he said. Hard
work hurts no man."
"Sure," he said, your lungs are
sound, no doubt of that"
II never felt so we'll in all my born
days." she declared. Come to dinner.
There's a stew that'll make you feel
like another man. I'll take it up while
you wash