Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
3o-a.., ~ GENERAL CHARLES KING
AUTHOR OF 4 DAl IOHJER OF rag SIOUX & c

smothered handicap. and. whirling about in
swift hope and surprise. her face once more
darkened at sight of an Indian girl. Apache
unquestionably. crouching in the leafy CO.
vert of the opposite willows and pointing
silently down stream. For a moment, with
out love or fear in the eyes of either. the
white girl and the brown gazed at each
other across the intervening water mirror
and spoke no word. Then. slowly, the for
mer approached the brink. looked i'll the
direction indicated by the little dingy in
dex and saw nothing to warrant the recall.
Moreover. she was annoyed to think that
all this time, perhaps the Indian girl had
been lurking in that sheltering grove and
stealthly watching her. Once more she
turned away, this time with a toss of her
head that sent the ruSSet brown treSSeS
tumbling about her slim back and shoulders
and at once the handicap was repeated
low. but Imperative. and Tonic. the biggest
OF the two big hounds, uplifted one ear and
growled challenge.
What do you want" questioned the
white girl across the estranging waters.
For answer the brown girl placed her left
foretinger on her lips. and again distinctly
pointed to little clump of willows dozen
rods below, but on the westward side.
do you mean-SOme ones COmingo'
quered the first.
Ssh -Sh-Sh'' answered the second softly,
then pointed again. and pointed eagerly.
The soldiers daughter glanced about her.
uncertainty. moment then slowly, eau
tiously made her way along the sandy
brink in the direction Indicated. gathering
the folds of her long skirt in her gaunt-
leted hand and stepping lightly in her slen
der moccaSins. A moment or two and she
had reached the edge of dense little copSe
and peered cautiously within. The Indian
girl was right. Somebody lay there, APP
parently asleep. and the fair young in
truder recoled in obvious confusion. if not
dismay. For moment she stood with
huttering heart and parting lips, that now
permitted reassuring glimpse Of pearly
white teeth. For a moment she seemed
on the verge OF panfcky retreat, but little
by little regained courage and self-poise.
What was there to fear in sleeping SOL
der, anyhow? She knew who it was at
glance. She could. if she would. whisper
his name. Indeed, she had been whisper
ing IL many time. day and night. these
last two weeks until-until certain things
about him had come to her ears that made
her shrink in spite Of herself from this
handsome. petted young soldier. this
AdOnis of her fathers troop, Neil Blakely
lieutenant OF cavalry.
THE bug ologist' they called him in card
room circles at the store" where men
were fercely intoIerant of other pursuits
than poker. for which pastime Mr.. Blakey
had no use whatever-nO more use than had
its votaries for him. He was dreamy sort
of fellow with big blue eyes and a fair
skin that were in themselves sufficient to
stir the rancor of born frontiersmen, and
they of Arizona in the days OF old We're an
exaggeration Of the type in general circu-
lation on the plains. He something Of
a dandy in dress. another thing they
lOathed: something of purist in speech
which was affectation objectionable: some
thing of uissenter as to drink appreciat-
i've of "Cucumunga" and claret but dis
trustful of whisky-another thing to cali
down scorn iliimitable from the elect of
the mining camps and packing outfits
But all these disqualificatiOns might have
been overlooked had the lieutenant dis
played even a faint preference for poker
!! The Lord loveth a cheerful giver-or
] loser was the creed OF the card room circle
at the store, but beyond a casual or smiling
peep at the game from the safe distance Of
the doorway Mr.. Blakely had vouchsa fed
no interest in affairs OF that character
To the profane disgust of Bill Hyde, chief
packer. and the malevolent. II yelled. criti-
cism OF certain sporty" fellow soldiers
Blakely preferred to spend his leisure hours
riding up and down the valley. with a but
terfiy net over his shoulder and a japanned
tin box slung at his back. searching for
specimens that were scarce as the Scrip