New-York tribune., 1906-08-19

CT z ness, but we II get to Queens somehow"
OLL The rider. with his strange burden,
sat cumsilv in his saddle did he
urge the pony much. The pace, III conse-
quence. was slow. and by noon less than
half the distance had been covered. At
midday, without stirring from the sad
die, he a the food he had brought in his
pocket and drank the luke-warrn spring
water he carried with him. awkwardly
feeding the child and letting her drink
from the flask Mile after mile the
child kept her big blue eyes fastened in
searching II qairy the brown face of
the rider Sometimes Crumpton
tured a question, and then he would
relapse into silence. To his repeated
inquiries the child answered nothing
save l want Elsie"
An hour passed-two three. The child
Z was growing heavy. 4 feeling OF numb
ness gripped the right arm and right side
of the rider. At length he shifted the
burden to the left His cowboy senses
Wa felt strange thrill as he held the child.
sH# Il all to him-the delicate
- texture of the dress. the Welding soft
ness of the body the wistfulness OF the
mouth, the fearless look of trust in the
large lue eyes which never left his face.
Sometimes the cow-pony would neigh in
jealous protest. for it detected some
thing strange in its masters tone
Wen be there pretty soon now, midget ven
tured the horseman and again. l guess
Elsie Il be WaitIn kind OF anxious for YOU, eh' ="
The chids eyes frightened the mention of
the name and little smile stole TO the corners OF
her mouth
By this time the sun was low in the west Out Of
the distance came sinister shadows, bringing
coolness into the sweltering hoIlows and dominating
the valleys that separated
It's gettin' late" muttered the cowboy refec-
lively. Can YOU speed er up a little, Saem'
Queens IS a good seven miles off yet, an got to
hurry
They were crossing the depression OF little
valley. Looking up, Crumpton gaze met second
hgure also strange, standing IN the trail on the top
OF the hill Surprise brought an oath to his lips but
he cut 1t short, for the blue eyes We're looking him
through
Maybe that's Elsie he observed meditativev.
as he regarded the figure. The child starting
al the name, looked up and immediately the
figure at the top Of the hill now less than a stones
throw away, started forward. The girl Wore a
gray riding skirt and red cap, and as the child
threw herself with into her the cowboy,
telgnlns unconcern, looked away beWlldered and
frightened.
Where did YOU find herr" the girl demanded.
How good of YOU to bring her aIong Really |
don't know what l could have done all alone
Elaine, that IS my fnny. ran away this when /
was watering her al the creek and had to start
back. We walked all the afternoon. Father was
away and. besides. knew could get her back. 1t
must have been the old Indian woman who was al
Queens the other day, She seemed To take q fancv
TO Suey-that what call her for short-Susan
her real name. Mn how m rafting onl-and with
out knock-down- S what they call IL out here,
size added II apology with laugh 1t was merry,
grllsh, tlnkng laugh such aS horse and rider sell
dom heard in the foot hill country. AIv name IS
Graves, She concluded, raising a pair u dark eyes
10 his.
He looked into them for moment and then
shifted uneasly IN his saddle his eve following
buzzard. Elsie Graves amt 1t he commented
The girl looked up surprised oh Of course.
Suey told YOU. dIdn she: What's yours.
"Crumpton Charlie Crumpton
Oh" The girl returned She had half expected
him to say The Elrginan, She told herself after
An YOU hoofed from the creek the cowboy
4fra He was