The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-05

at the tall figure beside her If you dare to- do any more shooting around me. shall--''
 "whaty asked the Rattler. as she paused
 Marie Louise flushed, but her lips were set. and the hand at her side sud denly lifted Uncle Iris had taken no chances on wild animals for stray In- dians where his women folks were concerned. Esteban was one precau- tion. lightweight. rt-barreled six shooters were another The Rattler looked down into tne barrel 1eveIe at him, and his lips parted in broad grin.
 well, I'll be damned. he laughed. "Ain't that cute. for sure!
 Don't you touch my burro." said Marie Louise, steadily. Ills leg is only hurt. and Uncle will attend t0 him.
 Where's your campT''
 Two miles out of tsrismer"
 His eyes narrowed slightly. Grisnner was not a point of pleasant memories so far as he was concerned. His glance wandered to the chestnut. asked.
 q don't know half mile of ths way" she retorted Would you mind explaining to me just what object you had in view when ou tried to shoot the guide and me?'
 His face deepened in color under the scorn in her voice, and he grinned more doubtfully, like a boy caught in mischief T didn't mean to hurt you. I tried to nip the Greaser's ear for fun. His remarks were too personal to be sighted"
 There was a minute of silence The ankle was Increasing in pain momen- tarily, and the senorita's face looked very white As he looked down on her the grin left the Ratler's face. and his eyes grew reflective.
 'It's over six miles to Grismer. Where's your campf This side the | river?''
 'Yes. I don't know what you call 1t, but there's a ravine. or canon. or sone- think after you cross the river--'' The arroyo?"
 That Is what Esteban called 1t !. Anyway. Uncle Tristram had them | pitch the tents at the lower end of 1t where the waterfall is.' T know the place It's mighty pret- | ty for camp There was an odd look in the Rattlers eyes. Did they tell I you about it in Grismer2' NO. Uncle found It." She hesitated. l But Esteban had told her the Rattler | was interested in copper. and he would probably understand. My uncle Is Tristram Knight"
 "ohi" The Rattler's tone was enig- 1 nautical and non -committal. Is he looking for any particular groupg'
 T understand that he Is Interested In some special properties" The senor- l ita's foot was hurting her badly, and I her manner became suddenly aloof will you please either send for helr I or let me have your horse and try to | find my way homer
 TheRattler hesitated and--Iost verS easily the form of the senorita sank | back in faint that admitted of no ar, | gument He cut two siits in the we l sombrero and slipped the burro's ear,
 through them, so that 1t had a coo covering for its head. The senorits looked quiet and peaceful. so he tool I time tofcut a couple of small spiints l then he bound up the wound in tht | foreleg as best he could. The red stli bandage was decidedly becoming to thu gray hide of the little burro when hi I finished.
 Then the Ratler stood stiil and wait
 ed patiently for the girl to recover ! consciousness. Wounded burros he hal
 met with before; a faintlng girl her,
 and there. also, but not one like this
 They generally kicked like the burro and went into mysteries A rush o
 cold water. or sudden jolt. were equal iy eficacfous as remedles he had found
 Neither one appeared adapted for thE
 particular case, so he waited ant | watched her. It was a thoroughbre,
 face. the features small and finel,
 modelled. with the fuil-lipped, frml,
 curved Greek mouth, mouth of deci sion and temper, as well as lovableness
 Her linen cap had fallen to the ground
 and two long braids of brown hal
 hung from her head to her shoulder
 as she lay upon the ground. They ha,
 circled her head. he remembered, lik
 an aureole.
 When Marie Louise opened her eve
 there was no one near her. A fev
 yards away the Rattler was busy try
 ing to fit the side saddle from tn
 burro onto the chestnut. He glanced a
 her carelessIy and nodded his head All right. now, ain't you? Did yo,
 good to rest. Are you ready to travel?
 T think I can go on alone" sh
 shut her lips closely, and tried to rise
 The Rattler caught her as she feI | back
 Now keep still and don't go tryini
 any fool girl tricks. I'll lift you
 He did so very easily, very much a
 Mary Louise would have taken a chil
 up in her arms, and placed her in tn
 saddle on the chestnut.
 The burrol stick it out until some
 one gets back to him." he assured heI