The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-13
sc"c"cso.c.c.c.o..o.o.G sc.c' 4 Tale of q Woman Home-.
 Sfeader in the Southwest.


good her word he checked her. putting q hand forth to touch her shoulder, with Thank you," and once more his look eX- tended and illuminated the meaning of the words
 She came to him-showing plainly marks of sympathetic excitement, anN- iety alarm, yet moving slowly and bit eringly. carrying upon her arm some gar ments which she had taken from tie line In the instant of his rising to his feet and turning fully toward her Lydia be- came aware how young and comedy ne was, despite his disarray, the fact that ms left arm was in a sling, and the fresh, disfguring wound on his temple brlef feeling of embarrassment came to her, but was instantly swallowed up in the sense of something terrible impending. And so, as she might have done had he been her brother, she approached him swiftly without a word passed her arm through his, and walking on the outside, covering his form with her own, moved slowly around to the door and in through it.
 Broughton had been fed and comforted and his wounds dressed; he had lain down at peace to sleep the sleep of utter ex- haustion on little Norah's bed The child, who had walked and listened to her moth CTS explanation of the case with sweet, grave docility. was taking turns with the woman at keeping watch up on the big rock above the cabin, whence one could see, two miles below. the turn n the road that brought into clear view any one approaching up the trail
 While the fugitive slept Lydia. with her own hands, unsaddled his weary pony and fed him bountifully from her little store of grain. Later she re-saddled and Ter. him to graze in the dooryard And ever, as she passed and repassed that inert figure. that sleeping face on little Norahs pillow, the strong womans heart in her slight girlish body yearned over it. l.
 John had slept four hours when sud denly, the child being at her post above and Lydia sitting near the door, he awail ened rested and renewed. and called her name She came instantly. He was slt- ting on the edge of the bed, and she would scarce have known the haggard, hunted, disheaveled fugitive in the figure be- fore her.
 Pursued, famished exhausted, almost desperate as he had been, with the elas- ticity of youh, John Broughtons spirit sprang up within him once more. As he had sat at his food waited upon, m1n- istered to by the woman scarcely more than a girl, the silent, big-eyed ingenious child. the situation pulled hard at his lonely heart. Now. as he looked about, the little woman-made, woman-kept home, US utter HuInDt4tSS 1uIldilZ6u dl every point by the gracious feminine soul, made powerful appeal to John.
 Briefly and simply he told his story. "It is Fetridge's crowd that it after me. l sold my ranch house and bunch of J. B. cattle to them. When the day of payment came around they sent for me. That was yesterday aft ernoon. l rode over there without a thought that there was anything amiss.
 The Fetridges-and you went alone? Surely you haven't lived in this part of New Mexico long" Lydia said earn estly, leaning forward.
 No; l came in with my bunch of cattle only six months ago and scripped this ranch l afterward sold the Fet- riges. Well, when I stepped to the door-and raised my hand to knock upon it, bullet ripped past me, tore a piece from my hat-brim as it went. and buried itself in the wood. There were three people shooting at me be- fore the thing was over, and how un- der heaven l managed to get out my gun kill one of them and get away with only these slight wounds, I can't imagine"
 And who is it that is on your trail now?" questioned Lydia.
 Its the Fetridges themselves. and Bill Forbes-you know he's deputy sheriff..
 He is now: but he's been one of the Fetridge gang ever since I've been here" said Lydia. Then she went on solicitously, and where shall you-do you think they will-what do you in- tend"
 "They are after me not to take me but to kill me. They know I'm dis abled and without weapon. 1 dropped my pistol as | got onto Blue TJaN sort of v' and he glacned about the peaceful little room.
 She shook her h head respectfully. He signed. They don't want to see me in a court of law-nor in SheriT Gaylord's hands-Gaylord is straight man. They must have missed my trail where I turned up this canyon. But they certainly can't be long now. I must. get Blue Jim and start on. Is there a trail tut"
 Iydia's eyes were anxious. "It is a side canyon. There is no trail" she began; but the childs voice interrupted.
 'Mama-mamai They're comlhs-the men are coming
 Broughton was on his feet instantly Lydia flew to the side window How many. dear?" she questioned softly. "One-two-three; and-and-there five. They're riding very slow, and going oif sideways sometimes; but they're coming up the canyon!"
 The two pale young faces confronted each other for moment. "A cul de saei' whispered Broughton. "No way out His eyes travelled desperately about the room, the dooryard, all the nearer environment 'No possible way to hide me-and, my God! there's Blue Jim-he'd tell the story even if you could hide me
 But Lydia's was that more stubborn courage which women evince. The look unon her face was strange and held his eyes. Suddenly she turned to him.