Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-06-06

from the old list made by the old
teacher.
we will take a moment to change
this" he said. I'VE will make a new
roll, and as l call these names you
will each step up to my desk.
"Beeny lombard" The firm voice
hesitated, a puzzled look glanced
across the stern eyes.
"Beeny Lombard" Verbeny rose
slowly and moved to the edge of the
platform.
Are you Beeny Lombard? And
what does Beeny stand for?"
"Why--why, Verbeny."
'Verbeny?"
Yes, Verbeny," she faltered.
ooh, V%erbena!" He spoke quickly,
almost curtly, and yet the voice that
rechristened Verbena opened for her
the way into a new world. a world
that was all faith. all love, all adora-
ton.
1t was late that afternoon when Yer
bona reached home. If Mrs. Lombard
had looked at her daughter she would
have seen that the dreamy, listless
eyes were wide awake; that the child
ish, open lips were closed, but closed
in a smile that dimpled at the cor
ners.
1t was not easy to say. Verbena
wanted the best room; she wanted the
redding up of the best room; she had
brought the roses for the vase in the
best room; all the girls she knew
had the best room for-for their
beaux.
"Hev it eff yo' want it," her mother
laughingly answered. Mind that yo
an yer beaux don't hurt it though"
"I-Tn only have one beau" The
words were whispered as Verbena
crossed the kitchen.
On the calendar, the days that fol-
lowed would have been called a month.
In Verbena's mind they stood for all
of life, for all time. In the school, or
der was being brought out of chaos.
But she only worked at night, only
in the late afternoons and early morn
ings. All through the school hours,
her eyes never left the masters face,
and, all the while he seemed quite un-
conscious of the wistful eyes that fol-
lowed him.
The morning that ended it all began
just like other mornings of the month.
Verbena was at her desk in the school
some ten minutes before the first bell
rang. John Cox, absorbed in the pa
pers before him, had hardly noticed
her entrance.
Suddenly there was a sound Of run.
ming feet and a voice, big and deep
with excitement, cried: It's a re-
ward for a murderer. An they're goin'
to put one on the schoolhouse, too.
They think Their feller's out here. An
he killed a mar back east. He's named
Jared Conklin and the sheriff'll be
here to-day to look for him"
The words were being repeated now,
back and forth. They were almost in.
distinguishable, but Verbena had
heard them all once, and she had
seen John Cox's white fingers close
hard on the desk in front of him.
Before he could make the slightest
movement, her hand was on his. I'll
hide you where they'll find you"
If he hesitated, Verbena did not
know 1t. 1t was the girl who led the
way in the shadows of the hedges that
she knew so well, down close to the
silent farmhouse, systematically, she
had rAlembered that her father and
mother had gone that morning into
town, but breathlessly she ordered the
man to wait uAtil she had been into
the house, until Me had unlocked the
door of the best NJ ber room.
81 cannot stay nd -
You can stay her IN
til 1 can get you a me
that you will stay" he
answered.
1t was VerbenA lorn-
ing bell at the sd min
utes late, It was tr\
girls were all too q
time. She liRteneg fing
comments oAtb alb
sence. WitAtS she hurried
out Tead the when it was
placbrded on the house door.
Win the OlnefS U the descrip-
ton Of the murd She compared
this description their teacher.
Her own 4 z ID the conclusion
as it was y y rom the other lips.
John Cox a d Conklin were but
and then man!
The seargh IN that part of the coun.
try for Jayed Conklin was only a mat.
.er Of days. Then word came that he
had been seen farther west. in Arr.
IONA. in California, and the sheriff
concluded that his man had received
warning and escaped again. But the
days seemed intermlnable to the man
who waited for freedom.
Ono aight she came TO him and told