Arizona republican., 1907-01-13


 one of those steel-clad glances of his
 over his shoulder. and as suddenly went
 on again. l saw Dolly and I looked
 across at him and he looked at me. but
 we said nothing Not then. that is,
 but We understood each other, and af-
 terward, when the crowd was gone, he
 came over to me.
 ''Who is she. chum?' he asked.
 Dolly Britton, the little school mis-
 tress. Ain't she a picture2' He laughed low. deep chuckle. The laugh of a man who sees earth holds more heaven than the skies. l wanted
 to tell Charlie about Bill, but I couldn't do it that night and I didn't have to afterwald.
 The next day the little mare was tethered outside the school house, pet ted by the children. while Charlie made friends inside. Pretty successfully, too. I imagine; because it wasn't longe be- fore one or any other of us. prospecting
 up the mountain, would see the little mare flying along the valley or up to old Crows Pass, or across the Bis 1 Cascade. with more than Charlie Cuth- bertson behind her. But none of us said nothing. We loved Dolly and we liked Charlie. and we were mortal grieved for Bill. What was. seemed best. We kept quiet. hoping Charlie would get her away before Bill would make a fuss. But Bill heard of it some way-Freddy Fanshawe, probab- ly. a red-headed rat with a sneakiT g itch for mischief and a grudge against Dolly for dismissal more premptory than complimentary. and good deal
 more scornful than kind. Anyway Bill
 was very ugly one night. IL was up at Remington's. A nasty, drizzling evening. with heavy mists creeping along the ground, sodden with the all day downpour. Remington's
 was unusually crowded; the boys wanting companiOnship and amuse- ment. coming in one by one with great stamping of feet and shaking of sou westers. until only a few of the mar ried were missing, some of them turn l ing up a little later Remington did a ] big trade. and the fun was fast and up roaIious. Charlie Cuthbertson at the 1 head Of it. Bill was forgotten. NO- body bothered with him anyway. now | his temper had become so uncertain; and he sat in a corner by himself moodily drinking. watching the scene with a nasty gleam in his eye that promised little good to the man on whom it was persistently fixed. Fan shave started the trouble. He saw BnTs look and knew what it meant: "When's the wedding Charlie,' he flung out
 The crack of a sun couldn't have si- Ierced the crowd quicker. Evey mans
 soul had an understanding with every other man that that was matter not
 Co be talked about. and We waited in breathless expectation to see what Bill
 would do He got slowly on his feet
 and lurched over to where Charlie was sitting.
 "There's not going to be any we'd
 ding. by God," lac shouted. striking the table with his fist.
 Charlie looked from one to another ! bewildered. the color gone from his cheeks-but the men hung their heads. none wanting to meet his eye, and he ! looked at Bill again.
 That's my girl your're footing round Mir. Cuthbertson, my girl,-you understand And you've got to stop it. Cuthbertson pushed back his chair. | His eyes were blazing, his fists clench- | ed. The boys were ready to spring in and prevent a fight, but he flung on l his coat and went toward the door. Good night, boys" he cried-very 1 self contained: he always was And
 the door swung behind him and he dis appeared in the night leaving Bill | sT- I.T. lstupidly blinking.
 1 The fun was over so I got my coat | land followed Charlie. I overlook him just as he left the bit of sidewalk which
 runs in front of the post office. and we splashed along the sodden way togeth- Ter. He said nothing and I didn't want | to interrupt his thoughts. l felt mur- Iderous about Freddy. but I guessed he wasn't thinking about him. so I began
 to thing about her, too. Pretty Dolly Britton. loved of children and worship | ped of men. It seems to me a queer thing sometimes how the sorrows of ! life mostly happen to those that least deserve them.
 But the Creeks with --ou. Charlie, T rapped out almost before I knew it. 1 Then it's true. son. is 1t? he asked. Its true. But I say, and the boys say-the whole Creek says Bill has no claim if he won't make good i Aye. son. but what's Dolly say?' i I guessed he'd hit the only nail worth lhammering at
 You'll have to ask her. Charlie" I said.
 I'm going to-"
 And when left him he was smiling in a satisfied sort of a way to him. self.
 Well. what she said was as much a surprise to us as it was to him. The ! next afternoon he went over to the school house just as the children were going home. and he knew he would find her alone. She wasn't looking any Hess pretty than usual. and when her | eyes frightened up at his coming he though he knew all that was in promise
 for him. But he didn't. She came
 down the room to meet him and he | sat at one of the children's desks and caught her hand in his. Dolly" he murmured, q want you | to teach me"
 She drew her hands away with a
 happy laugh that spared his discon- |tent.
 What do you want to learn, Char iIe?"
 "A lot of things. sweetheart; most Of all, whether you love me. dear?" He tried to get her hands again. but