The Huttig news., 1908-08-15
CHAPTER xxx. The Message of the Dancing Girl to
 Esther


 visit her at Toano. Esther accepted it at once, deciding not to wait for the Harmons. Business had delayed the judge. and now fear of smallpox for his wife. A pitted face testified his own immunity. But Esther had no fear of the disease; Toano was free from the scourge; and the breath of the wide, free desert breezing from Sally B.'s letter reused the wings of Esther's spirit
 She timed her going to catch Uncle Billy's train out from Winnemucca. Through all the years she had written him at intervals. sending her letters at first through Sally B.
 She wished to surprise him. He was therefore quite unprepared for the tall, elegant young woman who waited i'm patiently at the rear end of the car to greet him. She saw him glance to- ward her as soon as he entered, and her heart leaped But he came calmly on, from passenger to passenger. stop ping here and there for question or direction He looked her way inquir ingly once or twice, but blankly.
 When he was yet few seats away, recognition came. He sprang to her, his face transfigured Thought of stranger eyes, of official dignity fled. He caught her hands in his own. Honey Stella!" he cried softly as he kissed her on the cheek the years hunger for her shining in his misty eyes Where undeh the canopy did you come from, honey?"
 She smiled her joy, but said no word
 He still held her hands her rings cutting under the pressure neither marked till later. his eyes searching her glowing face Her mask had dropped; her soul was open to him.
 He made her as comfortable as pos. sible in the rough car that did duty as sleeper. coach, parlor and emigrant car all in one. When the meager busi- ness after leaving each infrequent sta tion was dispatched he came to her again: and the long day was not half time enough for the tale of Estber's eYentful life, every detail questioned and appreciated by her rapt listener.
 Esther opened her eyes the next morning upon a strange life, new, yet old. The Wizard Desert wrapped her again with the mantle of his enchant ment. As of old, the hills walked out of their spaces to meet her. She was back in her own world, back to Sally B.'s loving arms, to Uncle Billy's ten der solicitude.
 Are you happy, Mrs. Sally?" Esther asked, following her from one to an other of the rough rooms, as the mis- tress deftly touched each chaotic spot to order.
 Lord love ye, child I didn't know how powerful pestered I was there in Oakland an the city till 1 got back here where 1 b'long. There's folks of course that's made for totin' soeiety's pack; some of ems soft, squashy crit ters, an some of ems plumb good like Freddy Bryan; but the plains, an work, an men with blood in 'em. an freedom-that's what I was born to; an it's what I'm fit fur" She was tearing an unspeakable bed to pieces with merciless scrutiny. Gosh The way man runs hotel without no woman is 'nough to make skunk sick"
 Esther marveled at Sally B. rever- sion. Nothing of her violent effort at culture remained; and her old speech and manner seemed doubly vigorous for the long rest
 ''If only Bill was-was right peart agin---" Sally B. began, but stopped abruptly and shook a pillow danger ously near to its undoing.
 Did you hear about Blowhard Cad?" she asked a little later
 q overheard his name in the car yesterday. but learned nothing def. nite."
 He's arrested for stealing from the company"
 "Oh, surely not for stealingi" Tn. stantly Esther's mind flew back to the desert station, the overland journey, the scene on the hillside. to many lesser visions of him, even to her last meeting at Judge Harmon S. AlWays the same aversion to him, the same wonder that the company trusted him.
 Yes. stealin They gave him pas senger out of Sacramento. an he didn't run it three weeks till they caught him. The boys say there's something back of that, too, an it'll go hard with him. Pore devil, He was bright 'nough fur meanness; pity he couldn't a tried be- in white Come on. I got to go to the kitchen"
 Here again reigned Yic Wah. the i'm perturbable.
 Do you like it here?' Esther asked him.
 He grinned. You bettse. Heap