The Huttig news., 1908-02-08
CHAPTER il. Hail and Farewell.

Alfred.
 We've little barley in her. for. tunately, and some blankets for the mules; but the hays gone. You'll have to unhitch for few minutes. won't you, Uncle Billy? They cant double without little rest, can they?"
 Yes, but not for long. We've got to be at Maloneys in time to send help back hyah befo' day The red devils ain't through hyah; there's whisky left, and brandy, see, and
 Not so much, Uncle Billy. 1 burned all the brandy to make bullets melted all the pewter stuff, too"
 Well. I sweah! I didn't reckon yo' fatheh'd ever be short on ammuni- tion."
 It's ordered long ago, but the agent hasn't sent it. Father'll come soon ] hope. It's too bad that you must help with the team, Uncle Billy"
 That's no match. The only thing is to feed and get away as soon as I can. Where'd yo' fatheh go?"
 He took some stock up to the
 
 have been back before noon, and-- She stopped abruptly and turned away.
 The driver paled and looked quickly toward a tall young man busy at one of the lockers. He caught the drivers wordless question and nodded siguif- 1 icantly.
 Stella, facing away from them, was placing dishes on the table. "Ill have supper for you soon" she said present ly. We didn't dare begin to cook before for fear-for fear
 All right Stella. These passengehs, MT. Vincent and MT. Cadwalladeh, will eat; but Gid an I'll go and look up the old man first"
 Stella flashed him grateful look before holding to the strangers, the only acknowledgment of the introducg ton she took time for. She lighted lantern and set it near the door; brought whisky flask from behind the bar. and some white cloth, and placed both beside the lantern.
 Alfred sickened at the broken sen. tences, sinister pauses, and still more sinister preparations; yet intently watched the hurrying workers.
 Gid, take out the barley and feed 'em double measure I'll help you blanket 'em in minute"
 Gideon shouldered the barley just as Stella pulled a pile of heavy blan- kets frc'n a shelf. Alfred started for ward to help her, and felt himself bending under load that she had | lifted with ease.
 "Tll take them, stranger" Gideon had dropped the barley and stepped quickly to Stella's side. Alfred turned, startled at that which l his sensitive ear heard in the voice. He met pair of black, burning eyes in a swarthy face not yet divorced from boyishness, though full manhood spoke from the straight figure and sinewy movements. Alfred needed no inter- preter for that jealous look, needed no one to tell him of the instant hostility that lurked in the darkling eye, and found quick response in his own heart
 
 tired to his chair, his eye the buster since hands must be idle.
 He looked about, upon the bar in the corner, it's glittering glass and one kerosene lamp the only brightness in the gloomy room; upon the dark, weapon-hung walls. and the significant loop-holes that gleamed small and black against the starlit night without Bare floors, rude homemade furniture it was life more primitive than AL fred could possibly have imagined ten days before.
 One object removed it from say agery, Stella's small cane rocking chair. It queened the barbarous room, an omen of coming civilization. From the chair to Stella herself Alfred's eye wandered, noting her incongruous dress, 8 rich lavender silk skirt. once boasting train, though now cut half shoe short. disclosing costly French boots, one torn at the side Her linen waist was jewel-clasped at the white neck and belted with zone of quartz crystals clear as diamonds. Her comb, banded with delicate pink coral, held in place coronet of glinting golden brown braids, adorning but not dis guising the shapeliness of her perfect ly poised head. And from all this misplaced elegance a short red calico apron screamed at the eye with the ar rogance of boor in power.
 Calmly unconscious of Alfreds scru- tiny, Stella was coming and going, preparing the late supper.
 The team, unhitched but not unhar- messed, was fed. blanketed and tied to the coach wheels in front of the door: and Uncle Billy stepr.d inside and addressed Vincent and Cadwallader
 'I reckon you two fellehs will have to take turns gyarding that team while we're gone, if you'd care to get away from byah with yo own hair on. Fiah two shots, wait minute and fiah one, If yo're molested.'
 Gideon came in with an armful of wood. Alfred saw him answer the drivers unspoken call. saw both leave the house without looking at Stella thnnch her {