The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-06
CONTINUED From Yesterday

"Gone. chi" said the little girl.
Funny she didn't say good-by; she
most always did IL she was just goin
over to auntie's for tea, and now she's
been away for three days. Say, it's
awful dry, amt it? Amt there no
water nor nothing to eat?"
mo, there amt nothing, dearie.
You'll just need to be patient awhile,
and then you'll be all right. Put your
head up agin me, like that. and then
you'll feel better. 1t amt easy to talk
when your lips is like leather, but |
guess I'd best let you know how the
cards lie. What's that you've got?"
pretty things. fine things!" cried the
little girl, enthusiasts ically, holding up
two glittering fragments of mica.
When we goes back to home I'll give
them to brother Bob"
You'll see prettier things than them
soon" said the man confidently. "You
Just wait a bit. I was going to tell you,
though-you remember when we left
the river?"
ooh. yes"
well we reckoned we'd strike an
other river soon, dye see. But there
was somethin' wrong; compasses, or
lkldp, Vi oOlllCLilih oiio ~ ai0h 49,
up. Water ran out. Just except a lit
tie drop for the likes of o and
and"
terrupted his companion, gravely,
staring up at his grimy visage.
mo, nor drink. And Mr.. Bender, he
was the first to go, and then Indian
Pete, and then Mrs. McGregor. and
then Johnny Homes, n then, dearie.
your mother"
Then mothers adeader. too" cried
the little girl. dropping her face In her
pinafore and sobbing bitterly.
Yves; they all went except you an6
me. Then 1 thought there was some
chance Of water In this direction, so
heaved you over my shoulder and W,
tramped 1t together. 1t don't seem a.
though we've improved matters
There's an almighty small chance fol
us now!"
"Do you mean that we are going te
die, too?'' asked the child, checking hei
sobs, and raising her tear-stained face
"I guess that's about the size of it.
"Why didn't you say so before?" she
said, laughing gleefully. You gave me
such a fright. Why, of course, now as
long as we die we'll be with mother
again."
Eyes, you will, dearie."
"And you, too. I'll tell her how aw-
full good you've been. I'll bet she meets
us at the door of heaven with a big
pitcher of water, and a lot of buck
wheat cakes, hot. and toasted on both
sides, like Bob and me was fond of.
How long will it be frst?"
II don't know-not very long"
The mans eyes were fixed upon the
northern horizon. In the blue vault OF
the heaven there appeared three little
specks which increased in size every
moment, so rapidly did they approach.
They speedily resolved themselves into
three large brown birds. which circled
over the heads of the two wanderers,
and then settled pon some rocks
which overlooked them. They were
buzzards, the vultures of the West,
whose coming is the forerunner oil
, death.
Cocks and hens cried the little
girl, gleefully, pointing at their ILL
omened forms, and clapping her hands
to make them rise. SAY, did Goo
make this country"
an course He did, said her COM
panion, rather startled by this unex-
pected question.
HE made the country down in I'LL
nois, and He made the Missouri" the
little girl continued. 81 guess some
body else made the country in these
parts. It's not nearly so we'll done.
They forgot the water and the trees
what would We think of offering up
prayer the a asked. diffidently.
ut amt night yet" she answered.
ut don't matter. 1t amt quite regu-
lar, but He won't mind that, you bet.
You say over them ones that you used
to say every night in the wagon when
we was on the plains"
"Why don't you say some YOURSELF
the child asked. with wondering eyes.
II disremember them,' he answered.
81 amt said none since I was half the
height O. that gun. l guess it's never
too late. You say them out, and I'll
stand by and come in OF the choruses."
Then you'll need to kneel down, and
me too she said, laying the shawl
out for hat purpose. you've got to
put your hands up like this. 1t makes
you feel kind of good"
1t was a strange sight, had there
been anything but the buzzards to sec
it. Side by side on the narrow shawl
knelt the two wanderers, h little.
prattling child and the reckless, hard
ened adventurer. Her chubby face and
his haggard, angular visage were both
turned up to the cloudless heaven in
heartfelt entreaty to that dread Being
with whom they were face to face,
while the two notes.-the one thin and
clear, the other deep and h~arsh-united
in the entreaty for mercy and forgive
ness. The prayer finished, they re-
sumed their seat in the shadow of the
bowlder until the child fell asleep,
nesting upon h broad breast of her
protector. He watched over her slunl-
Der for some time, but nature proved
to be too strong for him For three
days and three nights he had allowed
himself neither rest nor repose. Slowly
the eyelids dropped over the tired eyes,
and the head sank lower and lower