Arizona republican., 1909-02-14


 of the third day of the hard four days haul, ill from the settlements to the camp. At the
 head of the first team, his broad jaw set and
 his small gray eyes angry with fatigue, trudged the big figure of Red McWha. With his fiery red head and his large red face, he the only of his cOlorins in large family so dark that they were known as the Black McWhas" and his temper seemed to have been chroncaly soured by the sngulariy ot his type. He was good woodsman, however and good teamster and his horses followed confidently at his heels like dogs. The second team was led by tall gaunt- -jawed, oTc-eyed luuberman named Inn Johnson, invariably known as Valley From the fact that his blind eye of a peculiar blankness, like whitish porcelain he had been nick-nancd Wall Eye" but owing to his general popularity combined with the emphatic views he held on that particular subject, the name had been mtigated to Valley
 The two were hauling in supplies for Con'oys Camp on Little Ottanoosis Lake. Silently, but Ter the cank and creak of the harness and the soft thut thut of the trodden the little procession toiled teams rounded turn of the trail, and began to de- scend the steep slope which led down to Joe God dngs solitary cabin on the edge ot Burnt Brook But there was no light in the window. No homely pungency of wood smoke breathed welcome on the bit ter air The cabin looked startlingly deserted.
 "Whoap commanded McWha sharply, and glanced around at Johnson with an angry misgring in his eyes The teams came to stop with shiVer of all their bells
 linen upon the sudden stiffness the faint sound oi a lhiid voice, hoPciessly.
 ~Sorethin' wrong down yondcr!" growlcd McWha: As he spoke, Valley Johnson sprang past him. and went opng down the hill
 Red McWha followed very deliberately with the teaf,s lie resented anything emotional And he was prepared to feel himself aggricycd.
 When he reached the cabin door the sound ot weep ing had stopped Inside he found Walley Johnson on his knees bel, the stove, hurrledly lighting hEc Wrapped in his coat, and cutching his arm as Ii afraid he might leave her, stood tiny haxen- haired child perhaps five years old The cabin was cold. al mos; as cold the snapping night outside Along the middle of the oor with bedcothes from the bunk heaped awkwardly upon II in the little one efoTts to warm back to responsive life, sprawled rigidy the lank body of Joe Goddlng. .. Red McWha stared for moment m silence, then stoopcd, examined the dead mans face, and felt his breast
 Johnson made no reply till the flame caught the kindrg and rushed in from the open draught with cordial roar. Then he stood up.
 Hes been dead these hours. and houFsF ne said. "An' the fire out! an the kid most frozel sick man like he was to've kept the kid alone here with him that-a-way!" And he glanced down at the dead figure with severe reproduction Never much good, that Joe Goodng! nut tered McWha always critical
 6e inc two woodsnen discussed the situation, the child delcate-featured, blue-eyed giTb was eazng up from under her mop Of bright hair, trst at oac then at the other. Valley Johnson was the one who had come in answer 10 her long wailng who had hueged her close, and wrapped her up. and crooned over her in his pity, and driven away the terrors- But she did not like 10 look at hi though his saun'' salow face strong and hnd.
 People are apt to talk easy gcIcraJtles about the intuition of children! As matter of fact the little ones are not above judging quite as superncaiy and falsely as their elders The child looked at her pro tectors sghess eye then turned away and sided over n NcyVba with one hand coaxingly outstretched. . MeXVhas mouth twisted sourly Without appearing to see the tiny hand he deftly evaded 1t. Stopping over the dead man. he picked him up strengthened hrn out decently his bunk, and covered him away rom sight with the blankets.
 iYe needn't be so crusty to the kid, when snc wants ,o make up to yer protested Waiey, the little one turned back to him with puzzled look in her fearful blue eyes. |, aIts all alike they be, six, sixteen, CT sxty-sixP remarked McWha sarcasticaly, stepping to the door, q don't none of 'eml Ye kin look out for CT I'm for the horses.
 Don't talk out so loud" admonished the little one. You'll wake daddy Poor daddy's sic."'
 "Poor lamb!" rnurrnured Johnson folding her to his great breast with pang of pity. No, we won't wake daddy Now, tell me- what's yer name?
 Daddy called me Rosy-Liliy!" answered the cIild playing with button Johnsons vest "Is he get tin warmer nov? He was so cold, an he wouldn't speak to Rosy-Lillyl"
 "Rosy-Iilly it be" agreed Johnson. Now. we jest won't bother daddy. him bein' so sickl You an nell The cabin was warm now, and on tptoe Johnson and Rosy-Lilly went about their work, setting the table "bilin'" the tea, and frying the bacon. When Red McNha came in from the barn, and stamped the snow from his feet, RosyLilly said Hushl laid her finger her lips and glanced r1eaninSy at the move less shape in the bunk
 We mus let i'm sleep, Rosy-Lilly saysr' decreed Johnson with emphasis which penetrated McWhas unsympathetc consciousness and eiicited non-com- For nearly an hour the two men smoked in silence, their steang feet Under the stove their backs turned toward the long unstirrng shape in the big bunk At last Johnson stood up and shook himself.
 We'll" he drawed, T s'pose we mus be doin' the best we kin fer poor old Joe. We can't leave hin here in the houseP
 "No, we can't" answered McWha He'd ha'nt it, an US too after, like as notP We got 10 give i'm lurnbcrnan's shift. till the boss kin send an take m back 10 the settlement for the parson to do i'm up right an proper"
 So they buried poor Joe Godding deep in the snow under the big elm behind the cabin and piled monu- J,f,o- ttst4 4ha o1d wild cats could not disturb his lonely sleep and sur mounted the pile with rude to signify its char acter. Then, with lighter hearts, they went back to the cabin fire which seemed to burn freely that the grim presence of its former master had been removed
 Now, what's to be done with the kid-with Rosy Lilly? They do say in the settlements how Joe