West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-02-18
Polly nodded her head sacely.


gard as in her minds eye she saw the
weary waste OF waterless land culver
and swim under the merciless sun.
Not a tree. not blade OF grass. not a
sign OF life, broke the monotony OF
crumbllng cntfs and pinnacled rocks.
Onward and ever onward stretched
yellow ridges and alkali whItcned ra.
vines. binding the eye aud parchlns
the throat
Then i saw a man staggering TO.
ward me-" she continued. His face
and parched. Now aud then he would
stumble and fall and lie there on his
face I'm the hot sand. digging into Il
with his bony fingers, seeking for wa
ter"
Echo shut her eyes as II 60 blot out
the picture. It's reality almost over
powered her.
suddenly he raised his eyes 10
mine" she resumed after pause. 1T
was Dick"
In her excitement she had arisen,
stretching out her arms as II to ward
or an apparition.
He tried to call me. saw his lips
move. framing my name. Dragging
himself to his feet, he came toward
me with his arms outstretchcd. Then
another form appeared between us,
hghting TO keep him back. They fought
there under the burning sun In the hot
dust Of the desert until at last one was
crushed TO earth. The victor raised
IA htS. fn 10 a.
Echo buried her face I'm her hands.
Dry sobs shook her bosom. Awe
stricken, Polly gazed at the over
wrought wife.
"Phewg' she laughed TO shake OF
her fright. "That was sure enough
nightmare. IL I'd n dream like that
ia wake up the whole house yappin'
like a coyote"
AS the commonplace ever intrudes
upon the unusual, 30 a knock ON the
door relieved the tension OF the sit.
uation. 1t was Slim. He did not wait
for an invitation TO enter. but, opening
the door, asked, "Can come inT
''suro, come inw cried Polly, glad to
fnd any excuse to shake of the de-
preston OF Echo's dream.
"Howdy. Mrs. Payson7 Just come
over to see Jack" was the jolly sher-
iff's greeting
Hes down at the corral" she I'm.
formed him.
Mrs. Allen hurried In from the kitch.
en- at this moment, calling: Echo
come here an look at this here cake
1t looks as II IL had been sot on"
Echo closed the I'D OF the piano and
called her mothers attention to the
presence OF Slim Hoover.
"How dye do, Slim Hooverf You
might have left some OF that dust out
side"
The sheriff was greatly embarrassed
by her chiding. In his ride from
Florence to the Sweetwater the alkal
and sand stirred up by the hoofs OF
the horses had settled on his hat and
waistcoat so freely that his clothing
had assumed neutral gray tone
above which his sun tanned face and
red hair loomed like the moon I'm O
fog Josephine's scolding drove him
to brush his shoulders with his hat
raising a cloud Of dust about his
head.
stop itw Mrs. Allen shouted shrilly
''slim Hoover, II your brains was dy.
Mantle you couldn't blow the top OF
your head orr
Polly was greatly amused by Sims
encounter with the cleanly Mrs. Allen.
Slim stood with open mouth, watch
ing Mrs. Allen founce out Of the room
after Echo. who was trying In vain
to suppress her laughter. Turning tc
Polly. he said, "Ain't seen you IN some
time"
Slim was thankful that the girl was
seated at the table with her back 20
him. Somehow or other he found he
could speak to her more freely when
she was not looking at him.
That's soT' she challenged. Come
to the birthdayP
mot regular" he answered.
Polly glanced at him over her shoul-
der. The look was too much for Slim.
He turned away to hide his embarrass-
ment. Partly recovering from his
bashfulness, he coughed preparatory
TO speaking. But Polly had vanished.
AS one looks sheepishly for the ma
gician's disappearing coin, so Slim
gazed at floor and ceiling as II the girl
might pop up anywhere. Spying an
empty chair behind him, he sank into
IL gingerly and awkwardly.
Meantime Polly returned with a
broom and began sweeping out the
evidences Of Sims visit She spoke
again.
Get them holdups yet that killed
Old Man TerrillT she asked.
mot yet. But we had a new shootIn'
Oyer'n our town yesterday"
Slime was doing his best 90 make
conversation. Polly did not help him
out very freely.
THAT soT' was her reply.
Spotted Taylor shot two China
men"
POlly's curiosity was aroused.
What forT she asked, stopping her
sweeping for a moment
Just to give the new graveyard n
start" Slim chuckled.
Polly Joined in HIS merriment
Spotted Taylor was always a public
spirited citizen" was her comment.
"He sure was" assented Slim.
Get up there. / want TO sweep un-
der that chair" Polly brushed Sims
feet with the broom vigorously. with
an elaborate Excuse mel" Slim arose.
but reseated himself in another chair
directly In the pathway Of Polly's
broom.
Get ont Of there, too" she cried.
"Shucksl There amt any room for
me nowhere" he n1uttered dlsgusted.
Iy.
you shouldn't take up so much OF
t."
Slim attempted 20 take a seat on tho
small gilt chair which was Jacks
wedding present 10 Echo. Polly caught