The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-12

ono SI1llleQ, ana bIlukiey tQOuSHt nc Saw
something in her eyes of which he disap-
proved That's the way with most things,
isn't it,"
He had no reply for this question, and
moreover the silence contented him. Pres
entity he suggested they should ride a little
way together. He noted the easy grace with
which Rosalia swung into her saddle; he
noted how she controlled her wicked little
pony, not with rein or spur, but with voice,
touch OF knee and hand, and that seventh
sense which is as yet unnamed.
Where d'yu' live1" he asked presently.
Most anywhere" Again he noted that
change in her eyes, rather as if cloud sud
denly hid the sunshine.
Got any people?"
No--not living"
That's bad"
I'm used to it; and I've grown to sort OF
like il. Nobody to boss me. And I've got
Pinto, and a good chestnut, Kentucky bred.
BrinkIey shook his head He had small
opinion of Eastern bred horses.
Comes dark pretty sudden here; yu'd
better be gettin'."
I'm not afraid of the dark, she laughed.
Pinto is, though; he's devil in the dark.
But it's fun.
Brinkley smiled 1t was SO rare with him
that for a moment his sun-baked face seemed
in danger Of splitting. Guess ther' amt
much yu're skeered OF 8. Wonder if yu'd
be skeered of--the desert !"
I. +" It's lonesome, isn'tit?" she acknowledged
after slight pause. And cruel, too"
Brnkley nodded; all traces Of the smile had
vanished Damned cruel; that's why we
love one another, the desert and me-"
Suddenly he drew rein. "Yu've got to go
back, whether yu' want ter or moi" He took
off his hat, and pulling his horse up, held out
his hand. And say-d'yu' care to meet me
agen?"
For a moment Rosalia hesitated, her eyes
hidden, then she raised her head and looked
into his face. "SureH'
9 You can't raise me on that. Say, this
here describe tapped his pocket with his
hands goin' to be my--home. I'm goin'
to build shack on it, not an ordinary one,
and things How would it strike WI and
Pinto and that Kentucky bred to come out
there, some time, and sort ofwatch the flowers
grow"
It'd strike US as being bully" she whis-
pered. And then, ere he knew it, she had
gone; and Brinkley was alone. And the sun
had spilled all his glory on the hills and was
COW dipping into purple bed.
A gray tent shone in the pitless sun in the
midst of the hot sand; some hundred yards
from it Brinkley sat- careless of the heat He
sat hunched up, looking more like camel
than man, his clothes more ragged, and dust
upon him everywhere His big hat was
pulled over his eyes; he was watching a group
Of men distance off who for many days had
been digging and probing searching for the
oasis which they had been hidden to find
His desert! He looked at it--north, south,
east and west, and cursed it. "Cruel,' Ro-
salia had said; aye! than the desert nothing
crueller.
Guess the Lord had His eye on this
when He thought O. hell, one of the men
said standing over puncturc in the sand.
Water!that blamed old foord ought to be
soaked in the cooler making money sudden
has turned his head
Well, we're gettin' some of it, another
laughed.
And well be gettin' bit by RATHER, or
driv' crazy by this Internal sun"
Guess well quit it, boys" the engineer
, said, who, bribed by Brinkley's dollars, had
come on what he described as wild water
{ chase. II told the old idiot there would be
more sense in lookin' for diamonds than
water. and now it's about time to tell him to
go to HE'LL
Strengthening himself and wiping the per-
spiration from his forehead, he strobe over to
) Binkleyan and told him.
, Brinkley nodded. Yu' don't know yu'r
!, job or yu' wouldn't quit it so soon" He spat
into the burning sand. q never was no quit
ter; looked for gold for nigh twenty years
fore / struck it, but I knew it had got 10
come, and SO it came. He laid his hand
! on his hip where his gun protruded, And
now Pm after water, and guess it's got tc
: come, too. Go back and get on with your
t probin'"
The fastener laughed uncomfortably; he
began to fear the sun had done its work
] Bluff won't carry, Mr. Brinkley, you've
got to pay up the balance Of what you OWE
: me- and then we're goin'."
Brinkley slowly stretched, rolled over twice
and then pulled out his gun. Yu' try nigh
0 there, where was sittin'l don't bluff, anc
& 1854 -