The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-21

III
straight down the trail he came leaping
bounding and swaying unStcadily from
side TO side. She dropped the pan OF potatoes sh,
had been pairing; stood to her feet and watched
bcwideredly
1t was a wondrous, filled afternoon. The
SOFT tumbhng clouds went slipping away tho
whIte-hpped peaks, the noisy stream, below the
cabin, fretcd and dashed itself against tho rocks in
its path
The man came and nearer, She saw now
that his face not unklndy covered with thick.
stubby beard, and very thin His clothing was torn,
his hat gone, and his hair ragged and unkcmot hung
about his cars Hester was afraid at first; somehow.
she never grew TO be fearless the mountains al
though having lived here two years
She stepped back into the house and changed her
position from the door to the little curtaincd win
dow She hoped he had not observed her that he
would continue his stumbling, hcadlone pace and
not stop
BUT the man had seen and when he finally reached
the yard. bounded by the neatly heaped rocks he
gasped heavily and then. like bit OF cloth crumpled
abruptly 10 The ground
She did not cry out, although her little 6necr.
went hard and cold to the back of ~. h,; cL
didn't seem to hear anything save the monst,ous
Ded'ns and humping Of her heart; even
thouRn she shut her eyes tight the silent crumpled
hgufe was before her. huddlcd to the ground After
a long space, when the man made no effort TO move
she gathered what courage she could and stole fur
lively toward the door Such grim. sinister silence
broodcd everywhere
She stumbled softly over the stem. and &c e
signal had been given, the recumbent figure h,fo-o
her groaned and came stify to an elbow She looked
at him dumbly, conscious that the color nopnded
ncfoe 10 her checks and that her heart choked her
From the blank. ncreduous expression, the mans
features relaxed and broke into long grin
We'll. he said shortly, sitting I'D straight and
passing big brown hand across his face Well
little woman-did-I frightcn you eh'
She shook her head slowly "No, no-that is YES
at first" she stammercd brcath1css The man
chucklcd and came unsteadily 10 his feet
i don't wonder at it, he resumed, advancing to-
ward the cabin. "You herc-alone7"
Again Hester shook her head "Yes-al alone
Dads down at camp" The stranger sighed easier.
81 just come from there l don't know how ever
got here. Can get somethin' to eat7 Awful hun
gry and I've got to go back there fore mornin'"
Without word Hester turned into the cabin and
the man followed behind She set the table with
white, nervous hands, while the intruder, huddled
tho corner, watched eagerly
When the table was ready she fried him some
her fathers return lie drew up his chair and ate
ravcnously. She poured him some coffee He lifted
the brimmng cup with trembling fingers sharp
ca,tcr came drifting through the door. The mans
grip upon the handle weakened and the cup crashed
to the floor, sping the contents over the white
cloth and his pants.
"What-was that he burst out leaping from tn,
table, his face banching, his fingers fumbllng ner
yously at his revolver that swung easily at his hip
"Wha-was that noise, ch?'
Hester backed against tho cabin wall, hands to he
facc,-the mans actions frightened her. When sh
spoke her voice strangely out of pitch.
"Thats-thafs Flip-hc's my pet chpmunk. II
thinks it's dinncr-time, II suppose l always fee
him at meal time
The sank slowly to his chair. his lips st'
drawn and white. 'I'm pretty shaky' he vouehe
"And-and I'm awful sorry spilled the stuff G
your clean spread His voice not unplcasan
she reasoned, SubcoEsciously.
lie ate for time in silence. Hester came aws
from the wall and sat down on stool before Il
doorway.
"Cot any hor.esi' the stranger began abruptly.
"Yes-wc got two here now. Dads got one
He looked vaguely oNt The door.
Got to get back to camp tonight h' began na
unconsciousIy, so i, seemed Got to get back ''