Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07

straight down the trail he came, leaping
bounding and swaying unsteadiy from
side to side. She dropped the pan of potatoes she
had been pairing; stood to her feet and watched
bewilderedly
1t was a wondrous, sun-flled afternoon. The
soft, tumbling clouds went slipping away over the
white-tipped peaks; the noisy stream, below the
cabin, freted and dashed itself against the rocks in
its path.
The man came and She saw now
that his face not unkndly; covered with thick
stubby beard and very thin. His clothing was torn
his hat gone and his hair, ragged and unkempt hung
about his Hester was afraid at first; somehow
she never grew to be fearless in 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 curtaned win
dow. She hoped he had not observed her; that he
would continue his stumbling headlong pace and
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 crump1ed
abruptly to the ground.
She did not cry out although her little fingers
went hard and cold to the back of the chair. She
didn't seem to hear anything save the monstrous
beating and humping of her own heart; even
though she shut her eyes tight, the SILENT cruped
figure was before her, huddled to the ground After
long space, when the man made no effort TO move
she gathered what courage she could and stole FIR
lively toward the door, Such grim, sinister silence
brooded everywhere.
he Id
signal mad been given, the recumbent figure before
her groaned and stifly to an elbow She looked
at him dumbly, conscious that the color pounded
hercey to her cheeks and that her heart choked her
From the blank incredulous expression, the mans
features relaxed and broke into long grin
Well he said shortly, sitting up straight and
passing big brown hand across his face "Wel-
little woman-did-I frighten you eh"
She shook her head slowly "No. no-that is. YES
at first" she stammered breathless The man
chucked and came unsteadily to his feet.
81 don't wonder at it," he resumed, advancing to-
ward the cabin "You here-alone%
Again Hester shook her head "Yes-an alone.
Dads down at camp" The stranger sighed easier
q just come from there. don't know how I ever
got here Can I get somethin to eat? Awful hun
cry; 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 hudded
in the corner, watched eagerly
When the table ready she fried him some
bacon and potatoes which she had saved against
her fathers return. He drew up his chair and ate
ravenousy. She poured him some coffee He lifted
the brimming cup with trembling fingers sharp
clatter. drifting through the door The mans
grip upon the handle weakened and the cup crashed
to the floor spling the contents over the white
cloth and his pants
'What-was that?" he burst out 1eaping from the
table, his face blanching his fingers funbling ner-
vousy at his revolver that swung easily at his hip.
'What-was that noise, chr"
Hester backed against the cabin wall, hands to her
face,-the mans actions frightened her. When she
spoke her voice strangely out of pitcha
"Thats-that's Flip-hes my pet chipmunk. He
thinks it's dnner-time, IL suppose. l always feed
him at meal time"
The sank slowly to his chair, his lips still
drawn and white. Tm pretty shaky" he vouched
"And-and I'm awful sorry I spilled the stuff on
your clean spread" His voice was not unpleasant
she reasoned, subconscously.
He ate for time in silence. Hester came away
from the wall and sat down stool before the
doorway.
SCOT any horses?" the stranger began abruptly.
"YesAve got two here now Dads got one"
He looked vaguely out the door.
"Got to get backto camp tonight" he began, half
= 20, hacl fore