The Mena weekly star., 1911-07-13

hesitated, uncertain as to what thev
 mignt De called upon to face. Who
 could be living in this out-of.theway
 spo'' 'n the heart of this inhospitahle
 desert1 It would be no cattle ont.
 post surely, for there was no surround.
 ins grazing land, while surely no pro-
 ieesional hunter would choose such a
 barren spot for headquarters. Either
 hermit anxious to escape all inter.
 course with humanity. or some outlaw
 ~-1 errset wouid he Hkeiv n soiect so isolated & place in which to
 .iVe' To them 1t would be ideal. Away rom all trails, where not even widely roVing cattlemen would penetrate, in niiust or a desert avoided by Indians because of lack of game-a man might nide here year after year without oSnger of discovery. Yet such a one would not be likely to welcome their coming, and they were without arms put helth was not man to hesitate ,ohs because of possible danger, and ne stepped down into the shallow wa ter.
 Come on. Neb," he commanded.
 and we'll find out who lives here"
 The window faced the west, and he came up the low bank to where the door fronted the north in intense darkness. Under the shadow of the cottonwoods he could see nothing. groping his way. with hands extended. Ills foot struck a fiat stone. and he plunged forward. striking the unlatch- cd door so heavily as to swing 1t open. and fell partially forward into the room As be struggled to his knees, Neb's black face peerlng past him into the lighted interior, he seemed to per seive In one swift, comprehensive glance, every revealed detail. A lamp burned on a rudely constructed set of drawers near the window, and a wood nre blazed redly in a stone fireplace opposite, the yellow and red lights blending in peculiar glow of color. under this radiance were revealed the rough log walls plastered with yellow clay. and hung about with the skins or wild animals. roughly made table, bare except for book lying upon it, and few ordinary appearing boxes. evidently utilized as seats, together with barrel cut 80 as to make a com rortable chair. In the back wall was door. partially open, apparently leading into second room. That was all, except the woman.
 Keith must have perceived all these In that first hurried glance, for they were ever after closely associated to- gether in his mind, yet at the moment ne possessed no clear thought of any thing except her She stood directly behind the table, where she must have sprung hastily at the first sound of their approach. clutching at the rude above the fireplace, and staring toward him, her face white, her breath coming in sobs. At first he thought he vision dream, a delirium born rom his long struggle; he could not the possibility of such a pres ence in this lonely place, and stagger- Ing to his feet. gazed wildly, dumbly 1t the slender, gray clad figure, the al most gfrlish face under the shadowing lark hair. expecting the marvellous vision to vanish. Surely this could lot De real! A woman, and such woman ss this here. and alone, of all 'lacesl He staggered from weakness, llmost terror. and grasped the table .o hold himself erect The rising wind came swirling in through tho 'pen door, causing the fire to send orth spirals of smoke. and he turned. dragging the daEed negro within, and mapping the latch behind him. When le glanced around again he fully be- feved the vision confronting him would have vanished. But no! there he yet remained, those wide-open, frightened brown eyes, with long lash 's half hiding their depths. looking di- 'ectly into his own; only now she had slightly changed her posture, leaning oward him across the table. Like q lash he comprehended that this was and blood-and, with he swift instinct of gentleman, his nerveless fingers jerked on ifs hat, and he bowed bareheaded be- ore her.
 Pardon me-" he said, finding his yoice with difficulty. q fell over the 'tep. but-but didn't expect to find ! woman here"
 He heard her quick breathing. marlp Id slight change in the expression of he dark eyes. and caught the glittef ,f the firelight on 8 revolver in her owered hand.
 What did you expect to flnd?"
 T hardly knew" he explained lames y: i've stumbled on this hut by accf lent. I didn't know there was ,abin in all this valley"
 Then you are not here for any purpose? to meet with any one7"
 No: we were lost, and had gone nto camp up above. when we disccv- ,red your light"
 Where do you come from7"
 Keith hes!tated Just sn instant, yet alsehood was never easy for him, and 10 saw no occasion for any deceit low.
 Carson City"
 What brought you here7"
 We started for the Bar X ranch Town below, on the Canadian; got taught in sand-storm, and then just lrifted do not know within twenty