Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-05-04

SIDE OF TONIA.
by him. saying how it will be best
to come upon him. By Gregorio will
the letter come. And bring many men
with thee. and have much care, oh.
dear red one. for the rattlesnake Is
not quicker to strike than Is Ell Chi.
vato. as they call him, to send a ball
from his pistola."
1.-The Kids handy with his gum. sure
enough" admitted cambridge. but
when 1 come for him | shall come
alone. I'll get MIN by myself or not
at all. The cap wrote n or two
things to me that make me want to
do the trick without any help. You
let me know when Mr.. Kid arrives
and I'll do the rest"
II will send you the message by the
boy Gregorlo." said the girl. Il knew
you were Drawer than that small slayer
OF men who never smiles. How could
ever have thought I cared for him Z"
1t was time for the ranger to ride
back to his camp OF the water hole.
Before be mounted his horse be raised
the slight form OF Tonia with one arm
high from the earth for a parting sd.
lutte. No sound or movement disturb.
ed the serenity OF the dense peat thick
ct ten yards away.
When the form OF cambridge had dis
appeared. loping bis big dun down the
steep banks OF the Frio crossing. the
Kid crept back to his OWL morse.
mounted him and rode back along the
tOrtuous trail be had ,.olne
But MOI far. He stopped ana waited
IN the silent depths OF The peal until
halt an hout Ia passed And thel
Tonia beard the nigh. untrue uotes OF
bis unmnslcai singing coming bearer
and nearer. and she ran to the edge
of the pear to meet him
The KID seldom smiled. but BIZ smil.
ed and waved mis- hat when he saw
her He %diSmounted and his girl sprang
into his arms The KID looked at De,
fondly His thick black nair chung 10
bis bead like a wrinkled mat rhe
meeting brought a slight ripple OF
some nndercurrent OF feeling to his
smooth. dark face that was usually SIS
mOtiOnleSS as a clay ulaSk
"How's my grip be asked. holding
her close
Sick Oh waiting so long FOR you. dea,
one she answered my eyes are din
with always gazing into that DEVILS
p%incuSh1oD through which you come
Go IN and rest and let me water your
horse n stake him with the long
rope, There is cool water III the jar
for you"
The Kid kissed her affectionatety,
mot If the court knows itself do
let a lady stake my horse for me-" said
be. But IT you'll run in. chica. and
throw a pot of coffee together while
attend to the caballo I'll be a GOOD
deal obliged"
Besides his craftsmanship. the Kid
had another attribute for which be
admired himself greatly. He was
muy caballero, as the Mex1cans ex,
press it. where the ladies were con.
cerned. For them he had always gen.
tie words and consideration. He
could not have spoken a harsh word
to a woman. He might ruthlessly
slay their husbands and brothers, but
he could not have laid the weight OF a
finger in anger upon a woman.
At the end of the short twilight they
gathered around a supper Of f~rijoles.
J goat steaks. canned peaches and cot.
fee by the light of a lantern in the
jacal. Afterward the ancestor. his
flock corralled. smoked a cigarette and
became a mummy in a gray blanket.
Tonia washed the few dishes. while
the Kid dried them with the -four
sacking towel. Her eyes shone; she
chatted volubly of the inconsequent
happenings of her small world since
the Kids last visit. II was as all his
other homec0mings had been.
Then outside Tonia swung In a
grass hammock with her guitar ana
sang snd cancionas dc amor.