Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-22

select 20 isolated = place IN which to
live. To them II would be IDEAL. Away
from all trails, where not even widely
rowing cattlsmen would penetrate, In
midst Of = desert avoided BY indians
because OF lack of game--s man might
hide here year after year without
danger Of discovery. Yet such \ ono
would not be likely 70 welcome their
coming. and they were without arms.
But Keith was not . man to hesitate
long because OF possible danger, and
he stepped down into the shallow wa
ter.
Come on. Neb,- he commanded,
and we'll md out who lives hsrs,''
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,
cropping his way, with hands extended.
His foot struck . nat stone. and he
plunged forward, striking the unlatch-
ed door so heavily a. to swing It open,
and fell partially forward into tho
room As he struggled to his knees,
Nebs black face peerinx past him into
the lighted interior, he seemed to per
ceive in one swift, comprehensive
glance. every revealed detail. A lamp
burned on a rudely constructed set of
drawers near the window. and a wood
fre blazed redly In . 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
of Wild animals, = roughly made table,
bare except for . book lying upon 1t,
and IA few ordinary appearing boxes.
evidently utilized az seats, together
with q barrel cut 80 as to make a com
Portable 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
he possessed no clear thought of any.
thing except her. She stood directly
behind the table. where she must have
sprung hastily ut the hrst sound of
their approach. clutching at the rude
mantel above the fireplace, and staring
toward him. her face white her breath
coming In sobs. At first he thought
tho vision dream. = delirium born
from his long struggle; he could not
conceive the possibility OF such d pres.
ence In this lonely place. and stagger-
ing 10 his feet, gazed wildly, dumbly
Mt the slender, gray clad figure, the al
most girlish face under the shadowins
dark hair. expecting the marvellous
vision to vanish Surely this could
not be reall A woman, and such
woman ~ this here. and alone. OF all
places He staggered from weakness.
almost terror. and grasped the table
to hold himself erect The rising
wind came sNirling In through tho
open door. causing the IRE to send
forth spirsls of smoke. and he turned
dragging the dazed negro within. aud
Swapping the latch behind him When
he glanced around again he fully be-
feved the vision confronting him
would have vanished. But not there
she yet remaine led. those wide-open,
frightened brown eyes, with long lash
es half hiding their depths. looking di-
rectly Into his own; only now she had
slightly changed her posture. leaning
toward him across the table. Like a
flash he comprehended that this WAS
-ah I,.A
the swift Instinct OF = gentleman, his
numbed. nerveless fingers jerked of
his hat, and he bowed bsrsheaded be-
fore her
Pardon me-" he said. finding HIS
voice with difaculty Il fell over the
step. but-but l didn't expect to find
\ woman here"
He heard her quick breathing. mark
ed q slight change in tho expression of
the dark eyes. and caught the glitter
OF the freight on = revolver In her
lowered hand
What did you expect to nnd1"
II hardly knew" he explained lame
ly; I'VE stumbled ON this hut by acci
dent. didn't know there was =
cabin in all this valley"
Then you are not here for any
purpose7 to meet with any one7"
No; We were lost, and had gone
into camp up above, when We discov-
cred your light"
Where do you come fromf"
Keith hesitAted Just an instant, yet
falsehood was never easy for him. and
he saw no occasion for any deceit
now.
Carson City"
what brought you hsrei-
I'VE started for the Bar X ranch
down below. on the Canadian; got
caught In a sand storm. and then just
drifted. | do not know within twenty
miles of where We are"
She drew a deep breath OF unoca-
cealed relief
Arc you alonel"
The negro and Yes. and you
haven't the slightest reason to be
afraid of us-we're square"
She looked at him searchingly, and
something in Keith's clean-cut face
seemed to bring rsassurancs. cons
dence In the man.
Il am not afraid" she answered.
coming toward him around the short
table. Only II is so lonely here, and
l. IL