Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-20

sANDRIDoH rHRFw HIMsELF DOWN BY THR
sIDE OF rONlA.
by him. saying how 1t will be best
to come upOu MIN BY Gregorto will
the ietieI come And bring many men
With thee, aud nave much care. on.
dear red one. for the rattlesnake is
not quicker to strike than is III Chi
vato. as they call him, to send ball
from his pistola."
enough admitted Sandridge, but
when | come for him | shall come
alone. RI get MIN by myself oi not
at all The cap wrote one OF two
things to me that make me want to
do the trick without any help. You
let me know when MIR. Kid arrives
and III do the rest"
II will send you the message by the
boy Gregorio. said the girl. Il knew
you were Dravei than that small slayer
Of men who ueveI smiles How could
! ever have thought | cared for bimY'
1t was time for the ranger to ride
back to MS amp on the water hole
Before b- mounted his horse he raised
th- slight torn OF lonia With one arm
nigh from the earth for a parting sa
iure No sound " movement disturb
ed the serenity vi the dense pear thick
ii ten wards away
When the form OF Sandridge had dis
appeared coping his big dun down the
steep banks OF the FrtO crossing. th-
Kid crept back to his own horse
mounted him and rode back along the
tortuous trail he had come.
But not far. He stopped and waited
In the silent depths OF the pear until
half an hour mad passed And then
rOnla heard the nigh. untrue notes OF
his unmusical singing coming oearer
and nearer and she ran to the edge
OF the pear to meet hun
The KID seldom smiled but he smil
ed and waved mis- hat when he sa"
her He dismounted and his girl sprang
into his arms The Kid looked at heI
fondly His thick black hair clung to
bis head like wrinkled mat The
meeting brought a slight ripple OF
some undercurrent of feeling to bis
smooth. dark face that was usually as
motionless as clay mask
"How's my girlY' he asked, holding
her close.
sick of waiting so long FOR you dear
one." she ans wered My eyes are dim
with always gazing into that devils
pincushion through which you come
Go In and rest and let me water your
horse and stake him with the long
rope There IL cool water In the jaI
for you
The Kid kissed her affectionately
mot II the court knows itself do
let lad, sake my horse for me- said
he "But II you'Il run In. chica. and
throw pot Of coffee together while
attend to the caballo IN be a good
deal obliged"
Besides his ma ksmanship. the KID
had another attribute for which NJ
admired himself greatly He was
muy caimiIpro. IN the Mexicans ex
press II, where the ladies were con
cprnpd For them h- hnd always gen
tie words aud consideration He
could not have spoken n harsh word
to woman He might ruthlpssiy
slay their hnsha nds and brothers. but
he could no, have laid the weight of a
finger 10 anger upon woman.
At the end of the short twilight they
gathered around a supper of friioles.
goat steaks. canned peaches and cof'
fee by the light OF a lantern In the
jacal. Afterward the ancestor. his
Hock corralled smoked cigarette and
became mummy In gray blanket
Tonia washed the few dishes. while
the Kid dried them with the -four
sacking towel Her eyes shone: she
rhattpd volnhly of the tnconseNuent
haprenings of her small world since
the Kids last visit Il was as all his
other homecomings had bean.
Then outside TOnia swung In
grass hammock With her guitar and
sang sad canciones de amor.