The evening world., 1912-02-16

hard up said the Girl. with q sneer
which made smiths fingers Itch to
choke her. Couldn't coax you to stop,
could 1?'
II aims 70 stay" replied Smith coolly.
"Bure-it won cost you nothln'.'
The girl waited for the wagon, and.
with q change of manner In marked
contrast to her impudent attitude toward
Smith. invited the little man to spend
the night at the ranch.
We should not be i%ntruders?" he
asked doubtfuily.
You won't feel lonesome sAe an
Of free hotel"
colonel. I cakalate we better lay over
here" broke in T'ubbs.
His employer WINGED at this new
title. but nodded assent; so they all
forded the shallow stream and entered
the door-yard together.
'Mother!' called the girl.
Ono Of the heavy plank doors OF the
long ~loghouSe opened. and u shor.
woman. l~arge-hipped. full-busted-in
appearance . typical blanket squaw-
stood In the doorway. Her thick hair
was braided Indian fashion. her fingers
adorned with many rings. The wide
girdle about her waist was studded
with brass nailheads. while gayly-
beaded m~occasins covered her short.
broad feet. Her eyes were soft and
luminous. like an animals when It Is
content; but there was savag passion
too in their dark depths.
This is my mother" said the Girl
brisfy. ~ am Susie Macdonald"
NY name IN Peter Macarthur. ma
dam"
The little man concealed his surprise
A. best he could, and bowed.
The girl. quick to note his puzzled
expression, explained la~con.caliy:
I'm a breed. My father was q
white man. You're on the reservation
when o cross the crick."
Recovering himself. the stranger said
politely:
"Ah. MacDonaid-that good Scotch
name Is q very familiar one to me. I
had an uncle"-
II go show dem where to turn de
horses. " interrupted the Indian wom-
an. to whom the conversation un-
interesting. So without ceremony she
padded away in her moccasins. draw
ing her blanket squaw -fashion ACROSS
her face as she waddled down the
path.
At the mission the woman had OBJ
tained the rudiments of an education.
There. too. she had learned To nj and
make q dress, after q crude. laborious
fashion. and had acquired the ways OF
the white peoples housekeeping. She
was noted for the acumen which she
displayed In d~isposing Of the crop
from her extensive hay ranch TO the
ne!Ehboring white cattlemen: and Mac
Donald. the big. silent Scotch Mac
Donald who had come down from the
north country and married her before
the reservation priest. was given the
credit for having instilled into her
some OF his " shire wdness and
thrift.
In the corral the Indian woman cam.
upon Smith. He turned his head
ond. two, three seconds, or more. they
looked into each others eyes. His gaze
was confident. masterful. compelling;
hers was wondering. until finally she
dropped her eyes In the submissive.
modest. half-shy way OF indian women.
Smith moistened his short upper lip
with tho tip Of his tongue. while the
shadow Of a smile lurked at the corne
of his mouth. He turned to his saddle
again and without speaking she
watched him until ne had gone into
the barn. His saddle lay on the
ground, half covering his blankets.
Something In this heap caught the
woman's eyes and held them. Swoop-
ing forward. she caught a %protruding
corner between her thumb and finger
and pulled q gay, striped blanket from
the rest. Lifting 1t to her nose. sh.
smelled II. Smith saw the act as he
came out of the door. but there was
face. Smith knew Indian women.