The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-04-25

sand and bushes he searched for some trail. As he parted the closed branches of thick mesquite he fell back in horror He caught at the gun in his belt The fingers of his six-shooter hand seemed suddenly numb ifeless He crept forward his breath whisting between his parched lips No he was not dreaming B from striped blanket.
 Don't move," Red commanded in Indian. i've % He iungea forward into the bushes -' Great God!' he burst out. Its woman" He fell down on his knees beside her.
 She lay full length on the sand, her arms twisted to the copper desert sky Red bent over her. Parted lips showed her smal teeth; but Red could not feel the movement of her breath against his cheek He pressed his head upon her breast above her heart he could hear only the faint whisper of the buckskin garment that fell in stiff folds he touched it. He he could chafe life into the silent pulses of her wrists. They were caught. He moved her slender body so that he could her pinione; hands. They knotted, with braided leather thongs to stake driven in the sand He worked at the intricate braid ing, sobbing aloud from weakness and exhaus- ton. He tried to cut the knot he tried to drag the wooden stake from the ground, but he only made a twisted mark across her brown arm Then he picked up the six-shooter and crouched her. He did the braided manacle There was a quick squirt of flame and the smell of singed leather. gray powdef mark spread over her bruised wrist but the locked hands fell apart and, driven straight into the sand clean, round hole showed.
 "Water.some water Red whispered, 'the cupful l gave Bli-only the cupful-"
  with moccasin tracks He followed them, crawling on his hands and knees nosing after them like dog. They fell suddenly into determined line, they led forward the canteens at his shoulder clanng against the dense iron-wood bordering his way. A mountain sheep sprang, terrified, from clump of mesquite and ran beating before him. The moccasn tracks sweryed toward the mesquite, and Red knew in his heart that he had found water. He plunged forward tearing the fragment mesquite, water-hele lay like molten silver in the deep shade The sight of the still and he rocked his feet from sickenng desire to throw himself deep deep into that silent pool, until all heaven. and earth would be plotted out in the wonder of the glorious death. But he bent and lowered the canteens with infinite patience The seconds that he waited for the fasks to fill dragged past him like century; Then he drew them from the gurgling water, and turned back up the trial staggering like drunken and screaming insanely to the in,placable dome of brass above him.
 He forced the canteen mouth between the girls blue lips, pleaded with her. "Oh, I know you're dead-I know- he said crazly. The water spilled down over her throat and breast He caught up the other and pouring out the cool water, Weted her forehead and thick, braided hair.
 Suddenly, without seconds warning her eyerds swept open and she drew in her breath with quiver were blue-the deep. unmistakable blue of the Cau- casian.
 T guess know'd you wasn't no squaw," Red said solemnly, "but thought you
 She sat up and looked down at her bruised wrists A faint color threaded up under her brown cheeks where her long lashes lay against them
 You know I found you here" Red explained in lieu of the wanting introduction.
 She broke into perfect medley of words that cas- caded from her mouth in rippling, alien tongue Red .gazed down at her, amazed She rushed on ex- hands. Then she stopped and glanced up him with shy questioning.
 He spoke one or two Apache words to her. She looked bewidered.
 Casa" said Red, this being the only Spanish word his one French phrase, "Comrnong 700 porty 700 2 he demanded, earnestly. startled look flashed into her eyes She hesitated second, drowning. "Je me- she said, then stopped suddenly and broke anew into the rippling jargon she had spok n before.
 He took one of the little hands, and set to work un. raveling the heavy leather The wrist was very small putting his head down and crying, taking her ul in his arms and comforting her-he could be sure which.
 When the tangled knots were united from one wrist he started to his feet with cry Up above the sur travelled in mid-heaven Red explained to her with rapid pantomime and gesture about Bill anc noon, and camp. She must remain in the cool shade near the water while he with the full canteens, would go for Bi and return Her face blanched with terror She threw herself down before him on the sand ane put her forehead against his feet She pointed to thu moccasin tracks and mpored him, with hysterica gestures He tried to tell her that she could not fac, the bindng monday heat of the white desert h pointed to the red-gazed sun; he unbuckded the six shooter from his belt, and laid it beside her. But sh shook her head and cluEg to him. crying She snatchet up the strip of leather and sgnhed that she woult tie herself to him, would follow him. Red stopped and lifted her to her feet.
 You shall go with me- he said. resting his hand on her shoulders, and ii you can't walk-Tu carr, you" And she understood.
 She moved away from him, quickly folded he blanket, and hid it under mesquite bush Stil stepping, she turned to ask his approval He wa staring at her hxedly. The round loose neck of he buckskin dress had slipped down over one shoulde, The deep go1den.tan of her face ane throat stoppe abruptly where the line of her dress had been an' the round shoulder was very white, far winter tha, the wondering hand that Red laid upon it. H searched her ace painful questioning in his gaze Sh stared back at him for an instant then drew awa from his touch. With quick movement she slipped the dress into place. sudden flush staining her throa and face Then she reached down and took his han in hers, and they started down the path together Re- carrying the filled canteens swung over his shoulder
 It was three in the afternoon by the sun, whe they saw the thin trail of smoke from Bills campfire Red gave sigh of relief.
 "He aint stopped hopin'," he said. "Ie knowe I'd come back.
 Bill came out meet Red. running in quick tro toward them When he raised his head and saw tn girl he stopped suddenly and stood swayng on hi feet He put his hand up to his head uncertainty.