The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-30

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 III his belt. The fingers of his six-shooter hand seemed suddenly numb ifeess. He crept forward his breath whistling between his parched lips No, he not dreaming:
 moccasned foot dusty and travel-stained protruded from "a striped blanket.
 Don't move" Red commanded in Indian. five got you coyered-youre dead if that foot moves" He lunged forward into the bushes
 Great Godp' he burst out It's woman He fell down his knees beside her
 She lay full length on the sand, her arms twisted to the copper desert sky. Red bent her Parted lips showed her small even teeth; but Red could not feel the movement of her breath against his cheek He pressed his head upon her breast above her hearts garment that fell in stiff folds as he touched it. He tried to drag her from beneath her head, that he could caafe some life into the silent pulses of her wrists. They sere caught He moved her slender body so that he could see her plnlonei hands They knotted, with braided leather thongs to stake driven in the sand He worked the intricate braid ton. He tried to cut the kno he tried to drag the wooden stake from the ground, but he only made twisted mark across her brown Then he picked up the six shooter and crouched her. He did not trust himself he pressed the barrel hard against the braided nanacle. There was quick spurt of flame and the smell of sneed leather. gray powder mark spread her bruised wrist but the locked hands fell apart and, driven straight into the sand, a clean round hole showed
 "Watef-son1e water Red whispered "the cubful l gave aBll-only the cupfui-'
 Then he saw the. trodden sand about her chopped with moeeasin tracks. He followed them, crawling his hands and knees, nosing after them like dog. They fell suddenly into determined line, they led from the brush into an overgrown trail Red ran forward the canteens at his shoulder elankng against the dense 1ron-wood bordering his way A mountain sheep sprang, terrified from clunp of mesquite and beating before him. The moccasin tracks swerved toward the mesquite and Red knew in his heart that he had found water lie plunged forward tearing the canteens from their leather straps Sheltered by
 silver m the deep shade The sqt of ag fbe G s 0e ster made red-hot vice close down about Reds throat, and he rocked on his feet from sickening desire throw himself deep deep into that silent pool. until all heaven and earth would be plotted in the wonder of the glorious deats But he bent over and seconds that he waited for the fasks to fill dragged past him like century. Then he drew them from the gurglin1g water, and turned back up the trial, staggering like drunken and screaming nsaeiy to the 1ipl cable dome of brass above him. 3 He forced the eanteen mouth between the girls blue lips, pleaded with her. Oh T l<i1ow you're dead--T know he said, crazily The water spilled down over her throat and breast He caught up the other and pouring out the cool water wetted her forehead and thick braided hair. swept open and she drew in her breath wt-a quiver- ing sob Red stared down at her, stupeled. Her eyes were bue--the deep unmistakabe blue Of the Cau- casian
 T guess l<nowd you wasn't no squaw" Red said soemnly, 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 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 ripplng, alien tongue Red gazed down at her, amazed She rushed ex- cltedly, making broken gestures with her wounded hands Then she stopped and glanced tip at him with shy questioning
 He spoke one two Apache words to her. She
 Casa" said Red this being the only Spanish word in his vocabulary When she did respond he tried he demanded, earnestly A startled look flashed into her eyes. She hesated second, frowning Je nle, : she said, then stopped suddenly and broke anew into the rpping jargon she had spok.n before.
 He took one of the little hands, and set to work raveng the heavy leather. The wrist was very small and soft and the big welts made Red feel like putting his head down and crying, taking her up which
 When the tangled knots were united from one wrist he started to his feet with cry. Up above the stun travelled serene in nid-heaven Red explained to her. with rapid pantonime and gesture, about Bill and noon and camp. She must remain in the cool shade near the water while he with the full canteens would for Bi and return. Her face b1anched with terror She threw herself down before him on the sand and put h,r forehead against his feet She pointed the moccasin tracks and implored him, with hysterical gestures. He tried to tell her that she could not face the binding monday heat of the white desert; he pointed the glazed he unbuclled the six shooter from his belt and laid it beside her But she shook her head and cung to him, crying She snatched up the strip of leather, and sgnihed that she would tie herself r to him would follow him. Red stopped
 You shall go with me. he said, resting his hands on her shoulders "and if you can't walk-I1l carry
 
 She moved away from him. quickly folded her blanket, and hid it under mesquite bush Still stoopng she turned to ask his approval He was staring at her fxedly The round, loose neck of her buckskn dress had slipped down shoulder. The deep golden-tan of her face throat stopped abruptly where the line of her dress had been and the round shoulder was very white, far winter than the wondering hand that Red laid upon it. He searched her face painful questioning in his gaze She stared back at him for instant, then drew away from his touch With quick movement she slipped the dress into place. sudden flush staining her throat and face Then she reached down and took his hand in hers, and they started down the path together Red carrying the filled canteens swung his shoulder
 It three in the afternoon. by the when they the thin trail of smoke from Bills campfire Red gave sigh of relief.
 He ain't stopped hopin'" he said "Ffe knowed I'd come back"
 Bill came out to meet Red running in quick trot toward them. When he raised his head and saw the girl he stopped suddenly and stood sWaying on his