The daily Alaskan., 1913-11-18
THE SCALE
 TURNED
By ARTHUR CROSBY

range, he concluded to make it his headquarters. going about among the mountains sketching. He arrived m the evening and concluded to put or any work till the morrow. The Inn being in a lonely spot and at the time apparently no other boarders in the house. he seated himself on Eeranda' where he could overlook the plain far below, and called for supper. The cloth was laid by a girl in a short pctticoat enCircled with stripes of various gay colors, beneath which appeared dainty foot and ankle.
 Hoxie was very young, and youth is minimizing. He permitted himself to gaze too admiriugly on the senorita and did not take the pains not to do so while she was looking. He spoke some Spanish and began to chat with her, but could get nothing except "Yes, se- nor" and No, senor,' for she was diGdcut little thing, especially in the presence of one in the social scale so far above her.
 There were many points in the yicin- tv where attractive views were to be obtained. and uOXle attended to his work. not thinking about the girl when doing so. But in the evening between supper and bedtime he needed con- pauy and after supper would invent ways to keep her with him on the ve- randa. The inn was kept by her aunt, and the two women were the only per sons in the house besides tue few way farcrs who stopped there. The aunt HOXie addressed as sonora. the girl as Pcpita. which was her name When he was not out Skctching he was con- tiuualiy calling on the one or the other for something either a glass of wine or a bit of cheese or for Pepim to bring her guitar and play for him.
 You are troubled about something, Pepita." he said one evening to the girl while sue waited upon him at sup per What is it?'
 "Nothing scnor," she said.
 "Yes. there is something yon fear. Tell me"
 Well. then. senor. there are bandits in these mountains You should not go out sketching."
 .You must be mistaken. asked about that before coming here and was told that l would be as safe here as in Madrid"
 This did not appear to relieve the girls fears. There is something that draws man 10 woman who fears for him, and UoXie drew the girl to him and kissed her.
 Tt Is very lovely for you." he said, ito be anxious for my safety. Don't worry. think can take care of myself"
 There was a sound il some shrub bery inst beyond the veranda. Pepita started. gaspcd and rcmbIcd. Hoxle looked up at her surprised. and was about to ask her what had frightened her when she ran into the house
 The next evening was very warm. and Uoxtc lay smoking in a hammock in the yard The moon was at the full and in the rare atmosphere at such a height east bright light uoxie dosed. Suddenly be reused him. self and looked upon shadow cast by the moon on the ground directly be- fore him. it was the shadow of a man with arm uplifted. The closed fist seemed to grasp something, for there was protrusion from it not clearly enough shad0wed for UOXie to discern what it was. HOyie divined that 1t was a weapon Of some sart, most probably a knife
 Whatever was done must be instau- i taueous. Hozie's reasoning certainly was. He reasoned that some one was about to kill him; that the murder would be committed silently. The Onl. method of escape seemed to be to call to some one. This might frtghten off ' the murderer.
 "Senora" he called without display ing any alarm in his voice. What do you wish. senOr?' 1 "A glass of wine"
 At the first word the shadow with drew so that be did not see it. His enemy had sprung back
 Never mind" u6Xie said. rising as
 he spoke. "I will drink it in the ! house"
 1 Not daring to betray his knowledge of his danger by looking back, he
 walked into the house without turning
 his head He had not seen his enemy -only his shadow. Nor did he see ! him later. His coOlneSs had saved his ! fife. His enemy quite likely was in | such condition of mind that a word | spoken by the man he would kill was enough. momentarily at least. to deter
 him. and before he had lime to begin again it was too late. uoxie was never in q hurry about anything. He said nothing to the landlady about the matter, preferring to think it over before doing so. He remembered the sound in the bushes,
 where the. evening before he had kiss
 ed Pepita. and her fright. Here was
 an explanation.
 "Pepita," he said the next morning
 when he was alone with her. l "Yes, senor."
 You have a lover. one whom l ] hovp never SpnD"