The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-05-08

Of q new day gave her . first real
glimpse Of the surrounding dreariness
ms she stood booking out through the
grimy glass OF her single window. de-
pressed and heartsick The low.
rolling hills. bare and desolats.
stretched to the horizon, the grass a.
ready burned brown by the sun The
town itself consisted Of but one
short, crooked street. hanked By
rough. rsmshackle frame structures.
two-thirds Of these apparently sa-
Icons, with dirty. Tapping tents sand
viched between, and huge piles Of
tin cans and other rubbish stored
away behind. The street was rvtted
and dusty. aud the ceaseless wind
sx:rled the dirt about in continuous.
suRocatiAg clouds. The hotel itself.
little. squstty. two-storisA affair.
groaned 70 the blast. threatening to
collapse. Nothing moved except Q
wagon down tie long ribbon OF road
and 4 dog dieging for . bone behind
q nearby tent II vas 20 squalid and
ugly she tsrnsd avay h spsschlses
disgust.
The interior. however. offered ewes
smaller comfort. A rude bedstsad. one
leg considerably short and propped Up
by . half brick. stood against The
board vail: single wooden chair vas
opposite. and . ay-specked mirror
hung over . tin basin and pitcher. The
floor sagged fearfully and the side
walls lacked several inches Of reach
ing the ceiling. Even In the dim
candle light Of the evening before. the
bed coverings had looked 10 forbid.
ding that Molly had compromised. ~
ing Down. half-dressed on the outside:
now. in the gArish glare Of returning
day they appeared positively hithy.
And this was the best to be had:
she realized that. her courage failing
at the thought Of remaining alone
amid such suFroundings. As she
washed, using towel of her own after
a single glance at the hotel article,
and did up her rebellious hair. she
came to . prompt decision. She would
go directly on-would take the first
stage. Perhaps her father. or whom.
ever he sent, would be met with along
the route. The coaches had regular
meeting stations. 10 there was small
danger Of their missing each other.
The question of possible danger was
dismissed almost without serious
thought. She had seen NO papers
since leaving st. Louis. and the news
before that contained nothing moro
definite than rumors Of uneasiness
among the Plains Indians. Army ON
GERS interviewed rather made light OF
the affair. a. being merely the regular
outbreak Of young warriors. easily
suppressed. On the train she had met
with no one who treated the situation
A. really serious. and. II 1t was. then
surely her father would send some
message of restraint. Satisfied upon
this point, and fully determined upon
departing at the earliest opportunity.
she ventured down the narrow. creak-
ing stairs In search of breakfast.
The dining-room was discovered at
the foot Of the. steps. = square box Of
. place. the two narrow windows look.
ing forth on the desolate prairie.
There were three tables. but only one
was In use. and, with NO waiter to
guide her. the girl advanced hesitating.
ly and took seat opposite the two
men already present They glanced
up. curiously interested, staring at her
= moment, and then resumed their in.
terrupted meal. Miss McDonald's crit.
ical eyes surveyed the unsavory-look.
ing food. her lips slightly curved. and
then glanced .nquiringly toward the
men. The one directly opposite was
large and burly, with iron-gray hair
and beard. about sixty years of age,
but with red cheeks and bright eyes,
and q face expressive OF hearty good
nature. His clothing was roughly
serviceable. but he looked clean and
wholesome. The other was an army
lieutenant. but Molly promptly
quelched her first inclination to ad-
dress him, as she noted his red, In
famed face and dissipated appearance.
As she nibbled, half-heartedly, at the
miserable food brought by slovenly
waiter, the two men exchanged barely
dozen words, the lieutenant growing
out monosyllabic answers. finally push
ing back his chair. and striding out
Again the girl glanced across at the
older man. mastering courage to ad-
dress him. At the same moment he
looked up. with eyes full of good hu-
NOR and kindly interest.
Looks rather tough. reckon,
miss" waving a big hand over the
table. But you'll have ter git used
to II In this kentry."
"Oh, do not believe ever could"
disconsolately. Il can scarcely choke
down q mouthful."
80 l was noticin': from the East.
reckonr
Yes: IL came last night. and