Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-08-08

| fixed on the mansion which had so
stubbornly closed its doors on one of
| them. Sensations of varying degrees
of luminosity stirred in each of them,
except the child, still too young to be
tainted by the corroding sense of
worldly injustice. She skipped along
sidewise. her warm. soft hand clasped
in her Aunt Hannah's decently-gloved
palm. Some wave or vibration of the
intense feelings of her elders passed
to her. and as they drew nearer the
house she, too. began to grow grave,
and her skipping quieted down into a
sober walk.
That's Uncle Dominick's house,
isn't it?" she said to Hannah.
Hannah nodded. BY far the most
amiable and wide-minded of the sis
ters. she could not rise above the
sense of ranking indignation that she
felt against the Ryans for their treat
ment Of Berry.
That's the biggest house in San
Francisco" said Pearl over her shoul'
der to her parents. Amt it. Popper?''
81 guess 1t is." answered Josh. CIV
even If 1t amt, it's big enough, the
Lord, knows!"
81 can't see what private family
wants with all that room." said Han
nah with a condemnatory air. There
must be whole sootes of rooms on that
upper floor that nobody lives In"
Don't you fret. They're all occu-
Pied" said Berny. Each one of them
has their own particular soote. Cornie
has three rooms all of her own. and
even the housekeeper has a private
bath!"
"And there's twelve indoor serv-
ants" said Hazel. "They want lot
of space for them. Twelve servants,
just think of IT."
Twelve servants!" calculated Han
nah almost with groan. well. that
don't seem to me right"
They were close to the house now
and silence fell on them. as though
the antagonism Of its owners was ex-
hailed upon them from the mansions
aggressive, bulk, like an unspoken
curse. They felt overawed. and at the
same time proud that one of their
number should have even the most
distant affiliations with family too
exclusive to know her. The women
with their more responsive ard sensi'
tive natures felt It more delicately
than Josh, who blunderingly expressed
one of the thoughts of the moment by
remarking:
Some day you'll live in there. Ber'
ny, and boss the twelve servants"
"Rats!" said Berry. giving her head
an angry toss. "I'd rather live in my
fiat and boss Sing"
Josh's whistle of facetious incredul
ity died away incomplete. for at that
moment the hall door opened and q
portly masculine shape emerged upon
the porch. Berry. at the first glance
was not sure of its identity. but her
doubts were dispelled by her brother
in-law's quick sentence, deliyered on
the rise of a surprised breath.
"Bil Cannon. by gum! What's he
doing there?"
This name, as powerful to conjure
with in the city as in the mining
camps. cast Its instantaneous spell up
on the sisters, who stared avid-eyed
upon the great man. He for his part
seemed oblivious to their glances and
to their presence. He stood on the
top step for a musing moment. looking
down with that sort of filmy fixity OF
gaze which is noticeable In the glance
of the resting eagle. His appearance
was a last crowning touch to the
proud. unapproachable distinction OF
the Ryans.
Don't he look as II he was think.
ing" said Hazel in a whisper. 81
wonder what's on his mind"
Probably that Mondays payday
and he don't know whether he can
scratch through" said the jocose Josh.
Berny did not say anything. She
felt the interest In Cannon that she