The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-10-31
BY ARTHUR CRlCSBY

Of various gay cOlOrs. beneath which
appeared q dainty foot and ankle.
H0xie was very young. and youth
Ii unthinking. He permitted himself
to gaze too admiringly on the senorita
and did moi take the pains not to do 30
while she was looking. He spoke some
Spanish and began to chat with her.
but could get nothing except "Yes. Sc
nor" and mo. senOr.' for she was n
dif1dent little thing. especially In the
presence Of one in the social scale SO
far above her.
There were many points In the vicin-
ty where attractive views were to be
obtained. and Hoxie attended to his
work. not thinking about the girl when
doing SO. But In the evening between
supper and bedtime he needed rom.
pany and after supper would invent
ways to keep her with him ON the We
randa. The inn was kept by her aunt.
and the two women were the only per
IONS In the house besides the few way
farers who stopped there. The aunt
Hoxie addressed AZ sonora. the girl IN
Pepita. which vas her name. When
he vas not out sketching he was on
tinually calling on the u or the other
for something-either q glass Of wine
or a bit of cheese or for Pepita to
bring her guitar and play for him.
"Y0u are troubled about something.
Pepita," he said n evening to the
girl while she waited upon him ut sup
per. What IL It'll"
Nothing. senor." she said.
Yes. there 10 something You fear.
Tell me-"
Well. then. senior there are bandits
In these mountains. You should not
60 out s~ketching."
"You must be mistaken. asked
about that before coming here and
was told that l would be as safe here
al In Madrid"
This did not appear to relieve the
girls fears. There II something that
draws q man to q woman who fears
for him. and Hoxie drew the girl to
him and kissed her.
1T IL very lovely for you" be said.
Ito be anxious for my safety. Don't
worry. think ! can take care Of
myself"
There was y sound in some shrub
berry just beyond the veranda. Pepita
started. gasped and trembled. Hoxie
looked up at her. surprised. and was
about to ask her what had frightened
her when she al into the house.
The next evening was very warm.
and Hoxie lay smoking In q hammock
in the yard. The moor was at the
full and In the rare atmosphere at
such a height cast a bright light.
Hoxie dosed. Suddenly be roused him.
self and looked upon q shadow casi
BY the moon on the ground directly he
fore him. 1t was the shadow Of q man
with arm uplifted. The closed tist
seemed to grasp something. for there
was a protrusion from II not clearly
enough Swallowed for H0xie to discern
what It was. Hoxie OWNED that It
was a weapon Of some sort. most
probably q knife.
Whatever was done must be instan
taneous. H0xie's reasoning certainly
was. he reasoned that some q was
about to kill him: that the murder
would be committed silently. The only
method Of escape seemed to be to call
to some one. This might brighten OF
the murderer.
"Senora!" be called without display.
ing any alarm In his voice.
What do you wish. senor9'
"A glass Of wine"
At the frst word the shadow with.
drew 20 that be did not rec It. His
enemy had sprung back.
Never mind" HOxie said. rising an
he spoke. II will drink It In the
house. ''s
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 be zee
him later. His co0lness had saved his
life. His enemy quite likely was IN
such condition Of mind that q word
spoken BY the man he would kill was
enough. moinentarily at least. to deter
him. and before be bad time to begin
again Il was too late.
Hoxie was never IN . hurry about
anything. ne said u6fhinR to the
landlsdy about the matter. ~preferring
70 think Il over before doing 70. he
remembered III sound 10 the bnshes.
where ~ evening before he had kias-
u Pspita.. ara ber fright. Here Va
~ explanation.
.Pepitn. g sald the Dext morning
VIXEN ~ 80 alens wtth ~.
-Yes. SENIOR
~You have 4 t0ysr. ~ Whcm
have n4ytr ~
sYess enoIs
III ~ aatG6Skeslow
..yeAls Monpf.s faintly.
Ibese WdAH Stt6nee n -.
dsxs