Little Falls herald., 1913-11-14
By ARTHUR CRiCsBY

The cloth was laid by girl In a
short petticoat encircled with stripes
Of various gay colors. beneath which
appeared dainty foot and ankle.
Hoxie was very young. and youth
is unthinking. He permitted himself
to gaze too ,admiringly on the senorita
and did not take the pains not to dO 80
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
diftident little thing, especially in the
presence Of one in the social scale 80
far above her.
There were many points in the vicin-
ty where attractive views We're 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 corn,
.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, We're the only per
sons in the house besides the few way
farers who stopped there. The aunt
Hoxie addressed as sonora. the girl as
Pepita. which was her name. When
he was not ont sketching he was con-
tinually calling on the one or the other
for something-either u glass Of wine
or a bit of cheese or for Pepita to
bring her guitar and play for him.
You are troubled about something.
Pepita." he said one evening to the
girl while she waited upon him ut sup
per. What is it?''
Nothing. senor." she said.
Yes, there is something yon fear
Tell me-"
well. then. senor, there are bandits
in these mountains. You should not
go out sketcbing.'
':You must be mistaken. asked
about that before coming here and
was told that | would be as safe here
as in Madrid.'
This did not appear to relieve the
girls fears. There is something that
for him. and Hoxie drew the girl to
him and kissed her :
= 1T is very lovely for YOU he SAID;
ito be anxious for my safery. Dom Il
worry i: think | can take care Of
myself" u. =.
There was il sound III 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 ran into the house.
The next evening was very warm.
and Hoxie lay smoking in Il hammock
in the yard. The moon was at the
full and in the rare atmosphere at
such a height cast bright light.
HoXie dosed. Suddenly he reused him
self and looked upon shadow cast,
by the moon on the ground directly be-
fore him. 1t 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, shadowed for Hoxie to discern
was weapon OF some sort. most,
probably knife.
Whatever was done must he instan-
taneOus: HoXie's reasoning certainly
was::a He reasoned that some one was
about to kill him: that the murder
would be committed silently. The only
method Of escape seemed to be to cali
to some one. This might frighten off
the murderer.
''Senora!" he called without display
ing any alarm in bis voice. ~,
"What do you wish. senor?"
"A glass Of Wine.''
At the first word the shadow with
drew so that he did not see it, His
enemy had sprung back.
"Never mind" Hoxie said. rising as
he spoke. Il will drink it in the
house,"
Not during 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
life. His enemy quite likely was in
such condition OF mind that word
spoken by the man be would kill was
enough. momentarily at least. to deter
him. and before he had time to begin
again it was too late. q
Hoxie was never in 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.
"Yes. senor.''
You have a lover. one whom J
have never seen.
Eyes. scnOr.'
''1s he !, good fellow?''
.YeS. sennr., family. =.
There WAS silence for J, few mo.
mentS wien Hn.in added ! am go
ing down 10 Toledo. .;oodhy." 5ss