The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-08-23
THE
RED WIND
A Prophecy That Was
Fulfilled
By CLARISSA MACKIE

The sagebrush stretched to the hori-
zon, a crisp gray-brown expanse of
dry heritage from which the sun had
drained every drop Of moisture.
Hester Moore, standing in the door
way of the ranch house, scanned the
prairie from under the arch of her
bent hand. The sun was setting, a
great ball of fire dropping below the
sky line.
Hester" came her fathers voice
from the house, cts getting cooler,
isn't it, dearr'
Just a little, father" she said gen
tly. She went into a room where he
was stretched on a wicker couch be-
fore an open window, his broken leg
propped stiffly on pillow. She took
down the sheot that hung before the
window and dtp9ed 1t once more in a
pail of water, wrung 1T lightly and re-
turned 1t to the window.
The injured man stirred beneath the
grateful GOODNESS. '"That feels good,
Hester he murmured. "If / hadn't
had the ili luck to step into the gopher
hole we might have had a little run
up into the hills for a spell, at least
until this blistering weather is over"
Never Irind, father. If you hadn't
broken your leg you know you would
not have taken vacation. Perhaps
you will get rested now" smiled Hes
ter, tanning him gently.
Perhaps Where is Henderson,?
"He went to loof up the herd. 1
may as well tell you VOW, dad"-and
Testers eyes clouded Teth anxiety
that the herd has been missing since
Monday, and Mr.. Henderson is afraid
that Dixon and his gang have rustled
them
Mr.. Moore struggled to sit up, Groap-
ed and sank again upon his pillow.
"Confound it all. Hester, why did 1t
happen at this time, when | am on my
back and can't stir step|
Because you are helpless, l suppose.
If you had been as active as usual
hardly think that Dixon would have
dared to steal them"
what is that, HesterY" Mr.. Moore
shifted the air suspiciously and tried
to look through the screened door, but
1t was out of his range of vision.
Hester went to the door, looked out
and came hurriedly back. "Fires a
Alkall," she said briefly. "They seen
to be coming this way, but the wine
Is south and"-
There came rap at the kitchen door
Hester answered it, leaving her re
mark unfinished.
Two Indian women sat on the door
step, their blankets sagging from thei
mutely appealing.
"Well, Annie, howY" said Heste
pleasantly.
Bread, meat, drink" uttered Ami
gutturally.
"Of course" Hester went to tn
pantry and prepared several large SANE
witches for the two women. She pou
ed two great glasses of lemonade an
carried the whole to the doorstep. I'll
women fell upon 1t ravenously. Whe
it had disappeared Annie lifted h
eyes to those of the pretty white girl
"FortuneT' she muttered.
"Again?" laughed Hester. 'Wh
Annie, you tell my fortune every tin
you come! The last time you promise
me n husband and a bag of gold, III
haven't see- sign of them yet"
"On the w6S," muttered Ami
snatching at Testers brown little han
and scanning the palm closely. ST
rides before the red wind. He brin
peace and plenty. The lost cattle con
home, and the maiden marries b
lover"
"How lovelyw Knocked Hester. "Al
my fatherf What of him"
"He runs away on another maj
legs" she said gloomily, and, becko
Ing her stolid companion to follow, S
grunted farewell and went YEARLY
the trail toward the reservation.
The two Indians paused on a KIN
and looked away into the west, whe
dark cloud marked the horizon. A
ME stretched out n lean arm and poll
ed, and Frightened Fawn threw up
hands and went wailing out OF sight
''They look like two old priestess
performing some horrid rite" shr
dered Hester as she locked the dc
and went back to her father.
There is danger, Hester?" he ask
anxlously.
"The same sort that we always
counter at this season" The girl 81
calmly, "RemembeI. every seas
since we have lived here we have fe
I'd the grass fire. and so far it has n
er Gomez"
ut has never come so close befC
Alkali Is only twenty miles away, 9
the smoke is driving this way"
II know It, but It may shift II
ter's voice betrayed a strained n
that her father was quick to catch
what can we do. dear? Have
made any preparations in case it d
Gomez he asked quickly
OH yes. dad! There isn't much
can do. you know! I've had the
wagon bedded with blankets and $
piled with food and water for w
mast Every portable treasure is re-