Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-09-19
THE
RED WIND
A Prophecy That Was
Fulfilled
BY cLARIssA H1AcK1

me July day drew 20 It's sultry end.
ire sagebFush stretched to the hori-
non, a crisp gray-brOwn expanse OF
] dry heritage from which the sun had
drainod 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 wal setting. a
great ball Of nre dropping below the
sky line.
Hester" came her fathers voice
from the house. "1ts getting cooler,
isn't It, dearT'
"Just a little. fathar." she said SEN
tiy. She went Into q room where he
was stretched on a wicker couch be-
fore an open window, his broken leg
propped stihly on a pillow. She took
down the sheet that hung before the
window and dipped II once more In a
pail Of water. wrung II lightly and re-
turned Il to the window.
The injured man stirred beneath the
grateful GOODNESS. THAT feels good,
Hester" be murmured. Elf l hadn't
had the III 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 10 over"
"Never mind, father. II you hadn't
bgOken our leg you know you would
not have taken a vacation Perhaps
yoa will get rested now" smiled Hes
tor, tanning him gently.
perhaps. Where q Henderson,
HE went to look up the herd ]
may az well tell you now. dad"-aDd
Testers pes eioud0d with anxiety
"that the herd has been missing since
Monday, and Mr.. Henderson Il afraid
that Dixon and his gang have FuShed
them"
Nj. Moore struggled to sit up. groan-
Cd and sank again upon his pillow.
"ConfOund II all, Hester. why did It
happen at this time. when l am on my
back and can't stir a stepf"
Because you are helpless, I suppose.
II you had been as active as usual
hardly think that Dixon would have
dared to steal them"
what Is that Hesterr' Mr.. Moore
shifted the air suspiciouSiy and tried
10 look through the screened door, bui
Il wna out Of his range Of vision.
Hester went to the door. looked Out
and came hurriedly back. Fires o.
AlknlL," she said briefly. They seen
to be coming this way, but the wind
Il south and
There came q rap et the kitchen door
Hester answered It, leaving her re
mark unfinished.
Two Indian women sat on the door
step, their blankets sagging from theii
bent shoulders. Their black eyes wer'
mutely appealing.
well, Annie, howT' said Heste'
pleasantly.
Bread, meat drinkT" uttered Annie
~gutturally.
"Of course" Hester went 10 tn
pantry and prepared several large sand
Wichas for the two women. She pour
Cd two great glasSes Of lemonade am
carried the whole to the doorstep. Tn
women fell upon Il rav0nOusly. Whe'
Il had disappeared Annie lifted he
eyes 10 those OF the pretty white girl.
~FortuneT' she muttered.
"ARainY laughed Hester. why
. Annie yOu tell my fortune every tim
. you comet The last time you promise
me a husband and q bag Of gold, an
: I havouAt seen a Eign Of them yet"
' 'tOn the way" muttered Anni'
matching at HeatsTs brown little han
? and scanning the palm closely. "H
: rides before the rcd wind. He bring
. peace and plenty. The lost cattle com
: home. and the maiden marTtes be
: lover"
How lOvolyF' Knocked Hester. SAn
M fatherf What Of hlmT
= SHs runs away on another man
keA." she said giOOmily, and, beckol
; ing her stOlid companion to follow, 81
7 E1untod farewell and went YEARLY q
: the trail toward the reservation.
The two Indians paused on q kno
and looked away into the west. whei
q dark cloud marked the horizon. Al
nie stretched out 4 lean arm and poln
: ed and Frightened Pawn threw up b
hands and went wailing out OF sight
: 'sThey look like two old prieHtess'
: performing some hOrrid rite" shul
y deEed Hester aS she locked the do
2 and went back 10 her father.
" there Il danger Hesterr he asks
anxiOusly.
= '-rhe same sort that we always e
" counter at this season" the girl So
calmly. Thermometer. every Eeas'
since We have lived here we have fea
= ed the grass Gre. and 20 far Il has ne
\ sr conner
ut has never come % close befoI
Mkai b only twenty miles away. al
the smoke u driving this way"
Il II know Il, but IL may shift" HC
tors voice betrayed a strained no
that her father was quick to catch.
y what can We do. dearf Have y
10 made any preparations in case II do
10 conner he asked quickly.
"a Oh, yea dad There isu't much
at can do. you knOwl I've had the b