Eastern Colorado times., 1913-02-07
BIYRONWnLIAMs

tional before breakfast the mayor
sat in an easy chair on the veranda,
smoking his favorite pipe.
"Will you kindly tell Miss Mason
that am waiting her commander"
he asked easily. with no trace OF re-
sentiment in his voice.
II was going to liberate you this
morning" she said. simply, trying to
hide her surprise.
"Oh, got out last night, thank
you. I'm particular about my own
bed. Never could sleep well in
strange bunk" laughing.
After breakfast Alice Mason, the
girl appointed by the court to defend
Bedight on the occasion Of his trial,
called him aside.
"As your attorney. am led to offer
you your freedom today. want to
go to Lakeville for some cold cream,
and II you will ride to the Four Cor
ners with me. will let you escape to
your own devices. It Is not always
that an attorney can vouch for his
client, but am willing to take a
chance on you." confidently. "And be-
sides. these girls have been badgering
the life out Of you. It's time somebody
took pity" laughing. -'
The mayor put his lips close to the
girls rosy ear.
Honest" he said, hope to die. I've
never had so much fun in all my life
but that bill business is dangerous.
and I'd like to get through with the
ordeal honorably.i can use today,
and as small expression of my
gratitude. I'll send you the jolliest big
box Of candy in Chicago as pass
| through"
"Thank you," she said. her eyes
dancing. ''I'll leave the selection to
you" f.
An hour later Bedight. astride a
good horse, was galloping toward
Bordeau, railroad crossing ten miles
to the north. Arriving at the station
he sent a telegram. ate typical meal
at typical country hotel. and started
back. He reached the cross roads at
dusk and let his tired mount plod
leisurely homeward.
Saturday morning broke clear and
tense after sweltering night. The
sun was copper colored and the leaves
upon the crest, where they were won't
to bow and curtsey to the zephyr's
breath, hung listless in the simmer
ing heat. At breakfast, none looked
refreshed and Mine Host complained
| of drought. Pauline, the cook, whose
eggs were always, soft-boiled to a
creamy elasticity and whose toast: was
ever golden brown and delicious,
fretted the former into blue-b1ack
globules surrounded by leathery gela.
tine, while the latter was burned and
desiccated to a hard-tack condition de-
cidedly disappointing to her usually
delighted followers. The thermometer,
to all intents and purposes, was SO
basely ambitious as to seemingly have
no other desire than. to climb higher
and higher in its relentless rise.
Come on,-Mr. Bedight." exclaimed
Molly Mcconnell, row me over to
Waxelbaum's Point want to sketch
La Weeks cabin, the remaining. relic
of what was once the oldest trading
post in the state. 1t is tumbledown
and ramshackle and will make a fine
study. was by there a week ago on
a calm day and the reflection in the
placid water was almost as realistic
as the old log-pile itself. "A a-photo-
graph taken when l saw the cabin.
would puzzle the beholder to tell
which was the cabin and which the
reflection. Today promises to be still
and bids fair to afford me an oppor-
tunity to get Just the right atmos-
phere. I'll be ready in ten minutes"
She came down to the dock, her
black eyes dancing in anticipation.
Bedight packed her outfit In the prov.
of the boat along with the lunch
basket, held the boat firmly against
the dock as she put her dainty foot
upon the stern seat, and dipped grace
fully into position, magazine under
her arm and camera slung across
her shoulder.
AS the mayor took the oars he look
ed at her-bareheaded, her lustrous
black locks defying, the sun, her full
tempting lips shaping perfect cupids
bow, saucy little dimpIe on each side
of well-rounded cheek, and teeth as
white as milk-coral through which the
laughter trilled and rippled like a
singing spring across its minty way.
Surely a man might well be SEN
fenced for life to such a woman's
whim, while but days service were
as an hour In Naples after a hard
PASSAGE!
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