Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-12-11

the street without.
Still the silence held. Finally a
head appeared cautiously from be-
meath a table. A solemn voice an
n0unced
"Wa'al, ! am damned"
II was not profanity; il was II
simple verdict. According to the law
of the Southwest the oriilamme was
pinned to Big Meningitis battered
sombrcro.
The fall of popular idol is al
ways n matter of contention and con-
,tcrnation. Men came crowding sill
entity up 10 the bar from everywhere,
anywhere, casting curative, awesome
planrcs nj Tony Tafoyn.
But Tony needed not. He was
gazing iniently upon II tiny fiigree
star-prndani between his finger and
thumb. that could save man from
hurt.
{.
All that late summer and autumn
Tony's goat, browsed far to the
norihward. 81 that he lost all ken of
the lights of Demina; but with the
chill blasts of winter they turned
their faces southwark once more. II
was all one to Tony Tafoya. His
song aud beribboned guitar were
things of past life; he no longer
needed the star of the evening. When
the hot saffron fingered over the
mcsns. he would sit brooding moodily
over II tiny iligrec star-pendant held
between finger aud thumb. lie re-
inembcrcd the exact spot whence he
had wrrnched that pendant from
about n big. tawny throat. Some
day. he intended loading that star
pendant into the barrel of his "A
and shooting il into that exact place.
One evening Tony relaxed his vii
ieancc, and n lone wolf gained into
his flock. Hot on his heels Tony
picked up badly larcrntcd yearling.
\ goat Is but II goat-but to those
who guard their flocks by night is
given the soul of the skies. Tony
glanced about him for signs of hui
man habiiaton where water and
bandages might he forthcoming. For
the first time in long months he look
ed into the star of the evening
very bright, now. for il was the eve
of Christmas. just beneath where it
Shone was human habitntion, an
adobe house. Tony tucked the
wounded goat under his arm. and
calling his flock about him trugded
toward the adobe.
Men in the PARKWAY lands Of the
big hearted Southwest do not cntrust
their privacy to lock and bolt. The
door of the adobe stood open. Tony
entered.
1t was kitchen, pla'"ly and spare
" furnished. On stove coffee
not stood simmering. its lid popping.
Tony had drunk black coffee in many
such before. His wounded yearlinr
tended. Tony poured himself II cup
Of the strong beverage. and drank It
slowly, taking injurious stock of his
surroundings. Presently his eye was
caught by an empty revolver holster
that hung over the stove; burned into
its leather flap were its owners mi
tials, 90. Mex"
Jesueliia! Big Mcknight" ex-
claimed Tony.
For some time Tony sat gazing ut
the empty holster: then slowly drew
his own gun. lie fumbled in the
pocket Of his ragged jacket, and
drew thcrefrom little shining OBJ
iect. lie wrapped this in cigarette
paper. and stuffed il carefully into
the long barrel of his 40. He sat
facing the door, waiting.
For quite some little time he sat
thus. while dusk came sinking. gray
and silent rs wolf. through the
panes of single window in the
kitchen. Presently something flui-
tered into the room-like sigh. ar
the wing of bird. Tony perceived
n box beneath the window. lie cross
ed over and peered therein. Sleep
ing peacefully. its chubby little hands
folded across its tiny breast. n wee
babe lay. About its throat was II
small rosary. A small empty hook
at the end of its cross told that it
had lost pendant.
For long time Tony gazed on the
little sleeper. Thea lie slowly raised
his gun
Night had gathered as man and
woman came Looping up to the adobe
on sweating broncos. The man dis
mounted. laughing, for the woman
had ridden nearly three miles tn call
him from his COWS because n baby
had cut its first tooth. He helped
the woman from her horse. and to-
eether they started to enter the
Ill