The state herald., 1914-02-06

uatt puOuiu ue lhl eHou6h.
let my horse have drink at the
spring, then we went slowly on over
the soundless carpet of pine needles.
would leave my horse at the pines.
Somebody was there. Four laden
pack-ponies stood in the shade of the
trees. switching their tails to drive
away the flies. A fifth. buckskin
mare. unloaded. with bandaged leg.
stood in the sunlight Behind the
nearest tree man was speaking.
reined my horse. Now you. Jones"
he was saying to the injured beast.
you take yo'self too serious. You
ain't goin' to Heaven? No! Thep
why pack yo' bag? Why fuss?"
had some silly idea that the man,
II he discovered me. would know what
business brought me to this headland.
! held my breath.
His slow, delicious, Texan drawl
made me smile. did not want TO
smile. The mare, very picture OF
misery, lifted her bandaged. frightfully
swollen leg. and hobbled into the
shade. did not want to laugh, but
why was she called Jones? She
looked Just like Jones.
THE inquirin' mind" said the man
behind the tree, has GAVIN surely
astray from business, or you'd have
know'd that rattles smells OF snake.
Then | asks-why paw"
The mare, with her legs all
astraddle. snorted in his face.
Sugar is it? Why didn't you say
SO befo'?"
Jones turned her good eye on the
man as though she had just discovered
his existence. hobbled briskly after
him while he dug in his kitchen boxes.
made first grab at the sugar bag. and
got her face slapped The man, always
with his eye upon the mare. returned
TO his place. and sat on his heel as be-
fore. Three Jumps" he said. hold
ing them one by one to be snatched
You're acting sort of convalescent.
Jones. No more sugar. And don't
be hawg."
The mare was kissing his face.
Back OF all, Back water! Thar
now. thank the lady behind mel"
And had imagined my presence
still unknown.
How on earth" gasped. did you
know | was here?"
The mans eyes were still intent
upon the wounded mare. Wall. Mrs.
Trevor. he drawled.
You know my name? Your back
has been turned the whole time!
You've never seen me In your life
at least I've never seen you!"
That's So" he answered thought
fully. Il don't need tellin' the sound
OF that colt yo' husband bought from
me. As to the squeak OF ladys pig.
skin saddle. thar amt no other lady
rider short OF hundred and eighty
three and a half miles
what manner OF man could this be ?
Ny colt was drawing toward him all
the time as though n magnet pulled
He stood facing me. the bag still IN
his hand. and my colt asking pointed
ly for sugar Very tall. gaunt. deeply
tanned. perhaps twenty-five years oi
age, he seemed TO me immeasurably
old, so deeply lined was his face. And
yet II was the face OF one at peace.
had been away since daybreak. and
now the sun was entering the west
As to my purpose. that ! felt could
wait.
So | sat under the pines. pretending
10 nurse Jones while the shadows
heightened over the tawny grass. and
orange needles necked fields OF rock
ou; to the edge OF the neadland
The man nnsaddlad my horse. un
loaded his ponies. fetched water from
the spring OF natural Apollinaris. bu,
when. coming back. he found me light
ing n fre. he begged me TO de.ist, 10
rest while he made dinner Aud
was glad to rest. thinking about the
peace beyond the edge OF the head
land Yet II WAS interesting TO see
how man keeps house In IN. wilder
ness. and how different are his wayt
from those Of woman. No housewife
could have been more dalntily clean
or shown u swifter skin. or half thu
silent ease with which this woodemau
mad. the tableware for one. enough
TO serve two people but woman
would not clean frying pan by burn
inE II and throwing on cold water liz
uprinklod nour on ground sheet
and mad. dough without wettlny ths
canvas. Would ! like bread. or slap
Jacks. or piaf lie made loaf ol
bread. In n frying pan set on edg,
among glowing Goals. and, WONDERING
how a pi. could possibly happen with
out the assihtapce OF an oven. I forgot
all about that cllr
Tho thing had intended was !
crime. and conHcicncestriokcn.
dreaded lest he should speak. ! coult
not bear that Already his camp wal
cleaned and In order. his pipc nile,
and aiight, at any moment he nigh
break the restful silence. That's VII,
I spoke. and at random. asking N h.
were not from tho United States.
His eyes said plainly. 80 that's III,
game. chi" His broad smile said