The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-06-04

an Indian Watering balanced upon her.
shoulder. She was, clad in the
stralght-hangtng native, garment, belt
ed in with a sash; her feet were in
sandals, and she moved as silently az
q shadow.
During the four days since Miss;
Blake's arrival at the Flying. Heart;
Ranch che had seen Mariedetta aitl
ting noisalessly hero and there. but
had never heard her speak. The pref
II. expressionless face beneath the
straight black hair had ever retained
Ito wooden stolIdlty. the velvety eyes,
had not laughed nor frowned nori
sparkled. She seemed to be merely
q part of this far southwestern pic
ture; q bit Of inanimate, yet breath
Ing local color. Now. however. the
girl dropped her jug. and with a low
cry gl1ded to her lover, who tossed
aside his cigarette and took her in his
arms. From this distance their words
indistinguishable.
"How perfectly romantic" said the
Eastern girl, breathlessly. II had no
idea Mariedetta could love anybody"
"she is a volcano" Jean answered.
"Why. it's like playl"
And It goes on all the time"
"How gentle and sweet he isl I
think he Is charming. He is not at all
like the other cowboys, Is he7"
While the two witnesses of the
scene were eagerly discussing 1t, Joy,
the Chinese cook, emerged from the
kitchen bearing a bucket Of water, his
presence hidden from the lovers by
the corner Of the, building. Carara
languidly released his inamorata from
his embrace and lounged out Of sight
around the building. pausing at the
farther r to watt a graceful kiss
from the ends Of his fingers, as with
a farewell fash Of his white teeth he
disappeared. Mariedetta recovered
her Watering and slidad onward into
the court in front of the cook-house,
her face masklike, her movements de.
nberate as usual.
Joy, spying the girl. gr1nned at her.
She tossed her head coquettishly and
her step slackened. whereupon the
cook, with a sly glance around. tapped
her gently on the arm, and said:
Nice Ill gally."
"The ideal" Indignantly exclaimed
Miss Blake from her hammock.
But Mariedetta was. not offended.
Instead she smiled over her shoulder
as she had smiled at her lover an in
slant before.
me like you fine. You like pie?"
Joy nodded toward the. door Of the
culinary department, as II to make
free Of his hospitality. at the instant
that Carara, who had circled. the build
ing, came into view from the opposite
side, q fresh cigarette between hts
lips. His languor. vanished at the
first glimpse Of the scene, and he
strobe toward the. white. clad. celestial.
who dove through the open door like
a prairie dog into his hole. Carara
followed at his heels.
1T serves him right" cried Miss
Blake. rising. II hope MI. Carara-"
A din Of falling pots and pans is-
sued from the oook-house. mingled
with shr1l cries and soft Spanish i'm
precations:. then. with one long-drawn
wall. the pendemonium ceased as sud-
denly as it had commenced, and Ca
ara issued forth, black with anger.
"Ha!" said he. scowling. at Marie
delta, who had retreated. her hand
upon her bosom. He exhaled a lung
full Of cigarette smoke through his
nostrils fercely. "You play wit me,
eh?"
mo. mol" Mar1edetta ran to him.
and. selling his arm, oooed amorously
in Spanish.
bah! vamosl" Carara flung her
from him. and stalked away.
well Of all the outrageous things!"
said Miss Blake. "Why she was actu.
ally flirting with that Chinaman."
"Mariedetta firts with every man
she can find" said Jean. calmly. "but
she doesn't mean any harm. She'll
marry Carara some time-f he. doesn't
kill her"
"Kill her!" Miss Blake's eyes were
round. HE wouldn't do thatl!"
Indeed. yes. He is q Mexican, and
he has a terrible temper"
Miss. Blake sank back into the ham.
mock. "How perfectly dreadful! And
: yeti must be heavenly to love a
man who would kill you"
Miss Chaplin lost herself in media,
ton for an instant. Culver Is almost
like that when he is angry. Hello
here comes toremanl"
Slower, a tall, gangling oatt1e.mau
with dropping srtaslads mustache
came. shamblings up to the, steps. He
dusted, his boots with his somhrsrc
and cleared his. throat,
Evening. Miss Jean. u Mr.. Cha
pin aroundf"
II think you'll ind. him down BIZ the
spring-house. OanrI do anything FOL
your
"Nopel" etovss siehed heavily, and
"