The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-04-23

through every tortured crevice OF his
impatient frame. Like steel from fint
Il struck out q crisp oath that brought
an answering bovine snort from the
fence-corner.
Worming like q lizard to freedom.
his eyes puckered shut with the
wretched pang. John Valiant sat NJ
and shook his grimy nst In the air.
You silly loafng idiot!- he cried.
"Thump your W ~crasy.bone and nee
how you like it! You-oh. lordi"
His arm dropped. and . flush spread
owe his face to the brow. For his
eyes had opened. He was g~esturing
not st the bull but At q girl. who
fronted him beside the road, haughti
ness In the very hue OF her gray.blue
linen walking suit and. in the clear.
cut cameo face under her felt cavalry
hat. myr,leblue eyes that held a
smolder OF mingled establishment and
indignation. An instant he gssed. ell
the muscles Of his face frightened with
chagrin.
II beg your pardon he STAN.
mered. Il didn't see you. really
didn't was-i was talking 70 tho
bull"
The girl had been slancins from the
flushed face to the thistly ~fence-corner.
while the startled dignity OF her feat
ures warred with an unmistakable ten.
dency to mirth. He had struggled to
his feet nursing his bruised elbow.
irritably conscious OF his resemblance
10 an emerging chimney.sweep. y
don't habitually swear" he said. but
Id got to the point when something
had to explode"
oh" she said. don't mind met"
Then mirth conquered and she broke
seemed TO set the whole place aquiver
with q musical c~ontagion. They both
laughed In concert, while the bp.l
paved the ground and sent forth a
rumbllng below Of airont and chal.
lenge.
She was the FIRST TO recover you
did look 80 funny" she gasped.
Il can believe H." he agreed. max.
ing a vicious dab at his smudged ell
bow. THE possibilities OF a motor for
comedy are simply stu%pendous."
She came closer and looked curious
ly at the quiescent monster-at the
steamertrunk strapped on the carrier
and the bullying portmanteau peepins
over the side OF the tonneau. is II
broken?"
Merely on strike. ! imagine, Are
we far from the village?"
About q ,aile and q half"
I'll have to have Ii towed after me
The Immediate point Ia my traps.
wonder II there Is likely to be q team
passing"
I'm afraid It's not too certain" IA
swered the girl. and now he noted the
liquid meditation. with It's slightly
questioning accent, harmingly South
ern. There Is no livery. but there 4,
a negro who meets the train some
times. | can send him II you like"
You're very good" Said Valiant. a.
she turned away. and I'll be enor
mously obliged. Oh-and II you see q
white dog. don't be frightened II h
tries to follow you. He's p~erfecti,
kind"
She looked back momentarily.
"Iie-he always follows people b,
likes. you see"
Thank you.' she said. The tom
had now a hint-small. yet percepti
ble-of aloofness. I'm not In the leas
afraid OF dogs" And with a little nod
she swung briskly on up the Red Road
John Valiant stood staring after he
till she had passed from view aroun,
a curve. "Oh, glory" he muttered
ITO begin by shaking your ist at he
and end by making her wonder II yo'
aren't trying 10 be fresh! You pool
profane, iloundering dolt,"
CTo DE CoSTiSUEDD