The Snowflake herald., 1915-12-03
[H[ DESERTED WIFE
av MABEL WREN.


Fbl'0 F,a broken only by the yelp Of
sOl'"DU Dnrowling coyote, travelling late
One lone Suddenly there appeared
'na @ distance a strange cavalcade.
b w. uexicans, and then two more,
TVO ,od with hurried step before a
nSl'IU ~ which a mufficd bundle re-
'l n The procession stopped. and a
pO'su crave was dug. Then the 81.
bs" ",nndle was lifted from the cart
.d ~ lowered into it.
po n,dIrg down a dry arroyo, at right
n ~. to the procession, was an
ps. Lcan The clinching Of his teeth
sho nervous twitching of his hands
lpu 1.Soned that all was not well with
% T hope to heaven" he muttered
..olv that another time I'll have
p'..o .o enough to stay within the bor-
w.. .' ~ civilization. / was plumb To-
NJ " IN those days-didn't have sense
Wv .a,b TO tell right from left. Great
S,,HI Any man who is content to
'.Ow ~ away his chances in life as l
s.ro % ought to be shut up with the
D..tics Any man in his right mind
rbO will spend his life among the
...sers, coyotes and horned toads
IL"
Words failed to convey the ire that
mled within him.
ruconsciously his hands clenched
..N the nails sank deep into the
sa.b Just then he noticed the pro-
a,,ion, and dismounting, stood hidden
= ,ome low mesquite, and watched the
roceedings.
f was only some man from the
Gates who had been killed in a row
nh the greasers. He, Chad Leeks,
NOD not been above such rows himself,
md the whole thing was as plain as
hv TO him. It was common hap
,sning in the country to which he
ms tied. Twas probably over some
VOman
Chads mind worked quickly. He ST.
tDtly followed one of the men home,
wOre at him in approved Mexican
style and sent him up to the adobe
hn Of Chad Leeks to inform his wife
and child that he had been shot in a
dance row the night before at Mexi.
can hacienda.
Meanwhile, the supposedly buried
Chsu was speeding with all haste over
The border 1t was a step that he
bad been contemplating for some time;
he witnessing of the burial had mere
precipitated things.
Once across the line, he boarded an
aabOund train and rode until he
bad reached his boyhood home.
His father welcomed with open arms
he prodigal son who had run away
hm college, and asked him few un-
necessary questions about his wander
ng
Elisabeth, let me present Mr..
LeekS. Chad is a very dear friend Of
nine. His mother and l were old
school chums"
Chads figure Strengthened and his
eyes lighted. A slim, cool hand rest
I'd on his for an instant. Mrs Drew
nStled about and settled everybody
@zy at the card table-and then fate
seemed to settle things for him.
When he left, the night was full of
aughing eyes, OF delicate, high-bred
aceS, Of friendly words, of dainty
andS that slipped softly into his own.
he turned abruptly from the city un-
he felt the wet sand under his feet.
hen he settled down into a swinging
Nflde that took him miles up the
beach. When he returned to his room,
ie was so tired that he slept imme-
iately
The next morning he was making
s way along, head down and hands
bis pockets, when a merry voice
geeted him:
Walk with me a moment, please.
NOW listen, Elisabeth Barth is crazy
80 out on the bay in a rowboat.
Won't you take her out? I'm afraid
trust her with an ordinary lands
4aA I'd trust you anywhere; you
NOV that. This afternoon at three,
asl' Thank you so much. No, !
Su talk any longer. Good-by." And
M Drew was gone.
at three o'clock he steadied the bob
SaS boat and held out his hand to
'laaOeth Barth. Those slim fingers
'sall made him draw in his breath
sharply
are you afraid?" he asked, when
~ was seated. Were going to
w. ABOUT considerably, but there's no
suSer If you like it" He was leaning
wei the oarlock
'ueL they were quiet for long
,S~ IS'e OF time, She watched the water,
~ne ne watched the bright fiuffs OF
uy hair that blew distractingly
"oat her face
"uen he left her at Mrs. Drew's
' She had promised to ride with
- Tue next day. He had horse that
N 'Sated her to try, he said.
'ue DAYS that followed were happy