The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-22

watchfulneSS. After all, 1t had been the highwaymen rather than the red men whom he had most feared, and after two years it did not seem likely that such volatile men would preserve the feeling of vengeance.
 With the wisdom derived from his experience with wild natures, he care fully abstained from any attempt to force Lahoma's friendship; hence it was not long before he obtained it without reserve. In the meantime he talked necessarily, and to his admira- tion he presently found her manner of speech wonderfully like his own-both fluent and ungrammatical-
 He knew nothing of grammar to be sure but there were times when his mistakes, echoed from her lips, struck upon his ear, and, though he might not always know how to correct them, he was prompt to suggest changes, test ing each, as natural musician judges music-by ear. Dissatisfied with his own standards, he was all the moAe impatient to depart on the expedition after mental tools, despite the dangers that might beset the journey.
 His first task, prompted by the com ing of Lahoma, had been to partition off the half of the dugout containing the. stove for the child's private cham Der. Cedar posts set in the ground and plastered with mud higher than his head left space between the top and the apex of the ceiling that the temperature might be capitalized in both rooms. Thus far, however, they did not stay in the dugout except long enough to eat and sleep, for the au-. tumn had continued delightful, and the cove seemed to the child her home, of which the dugout was a sort of cellar. Concerning the stone retreat in the crevice she knew nothing. Wi1lock did not know why he kept the secret since he trusted Lahoma with all his treas ures. but the unreasoning /reticence of the man ~ss great loneliness still rested on him.
 'tLahoma' he said one day, there's a settler over wonder in the mountains across the south plain How'd you like to pay him a visit?''
 T don't want anybody but you," said Lahoma promptly.
 Willock stood on one leg, rubbing the other meditatively with his delight ed foot. Not the quiver of muscle, however, revealed the fact that her words had flooded his heart with sun shine. "Well, honey, that's in reason. But Tve got to take you with me after books and winter supplies. and I don't like the idea of travelling alone. It coma to me that I might get MT. Set tier to go too. Time was not so long ago when Injun bands was coming and going, and, although old Greer is be- ginning to be sprinkled up with set tiers here and there, I can't get over the feel of the old times. They ain't no sensation as sticks by man when E.--9 4<-H F. 11-z1 i. forty-hve and fifty as the feel of the old times.''
 We'll said Lahoma earnestly, 'sI wish you'd leave me heue when you go after them books. I don't want to be with no strangers. I want to just squat right here and bear myself com pany."
 That's in reason But, honey, while you might be safe enough while bear ing the same would be plumb crazy worrying abou& you. I might not have good cause for worrying. but worry tng-it ain't no bird that spreads its wings and goes north when cold weather comes; worrying-it's inde- pendent of causes and seasons
 If you have got to be stayed with to keep you from worrying they ain't nothing more to be said"
 Just so. That there old settler, have crossed a few words with him, and believe he would do noble to travel with. He's as gruf and growly as a grizzly bear if you say & word to him, and if he'll just turn all that temper he's vented on me on to any strangers we may run up against on the trail he'll do invaluable
 'fIH go catch up the pony" said La hona briefly, flor I see the thing is to be did. This will be the first visit I ever made in my life when I wasn't drug by the Injuns.''
 You mustn't say drug honey, un- less specifying medicines and herbs. I You must say dragged The Injuns dragged you from one village to an- other" He paused meditatively, nut tering the word to himself, while La homa ran away to catch the pony, When she came back he said: 'tI've been a-weighing that word, Lahoma, and it don't seem to me that dragged sounds proper What do you thinkY'
 'I don't like the sound of it neither" said Lahoma, shaking her head. tI think drug is softer. It kinder me1ts in the ear, and dragged sticks"
 Well, don't use neither one till I can find out" Presently he was swing ing along across, the plain toward the southwestern range. while the girl kept close beside him on the pony.
 Brick Willock and the man he had come to see were very good types of the first settlers of Greer county-one a highwayman, hiding from his kind, the other a trapper by occupation, try ing to keep ahead of the pursuing waves of immigration. It was the first time Lahoma had seen Bill At kins,r and as she caught sight of him before his dugout her eyes frightened with interest. He was tall, 1ank Il man of about sixty-f1ve, with a huge gray mustache and bushy hair of iron gray, but without a beard.
 , But Lahoma was not afraid of coy