Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-06-10
The DESERTED WIFE
BY MAsEL WREN.
tCopyright.)

tConyrtght,D
The Great Chihuahua desert lay
white and calm in the moonlight: its
solitude broken only by the yclp OF
some prowling coyote, travelling late
and alone. Suddenly there appeared
In the distance a strange cavalcade,
Two Mexicans, and then two more,
marched with hurried step before a
cart in which a muiied bundle re-
posed. The procession stopped, and a
hasty grave was dug. Then the ST.
lent bundle was lifted from the cart
and lowered into it.
Riding down a dry arroyo, at right
angles to the procession, was an
American. The c~linching of his teeth
and the nervous twitching of his Lands
betokened that all was not we'll with
him.
Il hope 10 heaven" he muttered
merely. that another time I'll have
sense enough 10 stay within the bor-
ders of civilization. was plumb To-
coed in those days-didn't have
enough to tell right from left. Great
scett! Any man who is content to
throw away his chances in life as !
have ought TO be shut up with the
lun;Sics. Any man in his right mind
who will spend his life among the
greasers, coyotes and horned toads
is"
Words failed to convey the ire that
boiled within him.
Unconsciously his hands clenched
until the nails sank deep into the
flesh. Just then he noticed the pro-
cession, and dismounting. stood hidden
by some low mesquite. and watched the
proceedings,
1t was only some nan from the
States who had been killed in a row
with the greasers. He, Chad Leeks,
had not beer above such rows himself.
and the whole thing was as plain as
day Il him. 1t was a common hap
pening in the country TO which he
was tied Twas probably over some
woman.
Ckad's mind worked quickly. He ST.
lently followed one OF the men home.
swore al him in approved Mexican
style and sent him up to the adobe
hut of Chad Leeks TO inform his wife
and child that he had been shot in a
dance row the pight before at a Mexi,
can hacienda.
Meanwhile, the supposedly buried
Cha was speeding with all haste over
the border. 1t was a step that he
had been contemplating for some time;
the witnessing Of the burial had mere
ly precipitated things.
. Once across the line, he boarded an
east-bound train and rode until he
had reached his boyhood home.
His father welcomed with open arms
the prodigal SON who had run away
from college, and asked him few un-
necessary questions about his wander
:,gs.
"Elisa beth, let me present Mr..
'Leeks. Chad is a very dear friend OF
mine. His mother and | were old
school chums."
C6ad's figure Strengthened and his
eyes lighted. A slim, cool hand rest
ed or his for IN instant. Mrs. Drew
bus.led about and settled everybody
coziiy at the card table-and then fate
teemed TO settle things for i'm.
When lie left. the night was full Of
laughing eyes, OF delicate, high.bred
faces, of friendly words, of dainty
hands that slipped softly into his own.
He turned abruptly from the city In
til lie felt the wet sand under his feet,
then he settled down into a swinging
stride that took him miles up the
beach. When he returned to his room.
he was SO tired that he slept imme-
diately.
The next morning he vas making
his way along. head down and hands
In his pockets, when a merry voice
greeted him:
Walk with mi a moment, please.
sNow listen, Elisabeth Barth is crazy
to go out on the bay in a rowboat.
Won't you take her out? I'm afraid
to trust her with an ordinary lands
man. I'd trust you anywhere: you
know that. This Afternoon at three,
then. Thank you so much. No. l
can't talk any longer. Good-by." And
Mrs. Drew was gone.
at three o'clock he stead'ed the bob
bling boat and held out his hand to
Elisabeth Barth. Those slim fingers
again made him draw in his breath
sharply.
Are you afraid?" he asked, when
she was seated. We're going to
bob about considerably, but there's no
danger If you like it." He was leaning
over the oarlock.
Then they we're quiet for a long
space of time. She watched the water,
while he watched the bright fiuffs OF
sunny hair that blew distractingly
about her face.
When he left her at Mrs. Drew's
door she had promised to ride with
him the next day. He had a horse that
he wanted her to try, be said.
The days that followed we're happy
ones for n Of the party, but the 9th.
CONSTRUCTING THE RIG Gins