Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1915-02-19
ILLUSTRATED 6r D.
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passed. only | had circled tho house
twice, sklrting the edge OF tho woods
In my rounds, keeping we'll In the
blacker shadows, and moving noise
lesBly, every nerve alert. Back OF the
house ! discovered n mound OF earth,
heaped as q roof, over an opening In
the ground, evidently n cellar OF some
kind. So far as | could discover, by
cropping In the darkness, there was
nothing concealed within, but the en-.
trance offered a good hiding place, and
| sat down there where | could see In
every direction, with my rife across
my knees. The stars yielded n spec
trail light, and no one could move
across the clearing unobseryed. ] sat
there for ten minutes, seeing and hear
Ing nothing, gradually growing drowsy
In the silence, my head sinking back
against the earth mound. Yet ] re-
malnod awake and watchful, although
when ! FIRST perceived u figure fitting
out OF the black fringe Of woods, | half
believed II a dream. But II was no
dream, and ! sat up suddenly, my
heart beating like a trlphammer. and
stared. / could see little, not enough
to determine whether the intruder was
savage or white, merely pcrceiving an
lndistlnct form, crouchlng low, yet ad-
vanclng directly toward me. There
was nc hesitancy, no evidence OF fear,
but merely the natural caution OF M
travelling alone In the wilderness. At
fret / believed Il to be Brady return.
Ing, yet hesitated TO step boldly forth,
Tor the figure appeared small and UNI
natural, barely perceptlble against the
darker background OF earth.
To render myself more ecu ! drew
cautiously back n step within the cell
lar entrance, and waited breathlessly,
bracing myself to meet either friend
or foe. ! could no longer see the In
truder. and the caution OF his ap-
proach made me certain tho man must
be an enemy. Surely Brady, even
while exercising every precaution,
would never hesitate like this. and
grope Lis way forward inch by inch.
I felt the hot blood leap in my veins;
then the fellow. still crouching low,
but with rife barrel advanced, APP
peared around the edge OF the pile OF
earth, scarcely two yards distant. All
| saw clearly was a hat with a feather
In II. an indlstlnct outline OF form,
and tho black rifle barrel. My rife
came up to the shoulder, and | slipped
into the open.
stop where you arel" I ordered
sharply. Drop your gun. and stand
up"
heard n quick breath OF surprise,
almost an exclamation; the stock OF
the rifle sank 10 the ground, but the
hands still clung to the barrel. as the
startled figure Strengthened up.
could not distinguish the face, only
tho white outline Swallowed by the
hat, yet the short. slender form was
that OF a boy. The relief at this dis
coyery brought a laugh TO my lips.
What does this mean, lad?" |
asked. Have children gone to war?
Come, answer me; you are no saw.
age
IT'S not q lad with whom you
deal, Monsieur Hayward" replied a
soft voice. trembling a bit neverthe-
less, though attempting boldnesk.
You know me now?"
She flung the %conceallng hat into
the grass, the sllyery light OF the
stars on her face.
you here! you'll" | exclaimed IN
swift surprise at this unexpected dc.
movement, aud feeling the hot blood
flush my face. you came with
Girty?"
She yentured 20 laugh lightly at
my tone and tanner.
we travelled together--yes. What
OF that, monsieur? The wilderness
Is not a parlor where We can choose
associates. Did ! not warn you |
would como with him when you re.
fused me? An you think ] did what
was wrong?"
~" puzzled by her direct question.
What is II TO me, mademolselle? You
would not are what | think. Yet
were you sister OF mine | would speak
plainly enough; We all know what 81
mon Girty Is"
"Oh, no. monsieur, the Americans
do not" and her voice rung with
earnestness. "Ho Is TO them an en-
envy, a fend. lie wars on the other
side, and as the Indians make war.
Why not7 lie has lived In our wig
vans, and sat at our council fires. Ho
belongs with us, save for the birth
mark OF a white skin. TO me he is
not enemy. but friend. | have known
him always. from childhoodi there
Is no fear In my heart; did he desire,
he would not dare harm mel am a