Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-10-03


few men would care to undertake.
After he had discovered. however,
that she possessed perfect coolness in
the face Of danger and that the &C.
curacy Of her aim was so almost IN
canny as to wiring unstnted praise
from the oldest hunters among them
he commenced TO lean a trihe too far
in the other direction, so that Victoria
was often I'm positions where she found
herself entirely separated from tho
other members OF the party-a comph-
ment to her prowess which she greatly
priced. since women and beginners
were usually surrounded by precau-
lions and guards. through which it was
difficult to get within firing distance OF
any sort Of game.
AS they were riding homeward one
evening after a hunt I'm the foothills
Barney noticed that his sister was IN
usually quiet and apparently depressed
whats the matter, VicT he asked
/ Dead tired, eh?'
The girl looked up with q bright
smile. which was Immediately follow
ed by an expression Of puzzled bewil
derment.
Barney" she said, after a moment
OF silence. there is something about
those hills back there that fills me
with the stIangest sensation Of terror
imaginable. Today / passed an out
cropping of volcanic rock that gave
. evidence OF a frightful CONFUSION OF
nature in some bygone age. At sight
Of it l commenced 10 trembe from
head TO foot. a cold perspiration break
ing out all over me.
But that part is not so strange
you know ! have always been subject
to these same silly attacks Of unrea-
soning terror at sight Of any evidence
Of the mighty forces that have wrought
changes in the earth's crust or OF the
slightest tremor Of an earthquake.
But today the feeling OF unutterable
/ personal loss which overwhelmed me
was almost unbearable. 1t was as
though one whom I loved above all
others had been taken from me-
"And yet" she continued. through
an my ineXplicable sorrow there shone
a ray Of brilliant hope as remarkable
and unfathomable as the deeper and
depressing emotion which still stirred
me-"
For some time neither spoke. but
rode silently stirrup TO stirrup as their
ponies picked their ways through the
knee high grass. The girl was think
ing trying to puzzle out an explana-
ton Of the rather weird sensations
which had 50 recently claimed her.
Barney Custer was one OF those
unusual and delightful people who do
not scoff at whatever they cannot IN
derstand-the reason. doubtless, that
his sister as well as others chose him
MS the recipient Of their condolences
Not understanding her emotion, he had
nothing TO offer. and so remained ST.
lent
He was, however, not a little puz.
zled. as he had always been. at each
new manifestation OF Victoria's I'M
cauny reaction Of every indication OK
the great upheaval which marked the
physical changes in the conformation
OF the earths crust
lie recalled former occasions upon
which his sister had conGded In him
something Of similar terrUrs.
Once in the Garden Of the Gods and
again during a trip through the G.and
Canyon in Arizona, and very vivid in.
deed was the recollection of Victoria's
nervous collapse following the reading
Of the press dispatches describing the
san Francisco earthquake. In all 9th
er respects his sister was an exception.
ally normal. well balanced young
American woman which fact. doubt
less, rendered her one weakness the
more apparent.
But Victoria Clusters terror of earth
quakes was not her only popularity.
The other was Der strange contempt
FOR the men who had sued for her
hand-and Of these there had been
many. Her brother had thought sew
eral OF them the salt Of the earth and
Victoria herself had liked them too.
But as Tor loving them-perish the
thought!
oddly enough. recollection OF this
NNNtNA fAAffffN "a AANA AAtAAAN DhAA hANN
itself upon Barney's memory as the
two rode on toward the Clayton bun
galow, and with It be recalled per
sistent dream which Victoria had said
REQUIRED after each reminder OF a
great CONFUSION OF nature. At the
thought he broke the silence
HAS your-ahl-avatar made his
, customary appearanceY be asked
smiling
The girl extended her hand toward
her brother and laid 1t on his. where Il
rested upon his thigh as be rode, look
ing up at him with half frightened
half longing eyes.
"Oh, Barney" she cried you arc
such a dear never to have laughed al
my silly dreamsl I'm sure ] should Sc
quite mad did | not have you In whom
10 conhde, but lately have hesiated