The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-06-29

were lost up there and that he was go
ing after them. As he ran. looking
up, something fell from the hidden
heavens and splashed upon his face,
II stopped him In his tracks. Then
another fell and another, big. plash.
ing drops that struck him like stones
In their portent. They thickened
swiftly, beating up the light ashes In
tiny pufs. and from the gathered men,
busy with roll.call and accounting.
there came first astounded exclama.
lions and then. as the drops gathered
Roadway, n mighty cheer that rent the
covered skies, even as a heavy clap OF
thunder shook the hills.
THE rains!" they cried. the rains!
The first rains!"
And II was even 30. Nature took
a hand and sent Destiny skulking
from tho havoc OF her carnival, The
plashings turned to a downpour.
Among the mountains the effect was
lndescribable. The thing that took place
was too big for mar to grasp. II was
greater than the fires had been alone.
Long sheets OF water fell athwart
the world. slantlng from some tilted
sea OF the infinite. They dashed In
among the canyons. played along the
ridges, dashed slope and ledge and val.
ley. The smoke was beaten 10 the
Garth In a blanket that spread over a
hundred miles and more. II writhcd
and twisted and was lost in the clouds
OF steam that fed kissing, high above
the hills. The gods played with the
Coast country Daily turned his face
away from any man and the general
went to the little south room In the
c~ook'shack for unaccustomed prayer.
The world turned blue with RATA as
II had been white with smoke.
And the pygmies, men. who had
fought so long and failed. tossed their
blackened hands In triumph and shout.
ed with the last OF their voices.
For an hour. two. II rained. until
the black spikes on the devasted
slopes were blotted out.
IT'S mighty unusual. n rains hard's
this-specially the frst rains" said a
man from Toledo, earnestly, Don't
ever remember ones hard D'you.
blll' ana blll ulun I.
Presently, In the second hour OF the
%downpour. a strange procession doomed
out OF the gray.blue sheets. startling
the men who were out In Il, too glad
TO shirk It's worst. standing like ducks
In the ashmud.
II was the long. shining body OF a
giant dog, still Juggling at the reins
tied 10 his collar, n dripping black
horse, tired to the point OF falling. and
a woman who sat fastened to the can.
tie with strips OF broadcloath. and
whose face was not good 10 look upon.
II bore upon It's features the brand OF
too much horror.
They hocked around her with cheers
and eager hands, and questions that
tumbled over each other. But John
Daily thrust them all aside TO seize
her wrist and demand word OF Sandry
and Siletz.
They're - up behind the Hog
Back" she shuddered as she spoke
that lame. I'VE found Hampden-set.
ting the-hrcs-with candles"
Here there were awed mutterlngs.
"He-shot that-Preacher. He said
the East Belt deed-was recorded
all right-but that-he %owned-the
recorder"
She seemed duly bent on straight.
ening Out some tangle. "Sandry is-a
man-d"spite all. Get H~ampden-if
he's alive. No. | don't mean-that
He-sent me down. The horse was
near done" As she slid down Into
Daily's arms she said with her last
ounce OF strength but with such com.
manding spirit that he knew she was
in deadly earnest Get me-a convey.
ance-at once | want to be In Toledo
for ~the-night train-out."
Thus II came. that. as night closed
down blue with rain over the tortured
country. two things OF import TO the
fortunes OF the Dillingworth and It's
owner were taking place. Poppy Ord.
way stood on the platform OF the
dreary station at the lost little town
on the backwater. bound for the out.
side world and the far cities.
At the same moment yet one more
procession was coming slowly down
from among the peaks. a line OF men
a long line, for weary as they were
dozens had followed the foreman into
tho wrecked. mud-deop forest-who
bore tenderly among them two sings.
II was a significant fact that scat.
tered along that scarccrow line was
every man OF Sandry's old crews who
had gone over to Hampden.
In one sling there swung gently the
still figure OF the Preacher. It's Book
upon It's breast, It's martial flute beside
II, its glimmerings OF the Past for.
gotten. It's wistful s%earchings ended.
In the other lay Sandry. his right
hand clasping two small dark ones
whose owner trudged faithfully beside
him refusing all offers of assistance.
A holy Joy was In his heart. his lips
moved noiselessly I'm the rolling Latin