The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-05-11
CHAPTER xvii-contInued.

The P%reacher!" she Rasped aloud.
"oh. father! What have | done!
have shut my ears to the winds of
Godi"
When. an hour later. she came up
on the cook.shack porch and stood
leaning In the doorway. spent with
her wild passion. Ma Daily grimly fed
the fire In the range, setting about
the supper for the men left ut camp.
Mother" said Siletz DULY. she
lied"
"Yes-f know Il. But what you goin'
20 do. child? You love him an you're
right-so would | Of was thirty rear
younger. for he's a a East or no
East"
The general turned TO her work and
a sigh heaved her ample breast.
IT'S all In the days work." she
thought. AN you had TO take your
chanel. ~Johnny-but you're strong. my
son. you're a strong man-like yer
daddy"
So began a strange time in camp.
Daily came home in three days, eager
ohu bathl'ipl'At hAlu il Nhp PONh'N -
his flannel shirt he carried the big
check for which Sandry had worked
and struggled. He had delivered the
raft in safety, along with the scaler's
sport. receiving the payment which
had been ready In the hands or Il
thin. gray man who leaned from the
steamers rail TO exchange a few curt
words.
Ma Daily cornered him In the kitch.
en- late in the night as he finished
his careful rounds OF the camp
Son" she said gently. "they's a
hard knock comm TO you an | want
TO give you warnin'. though | know
you'll take Il standin'. Johnny. as yer
daddy took all O. his. an I've seen
him take some corkers.
Il know what you've always though,
o. S'letz, son. sence she was a teensy
ehap-I've watched her quiet ways
open yer heart an seen her walk in
an I've hoped myself some day It'd
all work out. fer she's always turned
10 you In trouble. It's instinct. Blu,
son-son, haven't you seen noth.n
sence sandry come among us? Hahn,
we read the signs?" The foreman had
stopped at the stink and lifted a Tin
dipper OF water for a drink. At taC
last words he put the vessel slowl,
down untouched and turned an amaze
face toward the old lady. His blu,
eyes were wide, and the mother Clio
ried like a girl in the good man
strength OF him-the broad shoulders
the musclod arms, bare 10 the elbow
the shapely back and the straight hip,
of the hill.climber,
What you talkin' OF. ma % he asked
Jest this. Sletz laid out her hear
fer all TO see when they brought Sandr,
home an that-thnt Jezebel woman
shamcd her before us all. She said
on the heels o tn chlld's cry OF love
that she was Sandry's promised wife
think she lied-but S'let2 Ia breakin
her heart fer the Fastener"
Here. without another word. MI
Daily opened a door behind her an,
creaked through. closing II softly.
or sucn inherent tact was she. sh,
did not wish even his mother 10 Sc,
big John Daily take his hard knock
even though he took II stapdin'," Will
orly a trenor of tho hand that hel,
the dipper.
When he met Siletz In the morninI
30 looked at her with eyes a littl
more haggard-there was n deepe
line at the corners OF his mouth.
The girl bore traces OF the first ar
ruiAh abe had aver known I'm the M
Tor OF her face. the dull look OF smo
dering fame under the daze OF helI
l%essness
There was no one In the eating roor
besides themselves. Collins was ou
IN the hills with the crew. for at tn
first sight Of Sandry still alive. Dali
had given orders TO 10 on with tn