The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-02-03
Hidden i ater
How It Was Lost, but
Found Again.
BY CLARISSA MAcKIE

= (
Eve Temple sat in her saddle and
surveyed the arid stretch of sand and
sagebrush. There was look Of bitter
appointment in her blue eyes, and
her full red lower lip quivered, but
was instantly stillcd by The sharp pres
sure of her teeth.
That's right! Cry baby!D she taunt.
ed her weakness. II thought you were
coming out here to Arizona to make a
fortune as rancher, and the first
thing you did was to buy a sand hole
of a ranch just because 1t had an at
Hactiye name Hidden Water It is
hidden! So far all the rain that has.
fallen has been in the form of tears.
Oh, bother!'
In spite of her brave attempt at self
control hot tears filed Ewes ewes and
splashed on her hands.
Rain from a blue and cloudless
sky" remarked an amused voice at her
elbow
Eve Whirled her pony around to con
front the stranger who had noiselessly
mounted the ridge. He was tail sun
burned young man in dusty khaki,
ragged sombrero on his brown hair
and much humor in his bright brown
eyes.
Eve thought she had never seen such
bright, searching eyes, especially in
one who apparently was a seeker after
a job.
Well" she said sharply, resenting
his remark, 81 suppose you are looking
for job?''
A startled look came and went in the
bright eyes.
I'm a good worker, miss" he said.
Eve laughed and swept her arm in
wide circle.
Why look for work at Hidden Wa
ter?' she asked. .'The water is so well
hidden that my sheep have died from
thirst and my cattle have wandered
away or have been run off by Bedozi
and his gang of rustlers. There is no
work at Hidden Water, not even for.
me. A little sob checked her laugh,
and she turned her face away from the
mans concerned countenance.
Did you buy Hidden Water from
Holman?' asked the stranger.
She nodded.
He sold out to me" said she drear-
lily. Il don't know what to do. He
told me that when the rains came the
creek would fill up. but there hasn't
been drop Of rain since i came.
There won't be. either he announc-
ed-not enough to do any good. . IS
II suppose l can shut up the place
and go home, back east, but there
isn't any home left zs
S. You are not out here alone 81
. IAN elderly cousin came with me.
She is my only relative. Cousin Han
nah predicted disaster, and she is
right .
Cousin Hannahs are usually con-
frmed pessimists.' he declared.
.But you must admit she was right
in this instance" $ :.
81 believe / can prove she is wrong.
he said grimly.
s 'tHow %
I'll tell you later, Miss Temple
who are you p she asked curiously.
= MY name is Lonsdale-John Ions
dale" he said, lifting the ragged hat.
IF you can give me my meals and al
low me to sleep in the bunk house /
will try to help YOU
Eve laughed mirthfully now.
Welcome to Hidden Water, Mr.
Lonsdale. The bunk house is yours
alone. Shall introduce you to Cousin
Hannah as the maker of rain in waste
places?"
Tell her." helsaid deliberately. 'that
i am an expert of some sort. and if /
fail she will tell you that am an ex-
pert liar
Come them" said Eve. 81 hear
the dinner bell.''
In this manner was John Lonsdale
introduced to Hidden Water.
Cousin Hannah disapproved of him
at once. AS soon as he had vanished
into the bunk house with the basket of
dinner she had given him the stern
New England woman attacked Eve
with volley of questions.
Who is he. Eve she asked.
"a cowboy looking for work. His
name is John Lonsdale.'
Where is he from? Where are his
references p
81 didn't ask him.
But, Eve. there isn't any work here
for him. protested Mrs. Fox
He is an expert at detecting water.
he believes he can find the Hidden
Water, and
Hidden fddlesticksy p snorted Cous-
in Hannah '.The man is an expert
story teller. Eve. y
Eve laughed, for already Cousin
Hannah had fulfilled Lonsdales pre-
diction. ss=
Laugh If you want to-. said the
irate lady, 'sbut some morning we. will
wake up and find ourselves murdered
in our beds. Then what will you
say r
TIL say you surely have bit Of
Irish blood in your New England
makeup. laughed Eve. p.
There was a discreet knock at the
back door So