Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-02-04
} oOOOOOOO . 100000
Hidden Water
: How II Was Lost, but
: Found Again.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

sagcbrush. There was look Of bitter
disappointment In her blue eyes, and
her full red lower lip quiyered, but
was instantly stllled by the sharp pres
sure of her teeth,
"That's right! Cry baby" she taunt.
ed her weakness II thought you were
coming out here to Arizona to make n
fortune MS rancher, and the first
thing you did was to buy sand hole
| OF n ranch Just because II had an at
tractiye name-IIidden Water, 1t 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 ut self
control hot tears filled Ewes eyes and
spashed on her hands.
"Raln from blue and coudless
sky" remarked an amused voice Mt her
elbow.
Eve whirled her pony around TO con
front the stranger who had noiselessly
mounted the ridge. He was tall sun
burned young man in dusty khaki, n
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 n seeker after
job.
"Well," she said sharply, resenting
his remark, 81 suppose you are looking
for a job?'
A startled look came and went In the
bright eyes.
"l'm good worker, MISS he said.
Eve laughed and swept her arm in n
wide circle
"Why look for work mt 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
'Did you buy Hidden Water from
Holman? asked the stranger.
She nodded.
"IIe 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 l came"
"There won't be, either" he announc-
ed-"not enough to do any good
II suppose l can shut up the place
and go home, back east, but there
isn't any home left"
"You are not out here alone"
AN elderly cousin came with me.
She is my only relative Cousin Han
nah predicted disaster, and she is
right"
Cousin Hannahs are usually con
flrmed pcssimists," he declared.
but you must admit she was right
in this instance"
II believe can prove she is wrong"
he said grimly,
How"
"Ill tell you later, Miss Temple"
"Who are you?" 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" he said deliberately, that
l am an expert of some sort, and If
fail she will tell you that am an ex-
pert liar"
Come, then" 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
referencesT
Il 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 fiddlestcks"' snorted Cous
in Hannah. The man is an expert
story teller, Eve"
Eve laughed, for already Cousin
Hannah had fulfilled Lonsdale's pre-
diction.
Laugh if you want to-" said the
lrate lady, "but some morning we will
wake up and find ourselves murdered
In our beds. Then what will you
Say"
"I'll say you surely have a bit of
Irish blood in your New England
makeup laughed Eve.
There was a discreet knock at the
hack door