The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-01-21
In spite Of her fears Cousin Hannah
was ORR fifiad at rho comnlimant


mo. thank you. Please tell Miss
Temple I'm going down to the creek
to start things"
A few hours later Eve mounted her
pony and rode down to Dry creek.
Lonsdale was nowhere In sight.
Slowly she rode up the dry bed of the
creek toward clump Of cottonwoods
and heap of rocks which had been
the source Of the water which had
once filed the bed.
For long time Eve sat in her sad
die looking down at the dry rocks.
What had become of the under
ground river? Had some CONFUSION
Of nature diverted it's course in anoth-
er direction?
When Lonsdale came tramping down
the hillside, u strange light of enthusi-
asm in his brown eyes. Eve piled him
with questions, but he was oddly nom
committal
I'm a fortnight at the farthest," he
said evasively. Give me a chance,
Miss Temple"
Eve said no more. and during the
weeks that followed she let him alone.
He would disappear for days at
time. to return stern and preoccupied.
Always he wore khaki, but now it was
usually fresh and clean.
Cousin Hannah reported that in the
bunk house she could not find parti-
Gle of wearing apparel or personal be-
longings.
81 don't believe the man sleeps there.
I'm afraid of him. Eve. want to go
back home. Can't you sell the ranch
for the price Of our tickets? You can
easily get another school. and | will
take boarders-anything to get away
from this God forsaken sand patch"
IF Mr.. Lonsdale's scheme fails we
will go. DEAR" Eve assured her.
IT'S bound to fail. Eve. No one but
the good Lord should interfere with
his works. If the ranch were paying.
and we could have some help around
the place. and there was something
going on, and l could have a flower
garden. I'd be contented." she said en-
ergetically.
Fox" said Lonsdale's quiet voice.
Hidden Water has come back. and
you will have to change the name of
Dry creek. Come down and see."
Incredulous. the two women followed
him to the creek. Their ears heard the
welcome sound of rushing water. and
they beheld the marvellous sight Of the
brimming creek shaking among the
hills and across the plain.
In her minds eye Eve ga the green
grass on her hills. cattle and sheep
dott1ng the ranges. Prosperity had
come to the ranch with the return of
the Hidden Water.
She turned to Lonsdale.
"Oh. how can ever repay your" she
breathed gratefully.
The look in his eyes told her there
was only one way he wished to be
repaid, but he put her grateful words
aside and gave her wise advice about
the management Of the ranch. She
would need a good foreman. He rec
commended Dial Johnson. an expert.
enced and trustworthy cattleman. Dial
will pick out the right men to help
you," he assured her.
But you-won't you stayr she
asked.
I'm sorry. but I'm going back east"
he said.
All the gladness went out Of Ewes
face. Suddenly the lure Of the south
west left her cold and lonely. She
checked herself angrily. what is the
matter with meT she asked. and her
heart answered.:
you love him-this unknown man"
Thereafter Eve. self conscious and
miserable, steeled herself against be-
traying her heart to the stranger who
had won It
In a day or two Lonsdale babe them
goodby and dropped out Of their lives.
Those were busy days at Hidden Wa
ter. Dial Johnson was hustler. and
under his sway the dream Of Ewes life
came true. Cattle and sheep dotted
her green hillsides. Cousin Hannah's
garden bloomed, and the music of the
rushing creek sounded day and night.
Eve grew to hate the sound OF the
water. Always 1t seemed to say.
"Where Is John Lonsdale-where Is
he"
One day Eve found courage to ask
Dial johnson about Lonsdale. where
did he go?" she asked.
Went back to his pa in New York.
You know. his pa is big gun In Wall
street, and he told John to come west
and see what he could do for himself.
Sort Of trying him out, you know.
well, he came to Cactus county
and bought the next ranch to this. and
1t looked like he'd bought gold brick
all dry and sandy. And one day
when he was plumb discouraged and
about to write home and tell his pa
he'd made a mess Of 1t and begging for
tickets home and a stool in the office.
why. one day he found that Hidden
Water had burst through the sand on
his place, and. well. he came into his
own then.
But as soon as be found it had been
diverted from your place. a woman's
undertaking, you know. why. hang 1t
all. the fool just plugged up the stream
on bis place. 1t took weeks to do It.