Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-06-20
BY cIARIssA nAcK1H

r ~ SA4A3&4SS6S 4-44SSoa4S
Ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Eve Temple sat In her saddle and
surveyed the arid stretch Of sand and
sagebrush. There was hook Of bitter
disappointment In her blue eyes, and
her full red lower lip quivered, but
was Instantly sti1led by the sharp pres
sure Of her teeth.
"Thats right! Cry babyw she taunt-
Cd 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 q sand hole
Of q ranch just because It had an at
tractive name-Hidden Water. It II
hiddanI 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 eyes and
splashed on her hands.
"Rain from q 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 tall sun
burned young man In dusty khaki, a
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.
"Wel," she said sharply, resenting
his remark, II suppose you are looking
for a jobr
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 a
wide circle.
"Why look for work at Hidden Wa
terri she asked. "The water II 30 well
hidden that my sheep have died from
thirst and my cattle have wandered
away or have been run Of 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
Holmanr asked the stranger.
She nodded.
HE sold out to me-" said she drear-
ily. II don't know what to do. He
told me that when the rains came the
creek would fill up, but there hasn't
been a drop Of rain since I came"
'There won't be, either" he announc-
ed-"not enough to do any good"
II suppose l can shut up the place
and 90 home, back east, but there
Isn't any home left"
"You are not out here aloneY
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"
II believe can prove she Is wrong"
he said grimly.
"Howf"
"I'n tell you later, Miss Temple"
"Who are your 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
win try to help you" j
Eve laughed mirthfully now.
welcome to Hidden Water, Mr..
Lonsdale. The bunk house Is yours
alone. Shall I introduce you to Cousin
Hannah as the maker Of rain In waste
placesT
TELL her." he said deliberately, "that
am an expert of some sort, and II l
fail she viii tell you that am an ex-
pert liar"
"Come, then" said Eve. II 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, Ever" she asked.
"a cowboy looking for work. His
name IL John Lonsdale"
"Where Is he fromf Where are bis
referencesT
II didn't ask him"
"But, Eve, there isn't any work beFe
for him." protested Mrs. Fox.
HE Is an expert at detecting water.
He believes he can find the Hidden
Water, and
Hidden fddlesticksr' snorted Cous-
in Hannah. 1.-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
irate lady, "but some morning we will
wake up and find ourselves murdered
In our beds Then what win you
sayr
"I1l say you surely have q bit OF
irish blood In your New England
makeup" laughed Eve.
There was a discreet knock at the
back door. -.
Cousin Hannah answered 1t, for
even the Chinese cook had been dis
missed.
John Lonsdale delivered the basket
with all the dishes neatly washed.
'aThat was a mighty fine dinner,
Mrs. Fox" he said.
In spite Of her fears Cousin Hannah
was grattAed at the compliment rL
"Don't you want something morer
I che asked mildly.
.No, thank you. Please stell Nisl
Temple I'm going down to the creel
/ to start things." sss .. ~
A few hours later Eve mounted hel
pony and rode down to Dry creek
Lonsdale was nowhere In dsnt
slowly she rode up the dry bed OF tn
creek toward q clump OF cottonwood
and q heap Of rocks which had beer
The source Of the water which I haf
once filed the bed. ytss4
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