The Huttig news., 1917-04-14

"DiablO He has a way with horses hasn't he?" Benito grinned. Now, that Montrosa is wilder than deer.'
 The giant herd milled and eddied. 1 revolving like vast pool ot deep swift water. The bulls were quarrel some. the steers were stubborn, anG the wet cows were distracted. in and out of this confusion the cowboys rode following the animals selected for sep aration, forcing them out through dust and brush, until they had joined the smaller herd of choice animals which were 10 remain on the ranch. 1t was swift, sweaty. exhausting work, the kind these Mexcans loved. for It was not only spectacular put held an amount of danger. Dave Law made himself one of them.
 Alaire sat her horse in the heart ot the crowdng herd and watched the Ranger. Good riding she was accus. toned to. But Law seemed to inspire his mount In spite of the mans un- usual size. he rode like feather: ne was grace and life and youth nersoui- jed. Now he sat as erect in his saddle as q SWayin@ reed agaIn he stretched himself out like whipiash. Once lie had begun the work he would not stop.
 All that afternoon the cowboys abored, and toward sundown the de pleted herd WAS driven to the water. Then through the cool twilight came the drive to the next pasture, and here the patience of the cowboys was taxed to the utmost, for as the stronger mem bers of the herd forged ahead, the Wearied, worried littlest members fell behind. But now these swarthy, dare devil riders were as gentle as women; they urged the tiny youngsters onward with harmless switches or with pain less blows from loese-eoied riatas; they picked them up in their arms and rode with them.
 Once through the gate and safe in side the restraining pasture fence, the herd was allowed to settle down. Then began a patient search by outraged mothers, series of mournful quests that were destined to continue far into the night; endless nosings and sniffings dfiu taItSSlnSS, NllINll Abuld httD uH until each COW had found her own, until each calf was putting it's head against maternal ribs and gaining that consolation which it eraved.
 A new moon was swinging in the sky as Alaire and Dave rode back toward Las Palmas. How or when Alairc Austin came to feel that this maA loved her she never knew. Ger tainly she knew tonight. and, strange to say, the knowledge did not disturb her. Alaire had been repelled by Luis LOngorio's evident love for her, but a similar emotion in this mans breast had quite the opposite effect. She was eager for friendship, hungry for affec- ton, starved for that worship which every woman lives upon. Having wholesome confidence in her own strength of character, and complete faith in Laws sense of honor, she was neither alarmed nor offended.
 For the first time in years she al- lowed her intimate thoughts free eX- pression and spoke of her hopes, her interests and her efforts; under the spell of the moonlight, she even con iidcd something about those dreams that kept her company and robbed her world of it's sordidness. Dave Law discovered that she lived in q fanciftl land of unreaities. and the glimpse he gained of it was delightful.
 Supper was waiting when they ar rived at Las Palmas, and Dolores an- nounced that "Young Ed' had tele- phoned from the Lewis ranch that he would not be home. Yielding to q sud den impulse, Alaire said to her com panion:
 You must dine with me. Dolores will show you to a room. l will be ready in half an hour
 The Austin ranchhouSe offered contrast to the majority of Texas country homes Not for many Nears had Dave Law been q guest amid such surroundings, and he began to feel more and more out of place. With growing discomfort. he realized that the mistress of this residence was the richest woman in all this part of Tex as, and that he WAS little better than a tramp. Alaire knew how tp be a gracious and winning hostess; of course she did not appear to notice her guests embarrassment. She had rather welcomed the thought that this man cared for her, and yet, had she deliberately planned to dampen his feeling she could hardly have succeed ed better than by showing him the wide disparity in their lives and Situa- tions Date was dismayed; he felt very poor and ridiculous. Alaire was no longer the woman he had ridden with through the solitudes: her very friendliness seemed to be a cendescen- sion
 He did not finger long after th " had dined for he wished to be alone, where he could reach an understanding with himself On the steps he waited just q moment for Alaire to mention if she chose that subject which they