The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-10-18
Copyrsghf By Harper q Brothers

wondering scrutiny, interrupted him
with a cry. Rushing forward, she took
the edge of Alaire's skirt In her hands
and kissed 1t.
God be praised! A miraclel" she
exclaimed. 'Jusn, don't you see? II Is
the beautiful sonora for whom we pray
every night of our lives. On your knees,
shameless one 1t is she who delivered
you from the prison"
Juan stared ~unbelievingly, then his
face changed; his teeth flashed in a
smile. and, sweeping his hat from his
head, he, too. approached Alaire.
'It is! Sonora, / am Juan Garcia,
whom you saved, and this Is Inez," he
declared. Heaven bless you and for
give me-"
"Now i know you" Alaire laughed,
and slipped down from her saddle.
This is a happy meeting. Sol You
live here, and that was little Juan who
ran away az IL we we're going TO eat
him. Well, we are hungry, but not
hungry enough to devour Juanito."
Turning to her companions, she ex-
planned the circumstances of her first
meeting with these good people, and as
she talked the Garcias broke in Joy
fully, adding their own sccoun of her
goodness.
We've fallen among friends" Alaire
told Dave and Father O'Malley. "They
will let us rest here, l am sure"
IT..I.n o-I x.f%o 5000
voice. In fact, they were overjoyed at
an opportunity of serving her; and lit
tie Juan. his suspicious partially al
layed, issued from hiding and waddled
forward to take part in the welcome.
Shamefacedly the elder Garcia ex-
planned his inhospltable reception of
the travellers. "We hear the gringos
are coming to kill US and take our
farms. Everybody is badly frightened.
We are driving our herds away and
big 0bispo ranch our people shot two
Americans and burned some of their
houses. They intend to kill all the
Americans they find, so you'd better be
careful. Just now a fellow rode up
shouting that you were coming, but of
course / didn't know"
"Yes, of course We're trying to
reach the border Father o'l!s!ley told
him. .Will Tou hide US here until we
can 20 onY"
Juan curtsied respectfully to the
priest. my house is yours, father"
Can you take care of our horses,
too. and-give us a place TO sleep?'
Dave asked. HIS eyes were heavy he
had been almost constantly in the sad
die since leaving Jonesville, and now
could hardly keep himself awake.
"Trust me-" the Mexican assured
them. confidently. IF somebody comes
I'll send them away. Oh. / can lie with
the best of them
The Garcias were not ordinary peo-
pie, and they lived in rather good cir
cumstances for country folk. There
were three rooms to their little house,
all Of which were reasonably clean.
The food that IneZ 80. before her
guests. too, was excellent If scanty.
Juanito. taking cue from his parents,
flung himself whole-heartedly into the
task Of entertainment, and since Alaire
met his advances halfway he began,
before long, to look upon her with par
ticular favor. Once they had thorough
ly made friends, he showered her with
the most fiattering attentions. His
shyness, 1t seemed, was but a pretense
lat heart he was a bold and enterpris-
ing fellow-and so, as a mark OF his
admiration, he presented her with all
his personal treasures. First lie
fetched and laid I'm her lap q cigar-box
wagon with wooden wheels-evidently
the kand;wcrS OF his father. Then he
gave her. n by one, a highly priced
blue bottle. a rusty Mexican spur. and
the ruins Of what had been a splendid
clasp-knife. There were no blades In
the knife, but he showed her how to
peep through q tiny hole in the handle
where was concealed the picture of Q
dashing Spanish bull-fghter. The ap
probation which these gifts evoked In
toxicated the little man and reused hin
to = very madness OF generosity. HI
battered away and returned shortly
staggering and grunting under thu
weight OF another and a still greater
offering. 1t was a dog-a patient
hungry dog with very little hair. Tbs
animal was alive with feas--ii
scratched absent-mindedly with ons
hind paw. even while Juanito stranglet
1t against his naked breast-but 1t wal
the apple OF its owners eye, and wher
Inez unfeelingly banished 1t from tn,
house Juanito began to squall Justify
Nor could he be conciliated until Alair'
took him upon her knee and told hin
about another boy, Of precisely his owl
age and size. who planted a magic bear
In his mothers dooryard. which grew
up and up until 1t reached clear to tn,
sky, where a giant lived. Junnito Gar
ella had heard the like. He wa,
spellbound with delight; he held hi,
breath In ecstasy; only his toes moved
and they wriggled like ten fat, brown
tadpoles.
In the midst Of this recital Carol,
senior appeared In the door with 1
warning.
sConceal yourselves" he said. quick