Arizona republican., 1917-04-17

I and gauntlets tc make him more
 comfortable. With the touch of the steel as she takes the gauntlet into her hand loans expression sudden | ly changes. She looks with wide, wondering eyes at the gauntlet. Where, when and how Is she to feel | that strange touch of steel again? Joan's mother and father return to see their home almost demolished f by the recent raiders but are de- lighted to lind their cattle still un- harmed.
 Jacques d Are now promises Joan In marriage to Gaspard as reward for so braVely defending his cattle and protecting his daughter. Joan, ! however, pulls away from Gaspards attempted kiss. Gaspard, in spite of Jacques reassurance, Is nOf so sure that loans coldness is not due to
 the attractive young Englshman. lio wonders where Joan could have hiu- den him, knowing Erie to have been too badly wounded to escape. When he comes upon Fries gauntlet on tho floor of the COW shed he decides Eric
 may be hidden in the loft. but at
 this point old Jacques calls him to help in the garden, and he is not able to continue his search. And so seN eral spring days go on With Joan making secret visits to Erie with food, nursing him back to health. and guarding the hay loft from the curious Gaspard Eric finds that ne is losing his heart to the sweet young peasant
 girl who has saved his life, and Joan , not understanding, only knows that 1t is making her happier than any thing that ever happened to her, to see Erie daily gaining strength. When Eric asks Joan why she is 70 good to him she replies simply that she would do as much for any wounded soldier but when Erie asks slowly any soldier?" she finds .---- r unable to answer.
 -At the river one day, as Joan IS washing clothes, Gaspard approaches ! iii d bunch of field daisies which l.e p.esents pompousiy, suggestinx i1at .e time is at hand for Joan to set q. ir wedding day. Joan thank, n-hi Tor the daisies, which she tosse.. somewhat indifferently into her clothes basket, but responds that st q 1 is not marrying any one, nor is Gas pard able to obtain any other ansWer Instantly Gaspard understands-aer heart is with the detestable young Englishman. ,
 Stung with jealousy, he fAkes i Fries gauntlet from h is belt. and showing it to her, sneeringly sux-' gests that perhaps it would please her to have him tell her father where she has hidden its owner.
 Gaspard sees that his arrow has
 found its mark, but Joan looks him
 squarelv in the eyes and says that he
 can do exactly as he sees fit, that she
 is not afraid of him-as he seems to ] think
 After Joan has left, Gaspard Iooks l at the gauntlet. pondering Making
 up his mind that he will watch his. chance and find out if Joan hasi really concealed Erie in the loft. he 1, follows her. :.
 Joan goes to the shed to fetch
 Fries pitcher for fresh water un. aware that at a nearby tree Gaspard' is watching her. She puts down her basket to open the door and notices the forgotten. daisies. Joan starts to I, throw them away-remember Eric
 --hesltates. then decides to take them in to him and enters Inside she, climbs to the loft for Fries pitcher.
 Us sees the daisies. begs for one and Joan ahyly hands 1t to him.
 (To be conuDued) 7