Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-11-17

CHAPTER xVlI.-Continued.

cheerful greeting awOke Mrs. Strange
with jerk.
$50! You're feeling better, aren't
you?" the latter woman cried, heartily.
"Yes. How did / get here?" Dave
asked. II must have been right sick
and troublesome to you"
Paloma smiled and nodded. "Sick
Why, Dave, You frightened us nearly to
death You were clear out of your
head"
Mrs. Strange broke into his frown-
ing meditation to ask, "How long since
you had a nights sleep?"
81 Oh, the prosecutor at Browns
Vile amt let me alone q minute for a
week."
"Umph! thought so. You puzzled
that pill-roller, but doctors don't know
anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to
wake you up to find out what allied
you! I threatened to scald him If he
did"
II seem to remember talking q good
DEAL" Dave ventured. II reckon L
said lot of foolish things" He caught
the look that passed between his
nurses and it's significance distressed
him.
Mrs. Strange continued: "That's
how we guessed what your trouble
was, and that's why wouldn't let that
fool doctor disturb you. Now that
you've had sleep and are all right
again, I'm going home and change my
clothes. / haven't had them off for
two nights"
1.-TWO nights !" Dave stared in be-
! wilderment. Then he lamely apollo
gized for the trouble he had caused,
and tried to thank the women for their
kindness.
He was shaky when, an hour later,
he came downstairs for breakfast; but
otherwise he felt better than for many
days; and BlaZe's open delight at see
ing him did him as much good as the
\ food he ate.
Dave spent part Of the morning sun
ng himself on the porch reading the
lpers with their exciting news. Dur
e his absence Paloma had done her
est to spoil Montrosa, and among 9TH
er marks of favor had allowed her free
run of the yard, where the shade was
I Nool and the grass fine, and where de-
tcious tidbits were to be had from the
fitchen for the mere asking. In con-
sequence, Dave did not remain there
hn 1tconunroH
rosa signaled, then trotted toward him
/. with ears and tail lifted. Her delight
{ was open and extravagant; her well
: come was as enthusiastic as horse
could make 1t. Gone were her coquetry
and airs; she nOsed and nibbled Dave |;
she rubbed and rooted him with the
/ violence of battering-ram, and per-
mitted him to hug her and murmur
: words of love into her velvet ears. She
; snapped confidence for confidence,
TOO; and then, when he finally walked
back toward the house, she followed
closely, as If fearful that he might
Ngain desert her.
Phil Strange met the lovers as they
turned the corner of the porch, and
warmly shook Dawes hand. "Teeny-
my wife-told me you was better" he
began, $50 I beat it out here. hung
around all day yesterday, waiting to
see you, but you was batty."
IT was pretty SICK" Dave acknowl-
edged. "Mrs. Strange was mighty kind
to me-"
"Sick people get her goat. She's got
way with 'em and with animals, too.
Why, Rajah, the big python with our
show, took sick one year, and he'd have
died sure only for her. Same with a
lot of the other animals. She knows
more'n any vet ever saw"
Perhaps l needed veterinary in
stead of a DOCTOR" Dave smiled. II
guess I've got some horse blood in me.
See" Montrosa had thrust her head
under his arm and was waiting for
him to scratch her ears.
well, | brought you some mail"
Strange fumbled In his pocket for a
small bundle of letters, explaining:
Blaze gave me these for you as
passed the post Office"
Dave took the letters with word of
thanks, and thrust them carelessly in
to his pocket. what seems to be the
trouble?" he inquired
you remember ott last talk? Well,
them Mexicans havE got me ratified.
I've been trying everywhere to locate
you. If you hadn't come home I'd have
gone to the prosecuting attorney, or
somebody"
"Then you've learned something
morer'
Phil nodded, and his saIlow face
puckered with Apprehension. Rosa
Morales has been to see me regular"
Dave passed an uncertain hand over
his forehead. Tin not in very good
shape to tackle new proposition, but
what is it,"
We've got to get Mrs. Austin away
from here"
'We? Why"
"f we don't they'll steal her"
"Steal her?' Dawes amazepaent was
patent. ARE you crazy