The Huttig news., 1917-03-03


 "Sayt Frs my favorite form Of ex- ercise." Laws b.ue-gray eyes were ex- pressonless, his face was bland. "Why?'
 ''I have a great many books at Las Palmas. You might enjoy some of them"
 "Now that's nice of you, maam. Mebbe I'll look into this cattle-stealln' i'll your neighborhood, and if I do I'll sure come borrowin'"
 "Oh, I'll send you boxful when I get back" said Alaire, and Dave thanked her hnmbly.
 Later. when he went to move his mare into shady spot, the Ranger chuckied and slapped his thigh with his hat. Bessie Belle, we're going to improve our minds" he said aloud. We're going to be literary and read Pilgrims Progress and Alice in Wonderland I bet we'll enjoy 'em, eh? But-doggone She's nice lady, and your coat is just the same color IS her hair"
 Where the shade was densest and the breeze played most freely, there Dave fixed a comfortable couch for his guest, and during the heat of the fore noon she dozed But one cannot sleep well with a tropic sun in the heavens and since there was really nothing for her to do until the heat abated, Alaire, when she awoke, obliged the Ranger to amuse her.
 AS the morning progressed Law proved himself ar interesting compan- ion, and in spite of the discomforts of the situation the hours slipped rap idly. Luncheon was disagreeable meal, eaten while the arroyo baked and the heat devils danced on the hills; but the unpleasantness was of brief duration, and Law always man. aged to banish boredom. Nor did he seem to waste a thought upon the na- tufe of that grim business which brought him to this place. Quite the contrary, in the afternoon he put his mare through her tricks for Alaire's edification, and gossiped idly of what ever interested his guest.
 Then as the sun edged to the west and Mrs. Austin became restless he Saddled Bessie Belle and led her down the gulch into q safer covert. Return ing. he carefully obliterated all traces of the camp. He watered the ashes of the fire, gathered up the telltale scraps of paper and fragments of food, and then when the place suited him fell to examining his rifle.
 Alaire watched him with interest. what shall I do?''
 You just pick out good cover be- yond the water hole and stay there, ma'am. It may be long wait, for something may have happened. If so, we'll have to lie close. And don't wor- " yourself none, ma'am; he won't make no trouble.'
 With the sunset the water hole lay sleeping.
 Alaire's retreat was far from com- | fortable; there was an ants. nest some where near her and she thought of moving; but suddenly her breath 1 caught and her heart jumped uncon- troilably. She crouched lower for di- rectly opposite her position, and out lined against the sky where the sharp ridge cut 1t, was the figure of mounted man. She was conscious that 2 keen and hostile pair of eyes was searching the coverts surrounding the charco.
 Then, as silently as it had appeared, the apparition vanished beyond the ridge. Alaire lay close, as she had been directed, praying that the horse man had been warned but shortly she heard again the rustic of stiff branches, and out into the opening rode ] Mexican. He was astride wiry gray pony, and in the strong twilight Alaire could see his every feature-the swarthy clseeks, the rowing eyes be- heath the black felt hat. A carbine lay across his saddle horn, a lariat was coiled beside his leg, cartridge