The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-14
CHAPTER L..
The Water-HoIe.

mesquite bushes. The naked earth,
where it showed between the clumps
of grass, was baked plaster hard. AL
though the sun was halfway down the
west, its glare remained untempered,
and the tantalizing shade of the sparse
mesquite was more of a trial than q
comfort to the lone woman who, refus-
ing its deceitful invitation, plodded
steadily over the waste. Stop, indeed,
she dared not. In spite of her fatigue,
regardless of the torture from feet and
limbs unused to walking, she must,
as she constantly assured herself, keep
going until strength failed. Somewhere
to the northward, perhaps mile, per-
haps league distant, lay the water
hole.
Desert travel was nothing new to
her; thirst and fatigue We're old &C
quaintances. She readjusted the strap
OF the empty water bag over her Shout
der and the loose cartridge belt at her
hip, then set her dusty feet down the
slope. The sun had grown red and
huge when at last in the hard-baked
earth she discovered fresh footprints.
She followed them gladly, encour-
others. A low bluff rose on her left,
and along its crest scattered Spanish
daggerS were raggedly siIhouetted
against the sky. She tried to run, but
her legs were heavy; she stumbled a
great deal, and her breath made
strange, distressing sounds as it issued
from her open lips. Rounding the
steep shoulder of the ridge, she has
tended down a declivity into a knot of
scrub oaks and ebony trees, then halt
ed, staring ahead of her. Nesting in
shallow, f1inty bowl was a pool of
water, and on its brink little fire was
burning.
1t was a tiny fire, overhung with a
blackened pot; the odOr of greasewood
and mesquite smoke was sharp. A
man, rising swiftly to his feet at the
first sound, was staring at the new
conner; he was as alert as any wild
thing. But the woman staggered di-
rectly toward the pond, seeing nothing
after the first glance except the water
She would have flung herself full
length upon the edge but the man
stepped forward and stayed her, then
placed a tin cup in her hand. She
mumbled something in answer to his
greeting and the hoarse, ravenlike
croak in her voice startled her; then
she drank, with trembling eagerness,
drenching the front of her dress. The
water was warm, but it was clean and
delicious.
Easy now. Take your time" said
the man, as he reflled the cup. ct
won't give OUT
She knelt and wet her face and neck.
Felt the strangers hands beneath her
arms, felt herself lifted to a more COM
| Portable position. Without asking per-
mission, the stranger unlaced first one,
then the other of her dusty boots,
seeming not to notice her weak at
tempt at resistance. Once he had
placed her bare feet in the water, she
forgot her resentment in the intense
relief.
The man left her seated in a col
lapsed, semicOnscious state, and went
| back to his fire. 1t was dark when for
the first time she turned her head to-
ward the camp fire and stared curious
" at the figure there. The appetizing
| odOr of brOiling bacon had drawn her
attention, and as if no move went I'M
noticed the man said, without lifting
his eyes:
Supper will be ready directly.
How'd you like your eggs-if we had
anyT"
He spoke with an unmistakable Tex
as drawl; the woman put him down at
once for a cowboy. Well back from
the fire he had arranged a seat for her.
using saddle blanket for a cover
| ing, and upon this she lowered herself
stiff1y.
st suppose you wonder how hap
pen to be here" she said.
'Now don't talk til you're rested,
miss. This coffee is strong enough to
walk on its hands, and I reckon about
two cups Of it IL rastle you into shape -
AS she raised the tin mug to her lips
he waved hand and smiled. Drink
heartyr' He set plate of bread and
bacon in her lap, then opened a glass
jar of jam.
The woman ate and drank slowly.
She was too tired to be hungry, and
meanwhile the young man squatted
upon his heels and watched her
| through the smoke from a husk ciga-
rette.
@Have you had your supper?" she
finally inquired.
..Who. me2 on, III eat with the
| help" He smiled, and when his fash
ing teeth showed white against his
leathery tan the woman decided he
vas not at all bad-lookiAg. BE was