The Raymer enterprise., 1917-08-23
0D REX BEACFi
CHAPTER xvll-contlnusd.

CHAPTER xvli-continued
-f7-
A little later Paloma, pale and heavy.
eyed, stole into the room. and Dawes
cheerful greeting awoke Mrs. Strange
with jerk.
$50! You're feeling better. aren't
Toul" the latter woman cried, heartily
Yes. How did I get herey' 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 nights sleep?"
IL Oh, the prosecutor at Browns.
vile amt let me alone a minute for q
week."
"Umph! l thought 90. 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 II he
did"
II seem to remember talking a good
DEAL" Dave ventured. u reckon +
said lot Of foolish things He caught
the leok that passed between his
nurses and Its significance distressed
him.
Mrs. Strange continued: "That's
how we guessed what your trouble
was, and that's why l wouldn't let that
fool doctor disturb you. Now that
you've had a sleep and are all righ,
again, I'm going home and change my
clothes. l haven't had them of fol
two nights"
1.-TWO nlghtsw Dave stared in be
wlderment. Then he lamely apollo
gized for the trouble he had caused
and tried to thank the women for theiI
kindness.
He was shaky when. an hour later
he came downstairs for breakfast; buI
otherwise he felt better than for many
days; and Blaze's open delight at see
ing him did him as much good as thu
food he ate.
Dave spent part of the morning sun
ming himself on the porch, reading tht
papers with their exciting news. Dur
Ing his absence Paloma had done hel
best to spoil Montrosa, and among 9th
er marks of favor had allowed her free
run OF the yard, where the shade was
cool and the grass fine, and where de
iicious tidbits were to be had from the
kitchen for the mere asking. In con
sequence, Dave did not remain ther(
long until he was discovered. Mont
rosa signaled, then trotted toward him
with ears and tall lifted. Her delight
was open and extrayagant; her wei
come was as enthusiastic as a horse
could make 1t. Gone were her coquetry
and airs: she nosed and nibbled Dave
sha rubbed and rooted him with the
violence Of battering-ram, and per
mitted him to hug her and murmul
words Of love into her velvet ears. Shit
swapped confidence for confidence
too: and then, when he finally walked
back toward the house, she followed
closely, as IL fearful that he nigh,
again desert her.
Phil Strange met the lovers as they
tt,r hn nf thu ond
warmly shook Dawes hand. 'sTeeny-
my wife-told me you was better" he
began. so beat 1t out here. hung
around all day yesterday, waiting t6
see you, but you was bstty."
II was pretty sick" Dave acknowl
edged. "AIrs. Strange was mighty kind
to me-"
"Sick people get her goat. She's got
4 way with 'em and with animals. too
Why. Rajah. the big python with oui
show. took sick one year, and he'd have
died sure only for her. Same with 9
lot Of the other animals. She knows
more'n any vet ever saw
Perhaps / needed veterinary In
stead Of a DOCTOR" Dave smiled. y
guess I've got some horse blood In me
Seer' Montrosa had thrust her head
under his arm and was waiting fol-
him to scratch her ears.
swell, | brought you some mail,
Strange fumbled In his pocket for q
small bundle of letters, explaining
"Blazet+<-le me these for you as
passed ant post Office"
Dave took the letters with word Of
thanks and thrust them carelessly In
10 his pocket. "What seems to be the
Tonblei" he inquired.
"You remember our last talk? Well
them Mexicans have got me ratified
I've been trying everywhere to locate
you. II you hadn't come home I'd have
gone to the prosecuting attorney, OF
somebody"
"Then you've learned something
nore?"
Phil nodded, and his sallow face
puckered with apprehension. Rosa
Morales has been to see me regular"
Dave passed an uncertain hand over
his forehead. "Tm not in very good
shape to tackle new proposition, but
what Is it?'
We've got to get Mrs. Austin away
from here"
xxrs.-.ats