The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-07-12

vile, n constant menace to his good
name, but to allow her access to his
own home was unthlnkuble. Sooner
or later they were bound To meet, and
then Pnlomn would learn the disgrace
rul truth-ycs, and the whole neigh.
borhood would likewise know his
shame. In fancy, Blaze saw his rep.
utation torn to shrcds and himself cx.
posed to the gibes OF the people who
vcnerntcd him. He would become u
scandal among men, an ofense To re-
spectacle women /; children would shun
him. Blaze could not bear to think
of the consequences, for he vas very
fond OF the women and children of
Jonesville. He rose from his ham.
mock and tiptoed down the porch into
the kitchen, from which point Of Sc.
curity he called loudly for his daugh.
ter.
Alarmed Mt his tone, Palomn came
running. "What Is the matterf" she
asked, quickly.
Get her out !" Blaze cried, ~savagely.
sect shed Of her"
"Her? Whoy'
THAT varmint."
Father. what ails your"
"Nothin' ails me. but I don't want
that caterpillar crawlin' around m
premises. | don't like her"
paloma regarded her parent curl.
ously. How do you know you don't
like her when you've never g her."
'Oh, I've seen her. ull ! want to :
and ! heuri her tnlkin' to you just now.
l won't stand for nobody tellin' YOU
bad stories"
Palomn snlckered. 1.-THE idea! She
doesn't"
Get her out, and keep her out"
Blaze rumbled. "She amt right she
n~in't-humun. Why, what d'you rcck.
on l saw her do, the other day? Makes
me shiver now. You remember that
big bull-snake that lives under the
barn, the one I've been layin' for?
Well. you won't believe me. but him
and her are friends. Fact! l saw
her pick him up and play with him.
Who-eel The goosc-tlesh popped out
on me till II busted the buttons of my
vest. She amt my kind OF people,
Taloma. Strange amt no name for
her no, sir! That woman's dam near
peculiar"
Paloma remained unmovcd. 81
thought you knew. She used to be u
snnke-charmer."
"A-what?" There was no doubt
about 1t. Blaze's hair lifted. He
blinked through his big spectacles he
paved the air freely with his bands.
"How can you let her touch you? I
couldn't. I'll bet she carries q pocket
full of dried toads and-and keeps live
lizards in her hair. l knew an old voo-
doc woman that ate ~cOckroaches. Get
shed Of her, Paloma, and we'll fumi-
gate the house"
At that moment Mrs. Strange herself
opened the kitchen door To inquire, us
anything wrong?" Misleading Blaze's
expression for one of pain, she ex-
claimed: Mercy! Now, what have
you done 10 yUurself?"
But the object OF her sollcitude
backed away, making peculiar clucking
sounds deep in his throat. Paloma
was saying:
"Thls is my father, Mrs. Strange.
You and he have never happened TO
meet before"
"Why, yes we have! I know you"
the seamstress exclaimed. Then II puz-
zled light fickered in her black eyes.
Seems TO me we've met somewhere,
but-Tve met so many people" She
extended her hand, and Blaze took
it as II expecting to find 1t cold and
, scaly. He muttered something unin.
|, telliglblc. I've been dying to see you
, she told him, land thank you for Civ
/, ing me Paloma's work. l love you
both for It,"
I Blaze was immensely relieved that
r this dreaded crisis had come and gone
, but wishing 10 make assurance dOubly
sure, he contorted his features into q
smile the like of which his daughter
I had never seen, and in u disguised
: voice inquired, "Now where do yor
). reckon you ever saw me?"
The seamstrcss shook her head. 90
don't know. but I'll place yuI before
long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren'
hurt. From the way you called pnlom'
o | thought you were. I'm handy arount
sick people, so /"
Listen! !" Paloma interrupted
There's someone at the front door.
She left the room; Blaze was edgini
after her when he heard her utter
stiled scream and call his name.
Now Paloma was not the kind O
girl TO scream without cause, and he
cry brought Blaze TO the front OF tn
{ house at n u But what he saw Their
" treasured him moInentarily; nothin
was In sight more alarming than on
u OF the depot hacks, In the rear seat O
which was huddled he figure Of
~ man. Paloma was flying down the wal
a toward the gate, and Phil Strange wa
awaiting on the porch. As Blaze fun
himself into view the latter exclaimed
m II brought him straight here, MI
Jones, cause ! knew you was his hes
re friend"
r. "Who7 Who Is III"
o. "Dave Law. He must have come l