The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-02-12

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"D'you Turn Them Calves Out Into
the Corral7"
She worries about every little thing
since daddy died. l ought to have gone
before-or l oughtn't to have come.
But she was worrying about you, Mar
thy. She hadn't seen or heard of you
for a month, and she was afraid you
might be sick or something. Why
don't you get some one to stay with
you? think you ought to-" She look
ed toward the door, which Jase had
closed upon his departure. IF Jase
should-get sick or anything
"Jase amt goin' to git SICK" Mar
thy retorted glumly. "Yuh don't want
to let him worry yuh, Billy Louise. If
Id worried every time be yowled
around about being sick I'd be dead or
crazy by now. / dunno but maybe
I'll have somebody to help with the
work, though" she added after a pause.
during which she had swiped the dish
rag around the sides of the pan nee
or twice and had opened the door and
thrown the water out beyond the door
step like the sloyen she was. L got a
nephew thai wants TO come out. He's
been in a bank, but he's quit and wants
to git on to a ranch. / dunno but I'll
have him come in the spring"
DO" urged Billy Louise, perfectly
unconscious of the ~potentialities of the
future. II hate to think of you two
down here alone. l don't suppose any
one ever comes down here except me
and that isn't often"
"Nobody's got any call to come
down." said Marthy stolidly. 'They
sure amt going to come for our COM
p'ny, and there amt nothing else to
bring 'em."
well, there aren't nan to come,
you know laughed Billy Louise, shak-
ing out the dish towel and spreading
it over two nails, as she did at home.
Pm your nearest neighbor, and I've
got six miles to ride-against the wind
at that. / think I'd better start. We've
got a half breed doing chores for us,
but he has to be looked after or he
neglects things. I'll not get another
chance TO come very soon, I'm afraid.
Mommie hates to have me ride around
much in the winter. You send for that
nephew right away, why don't you,
Marthy?" 1t was like Billy Louise to
mix command and entreaty together.
Really, l don't think Jase looks a bit
Well"
"A good strong steepin' OF sage IL
fix him all right, only he amt sick, as
| see. You take this shawl"
Billy Louise refused the shawl and
ran down the twisted path fringed
with long. reaching fingers of the bare
berry bushes. At the stable she stop
ped for an aimless dialogue with Jase
and then rode away, past the orchard
whose l~eatiess branches gave glimpses
of the low. sod rooted cabin, with
Marthy standing rather disconsolately
on the rough doorstep watching her go.
Blue was climbing steadily out OF
the gorge, twitching an ear backward
with fiatterfng attention whenever his
lady spoke. The horse went on, calm
ly stepping over this rock and around
that as if it were the simplest thing In
the world to find sure footing and car
ry his lady smoothly up that trail. He
threw up his head so suddenly that
Billy Louise was startled out of her
aimless dreamings and pointed nose
and ears toward the little creek bot
tom above, where Marthy had lighted
her campfire long and long ago.
A few steps farther and Blue stop
ped short in the trail to look and lis
ten. Billy Louise could see the nerv-
GUS twitchings of his muscles under
the skin of neck and shoulders, and she
smiled to herself. Nothing could ever
come upon her when she rode
alone so long as she rode Blue. A
hunting dog was not more keenly alive
to his surroundings.
$50 on, Blue she commanded after
a minute. IF it's a bear or anything
like that you a make a run for it;
If it's a wolf I'll shoot it. You needn't
stand here all night, anyway"
Blue went on, u from behind the
willow growth that hid the open. He
returned to his calm, picking a smooth
trail through the scattered rocks and
tiny washouts. 1t was the girls turn
to stare and speculate. She did not
know this horseman who sat negligent
ly In the saddle and looked up at the