Evening star., 1918-02-17
90 RAINBOW'S END

into her tent and Branch reluctantly
turned away.
Next he bore the infant to Judson and
OReflly in turn; but both gruny re-
fused to assume the least responsibility
for it. In the matter of advice concern
ing it's welfare. however, tney were
more obliging. They were Wllilng 70
discuss the theory of child rearing with
him as long as he would listen. but
their advice merely caused him to glare
baleful1y and to curse them. NOT d1o
he regard it as mark OF friendship on
their part when they collected an au-
dience that evening to watch him milk
the cow-a procedure, by the way, not
devoid Of excitement and hazard. inas-
much as Branch's knowledge of cows
was even more theoretical than his
Leslie had begun by this time
to realize that there existed a
general conspiracy against him: he
met it with sullen resentment. He
Spanish language, however. for
thousand epithets and insults clam
ored for translation.
Now there are cows which an ANA
teur can milk. and there are other
kinds. This particular COW was shy,
apprehensive. peevish: Branch's un-
practiced fumbling irritated her. Be
ing herself a nomad of the savannas.
she was accustomed to firm, masterful
men. therefore when Leslie attempted
courteously, apologetically, to separate
her from her milk she turned and
hooked him.
Ell Demonio's audience. who had been
looking on with rapt attention. ap-
was unwontedly meek. He acknowl-
edged his total inexperience. and beg
ged his friends, almost politely, to call
for n substitute.
1rptV md
Cubans don't know any more about
cows than you do"
O'Reiny agreed, They're good bull
fighters. but they can't milk
rage: he was trembling. You think
you're damned funny. don't you:
You're having a jubilee with me. Well.
I'm game. I'll go through with it. II
you'll hold her I'll milk her. I'll milk
her till she hollers"
Obligingly. O'Reilly took the animal
by the horns and Judson laid hold Of
stretch her tight" Leslie command
ed Don't give her an inch of slack.
or Til quit" When his friends had
braced themselves he moved in toward
the COW once more, but this time from
the opposite quarter. Noting the di-
rection of his approach. the onlookers
gave vent to low murmur of expect
ancy. They drew closer.
Strangely enough the animal stood
quiet for a time-lost in amazement.
perhaps-and Leslie managed to cover
the bottom of his big tin cup with
milk. But at last the outrage proved
too much for her: she slowly lifted
one hind foot and poised 1t jerkily.
She seemed to consider the next move
for moment: then she kicked forward
and sent Branch flying.
Can you beat that?- OReilly ex-
"why. she walloped you with the back
of her hand"
ment. Most cows are left-handed,"
side''
Branch dried the milk from his face.
then in a shaking voice cried: "Have
good time with me. It's your last
chance"
It seemed for while that the enter
prise was doomed to failure; but at
last pint or more of milk was Sc
dilute with warm water from a nearby
camp fire. Even then, however, his
difficulties were not over. He had sup
posed than any baby knew enough to
discover his mistake. Having long
since given up the hope Of any active
assistance from his audience. he dog
gedly set to work to fashion nursing
bottle. He succeeded In due time. after
making use Of a flask. the stem of an
unused cigarette holder and a hand
kerchief.
When he finally took his seat and
began awkwardly coaxing the fretful
child to drink. the cuhans voiced their
appreciation Of the picture. They were
courteous: they did not laugh; never
theless. the sight of their eccentric.
irascible, rebellious FL Demonio tame
ly nursing child in the f1relight filled
them with luxurious. soul-satisfying
enjoyment
O'Reilly was up at daylight to offer
his services in caring for Estaban Va
roma, but Norine declined them.
His fever is down a little and he
has taken some nourishment," she re-
ported. THAT food you boys risked
your silly lives for may come in handy.
after all.
's dare say he won't be able to talk
to me today?" O'Reilly ventured.
Not today, nor for many days. I'm
afraid"
IF you don't mind, then. I'll hang
he told her, wistfully. He might drop
a word about Rosa
ITO be sure. So far he's scarcely
mentioned her. I can't understand
Ruiz tells me it's all jumbled and quite
uninteligible- How is Leslie's baby this
morning?'
'toh. it passed q. good night. It was
awake and had ordered breakfast when
got up. Leslie was making a fire to
scald out its bottle. He says he didn't
close his eyes all night"
Poor fellow! I'm going to help him."
Norine declared.
please don't Lopez wants to teach
him a lesson, and this is the best thing
that could possibly have happened We
have told him that there's no chance Of
returning the baby. and he thinks he's
elected to keep it Indefinitely. As a
matter of fact, Jacket is going to take
letter to the comandante at San An
tonic this morning. advising him that
send for it at once"
isn't that risky" Norine INQUIRED.
Wont the comandante attack US if he
learns where we are?
Lopez doesn't think So Those
Spaniards are usually pretty scrupulous
on points of honor. There was some
difficulty in getting a messenger. but
Jacket volunteered. He volunteers for
anything. that boy. They wouldn't be
likely to hurt a kid like him. If they
should. why, we have the baby, you
see."
Although Norine had pretended to
wash heS hands of all responsibility for
Branch's little charge, she was by no
means so inhuman as she appeared
During the day she kept a jealous eve
upon it, and especially upon its diet.
Fortunately for all concerned, il was
a good -natured child: SO long as its
stomach was full it was eontented n
slept good deal. and what time il was
awake it sucked its fist and suffered
itself to be variously entertained by
the men. There were. of course, a num-
Der of fellows who could see no humor
at all in FL Demonio's plight, nor any
reason for adding to his embarrass.
mentS. These came TO his a i'll IN p,n,n.