Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-05-31

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 leafiess branches gave gllmpses
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 fattering attention whenever his
lady spoke. The horse went on, calm
~ stepping over this rock and around
that al II II were the simplest thing In
the world 10 find sure footing and car
~ bis lady smoothly up that tran. 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 twitchlngs OF his muscles under
the skin Of neck and shoulders. and SHE
smiled TO herself. Nothing could ever
come upon her unaware when she rode
alone so long ~ she rode Blue. A
hunting dog was not more keenly alive
to his surroundings.
go on, Blue" she commanded after
a minute. "If it's a bear or anything
like that you can make a run for Il;
II it's a wolf I'll shoot II. You needn't
stand here all night. anyway"
nl..- ..s.. =. .saN NaAwa hAANuN A.
willow growth that hid the open. He
returned to his calm. picking n smooth
traii through the scattered rocks and
tiny %washouts. II 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
cedar grown blum beyond while his
horse stood knee deep In the little
stream. She did not know him, and
there were not 80 many travellers In
the land that strangers were a matter
Of indifference.
Blue welcomed the horse with a dem
ocratic nicker and went forward brisk
iy. And the rider turned his head,
eyed the girl sharply as she came W
and nodded a cursory greeting. His
horse lifted It's head to look, decided
that II wanted another swallow or two
and lowered its muzzle again to the
water.
Billy Louise could not form any opIn
ion Of the mans age or personality. FOL
, he was encased In n wolfskln Goa
which covered him completely from
hat brim to ankles. She got an impress
!. al,s, - N NhNa Aank faan aud Al uhuNt
/. glance from eyes that seemed darl
also. There was 0 thin, high nose, ant
beyond that Billy Louise did not look
II she had the mouth must certainly
have reassured her somewhat.
Blue stepped nonchalantly down int,
: the stream beside the strange hors,
l and went across without stopping h
Q drink. The strange horse moved OF
also, as II that were the natural thin
. to do-which II was, since chance sen
1 them travelling the same trail. Bill.
{ Louise set her teeth together with tn
a queer little vicious click that had al
ways been her habit when she Eel
Q thwarted and constrained 10 yield /
Q circumstances and Strengthened hersel
In the saddle.
"Looks like a storm" the fur coate
one observed. with a perfectly tram
d parent attempt to tighten the avn
wardness.
a Billy Louise tilted her chin upwar
g and gaEed at the gray sweep Of cloud
- moving Hullenly toward the mountain
at her back. She glanced at the ma
and caught him looking intently at he
y face.
lie did not look away immediatel,
o as he should have done, and Billy LOT
Use felt a little heat wave OF emba
: rassment, emphasized by resentment.
Are you going fart" he queried
the same tone he had employed befor
"six miles," she answered shortl
though she tried to be decently civil.
10 ave about eighteen" he sal
Looks like we1l both get caught OF
q. In a blizzard"
Certainly he had a pleasant enoup
voice, and, after all, Il was not h
fault that he happened 10 be at Il
70 crossing when she rode out OF Il
ID gorge. Billy Louise, In common Ju
70 tice. laid aside her resentment N
looked at him with a hint OF a sml
ie al the corners OF her lips.
pr THAT'S what we have 10 expect VIII,
d. we travel In this country In the wi
I'd ter" she replied. Eighteen miles W
At take you long after dark"
n, "well. ] was sort Of figuring ON pu