The Prescott daily news., 1920-06-10
R. F. D. By MILDRED WHITE.

addressed the dog at her feet. 'sHere we are dying of loneliness, Billy, and the incest, friendliest looking man living just down the road. Yet we uare not speak to him, or he to us. because we have not been introduced. In this wild who is likely to appear, l ask you, to introduce us? girl is mighty hard up for conversation Billy, when she has to exercise her own voice talking to a dog. Other wise l should not be certain but that had turned dumb. After father bringing me to this place, where he could rest his overwrought nerves, 1 now appear to be the only nerve irri- tant, so he hides himself away among the pines, responding only to my din ner bell"
 The dog, who had listened, his low ing, humid eyes searching the girls face, came to rest his head in sym pathy against her shoulder and her langh rang out like the joyous carol of a bird. "It isn't that I want to marry the nice man, you understand, or to have him make love to me, Billy. It's just that his log veranda looks so inviting, with it's chairs and magazines and the victrola in the cor her. Our own magazines are either delayed or gone astray, and I've read the last ones to shreds.
 Now let us put the saddle on Lassie. and be off to our one amusement-the exciting quest for mail at the distant post office.
 Billy, recognizing one single word, became At once excitedly alert, and the girl changed her chatter to a merry whistle as she saddled the slim pony and went picking her way down the narrow path through the growth.
 "Who is she?" the man asked of old Annie, who came in to do his chores. Old Annie didn't know.
 "A summer stranger" she thought, "prob1y."
 The summer stranger" advancing, wondered impatiently why in the world the nice man lay always lazily in his long wicker chair. Why didn't he move and stir about, as one of his athletic build might be expected to do? Then her face clouded in quick commandments to the mans chair stood a crutch. He was lame, then a cripple. Her heart beat faster as he sat Up and called to her. He was asking some favor, and if in remorse for her unkind criticism there was anything that she could do She reined in Lassie promptly and flashed at the man an entrancing smile.
 "You asked me-" she questioned.
 q wonder" he asked-his voice was pleasing-"if you are going down for the mail? And if so, could I ask you also to bring mine. I am-unable to go by myself, you see, and am expect inaaan important communication. You will pardon, hope" he finished, my boldness."
 'I shall he very glad to accommo- date you," the girl answered matter of-factly.
 Your name!
 "Dalton.' the man replied, Donald Dalton, and thank you very much"
 Billy had a difficult time keeping up with Lasse's heels after that. Some of her riders joyous spirit seemed to have entered into the pony's being; and when the girl later slipped from Lassie's saddle before the log veranda and bestowed a generous supply or husinesslike mail upon the recliner in the wicker chair her eyes were shln- ing and her cheeks aglow with the promise of adventure.
 "I am a civil engineer" the nice man told her. we are scouting around here to try to put our railroad through. I was so unfortunate Ill p,v scouting as to break my leg. Every day since then has been forty eiobt hours long. You" he smiled apologetically, "have been my one in' tarest. I wondered about your being in this desolate region you sec ne bastened to add, land how you got here"
 The girl laughed as she cuddieu tba cat in her arms. T love to be a r,ystervn she said. Tt is so unusual. Back home I'm so well known that am tiresome." "But you will tell me your name Dalton begged, "and allow me 10 in- vite vou. and your family, perhaps down occasionally to break my monotony.'
 "rve only part of a family" the girl
 e,,u,, renlied "and he is here just