New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-12-31
CHAPTER IlI-Continued.

'Of courSc-hut sit down now, any,
way. I'm sorry that S%nowbird isn't
here"
"SnOwbird is"
MY daughter. My boy, she can
make n biscuit! That's not her name,
at course, but we've always called her
that. She got tired of keeping house
and is working this summer. Poor
liill has to keep house for her, and
40 wonder he's eager to take the stock
down 10 the lower levels. | only wish
he hadn't brought 'em up this spring
at all; I've lost dozens from the
coyotes"
but n coyote can't kill cattle"
1T can II II has h%ydrophohla. n com
non thing in the varmInts this time of
wear. But as | say, Bill will take the
stock down ncXt season, and then
Snpwbird's work will be through. and
she'll come back here"
Then she's down in the yalley?"
Far from II. She's n mountain
sirl II n ever lived. Perhaps you
don't know the recent policy OF the
forest service to hire women who
they can be obtained. II was a policy
started In war times and kept up now
because it Is economical and efficient.
She and a girl from college have a
cabin not five miles from here on old
Iaild mountain, and they're doing look
out duty"
Dan wondered Intensely what look.
out duty might be-. "YOu see. Dan"
Iennox said in explanation. "the gov
eminent loses thousands Of dollars
every year by forest fire. A fire can
he slapped easily If ii is seer soon
after IL starts. But let II burn awhile.
in this dry season. and It's a terror-a
wall Of flame that races through the
forests and cnn hardly be stopped.
And maybe o don't ,calizc how
enormous this region is-litcrally hun.
drcds Of miles across. We're the last
outpoSt-thrre ale four cabins. If Won
a find them, In the first seventy
miles Lack to town. SO they have Ia
put lookouts on the high points. and
now they're coming 10 the use of air
planes 50 they can keep even n better
watch. Sn0wblrd and a girl friend
from college got Jobs this summer as
lookouts-all through the forest serv-
ice they are hiring women for the
work. They are more yigllant than
ucn. less inclined 10 take chances.
and work cheaper. These -wo girls
n cabin near a spring. and they
cook their own food. and are making
Is big wages In the mountains.
I'm rather hoping she'll drop over for
q few minutes tonight"
Good Lord-does she travel over
.hese hills in the darkness;"
The mountaineer laughed-a de-
lighted sound that came somewhat
.'uriously from the bearded lips Of the
stern. dark man. "nan, I'll swear she's
afraid of nothing that walks the face
IF the earth-and II isn't because she
had experience either. She's 4
lead shot with a pistol. for one thing.
physically strong. and every
muscle Is hard as nails. She used TO
ave Shag. tOo-the best dog in all
mountains. SheS n mountain
I tell you; whoever wins .ler has
rot 10 be able to tame herr" The
nountalneer laughed again.
The call TO supper came then. and |
,an got his first sight OF mountain I
God. There were potatoes. newly I
lug. mountain vegetables that were I
risp and cold. a steak Of peculiar
and a great bowl of purple Der G
les to be eaten with sugar and cream. I
appetite was not as a rule par
good But evidently the long
ide had affected him. He simply r
idn't have the moral courage to re- \
use when the elder Lennon heaped
Is plate. n
Good heavens. I can't eat all that" 4
e said. as il was passed to him. But n
he others laughed and told him to n
Ike heart. I
He took heart. IL was a singular h
hing. but at that first bite his sudden K
,nfidence In his g~ustatory ability al $
lost overwhelmed him. So he cut s
a bite Of the tender steak s
Ny half as generous as the bites that O