The Tomahawk., 1920-06-03

ing.
Rain was pouring. Mazda stood on
the platform, while several gloomy
citizens surveyed her, and wondered II
the mud-bespattered f1ivver standing
in the road could be for her. She al
most hoped it wasn't, so she would
have a good excuse to get on the next
train and let Bears Neck slide out
Of her life.
But a young man attired IN plue
shirt, khaki trousers, puttees ana
sombrero, got out of the vibrating ma
chine, made a spring through the
sheets of rain to the protection OF the
platform and approached Mazda.
you see I'm right on the job" ne
said, smiling and grasping her hand
"I'm a regular nemesis"
The young man was, of course, Joe
Fargo. Mazda was not as much sur
prised as she would have been had
she not known Of the apparent coin
cidence of Joe's coming West recently
and her father hiring new ranch
manager who was young.
"There is not IN umbrella at tho
ranch" he apologlzed, land the store
keepers don't know what they are.
Wen have to make break for it.
Mazda came near being drenched,
but it was warm rain and the effects
were not particularly uncomfortable.
Soon they were winding their way
along a mountain road. Joe explained
that the ranch was not on top OF the
mountain, but was on the other side
Of ridge, and this was a short cut.
Instead of diminishing the rain In
creased. The side curtains prevented
it from entering the car in any guam
tity, but Joe found difficulty in max
ing his way owing to the constant
swirl of water in the road ahead.
They were going along at a fairly
rapid gate between two high stone en-
banl1ments when Joe suddenly pulled
back the emergency brake.
"Snake bridge has washed away"
he announced. "Now We'll have to
back up about mile, because we
can't turn here"
But the car had not made much prog
ress rearward when Joe again stop
ped and turned to Mazda with help
less look.
"Now we are up against it for fair"
he said dolefully. ''The bridge in
front has washed away and 81 big
boulder has blocked the road behind
us-and we can't possibly climb over
these stone wallis"
Mazda turned and peered through
the muddy isinglass window. Sure
enough, a mammoth rock had lodged
between the walls completely block
ing the road. The prospect was not
inviting, but she was smiling when
she looked up into Joe's gloomy
countenance.
"Oh, well, it might have been
worse. If that rock had hit us"
1.-THE same little optimist," said Joe.
II don't know but that you are right
at that. l can see only one thing to
do, and that is to sit right here until
the rain lets up-if it ever does.'
But the rain apparently had no
such intention at present, and the
gathering shadows Of evening found
them still stalled in the road, while
water pelted the car from all sides.
Mazda was feeling sharp pangs OF
hunger. She had not eaten on the
train in the morning. intending to
make up for it when she reached the
ranch. Presently she observed:
Joe, do you know I'm pretty hum
cry? Haven't you anything edible on
board this-this ark?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
'Well, no--nothing regular to eat"
"What's in that wooden box on the
back seat?" she inquired.
"Why, that" he stammered and
his face grew red, that isn't really
food. It's edible all right, but you-'
II could eat one Of the tires Off this
car" she broke in, land what's more
I'm liable to do it unless I get some
thing else"
"Tll show you," and he climbed In
TO the tonneau. Opening the box with
the aid of q screwdriver he showed
the contents to be two dozen long
cardboard boxes. He handed her one
OF InGSC uuu SuC lOOh VII IAA~ WV Wv
ooh, you dear boy!" she calculated.
"You couldn't furnish better food
than this. Did you know I was crazy
about them7'
mo. can't say that did. You
see, I'm crazy about them myself.
Have been ever since / was a kid, but
was rather ashamed Of the habit
If it is habit"
She was masticating big red gum
drop.
cat least we have something IN
common" she said. "Yum, yum. Have
one yourself"
He accepted pale yellow one.
"Say, that's right; and you told me
once that If we ever found something
in common"
She finished with the red one and
accented white one.
"You're right; and I'll stand by
what said. Anyhow, what's the use