New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-02-04
lI-Continued.


And ns for WhiSperfoot-thc terror
that chuk"d his heart with blood be-
gnm 10 wear of IN a little while. The
man lay 81 stlll IN the thiCkets. Be-
sides, there was u strange. wild smell
in the mir Nhisperfo0t's stroke had
gone home 50 true there had not even
been q ilsht. The darkness began Ia
MT around him. and a strange eNulta-
tl0n, a rapture unknown before In all
his hunting, began Ia creep into his
wild blood. Then. rs n shadow steals,
he went creeping back to his dead.
Dan Failing had been studying ma
iurr on the high ridges and lac went
home by a back trail that led to old
Bald mountain. The trail was lust
n narrow serpent IN the brush; and
n mad not been made by gangs of
picks. Possibly half n dozen white
men, In MI, had ever walked along II.
u was just the path of the wild crea-
lures, worn down by hoof and paw
and cushion since the young days of
the world.
II vas n roundabout trail home,
hut yet II had it, advantages. II took
him within two miles of Snowbird's
lookout station. and AT this hour of
Day he had been particularly fortunate
IN finding her al a certain spring on
the mountain side. II was rather a SIN
Hurl.H s,lVt.f.l.Vtaa A1.... -. -.
he would usually find himself wander.
ing up that way. Strangely enough.
Mt IN" same time. II was true that
she had an irre>istihl" impulse 10 go
down and SIT In the green ferns beside
the same spring. They always seemed
20 be surprised 10 see one another. In
reality, either of them would have
been considerably more surprised had
the other failed TO put In an appear.
nncc. And always they had long talks.
~ the afternoon drew 10 twilight.
But | don't think You ought to wait
81 late befor" starting home" the glrl
would always say. "You're not n
human hawk. and II is easier 10 get
lost than you think
And this Solicltude. Dan rightly fig
urcl. wa> n good sign. There was
only % objection To II. II resulted
In an unmistakhle inference that She
considered him unable to take care
~ hlmsrlf-and that was the last
thing on earth that he wanted her
10 think. lie understood her well
enough 10 know that her standards
were the standards of the mountains.
yalulng strength and se~lf-rellance
above oil things. lie didn't { to
question why. every day. he trod 30
many weary miles To- De- with her.
She was as natural ~ a fawn: and
inany times She had quite taken away
his breath. And once she did IL liter
ally. lie didn't think that ~ long as
death spared him be- would ever be
able to forget that experience. II was
her birthday. and knowing Of It IN
time ne Ind arranged for the delivery
II n certain package. dear TO a glrlish
heart. at her fathers house. In the
trysting hour be had come trudging
over the hills with IL. and few expert
In his life had eve yielded such
un~mffigated pleasure rs the sight Of
her. glowing white and red. as she took
m ifs wrapping paper. II was a jolly
Old gift. he recOlleeted-and when She
had seen Il. she fairly leaped at him.
Her warm, round arms around his
neck. and the s%oftest. loveliest HIPS IN
the world pressed his. But In those
days he didn't have the strength that
he had now. He felt he could endure
the same experience again with no
embarrassment whatever. His FIRST i'm
preston then. besides Astounding. In
credible establishment. was that she
had quite knocked out his breath. But
Jet II be said for him that he recOv-
cred with notable promptness. His
evr arms had gone I'D and closed
her. and the gsri had uriggled
frfs.
Bot sou mustn't Do that she told
hira.r
Rat. good Lord. girl You did It
met Is there no Justice in vomenf-
But 2 IA Il to thank you for this
ioyely gift For remembering me-