The diamond drill., 1921-11-26


After the breathing spell I kept on
up the valley. heading away from the
setting sun. and feeling certain that.
sooner or later. must come out some
where In the nelghborhood OF Atropia
Two hours later came into sort
OF an excuse for a road. Being pretty
well wlnded by the stiff climb out OF
the canyon ravine. sat down at the
roadside TO rest bit and 10 decide
which way l should 60, 10 the right
or to the left. Just as was making
up my mind heard a patter OF feet
and dog barked.
A moment later I could see the
beast. lndistinctiy. He had been COM
ing up the road and had stopped at
the sight--or scent--of me. Since
dog argued the proximity OF dog
owning human being. called coaxing-
iy: "Here. Towser--here--come on.
old fellow--that's boyi" and the cur
ious thing about II Is that he did II.
running up little way and stopping.
and finally coming 10 squat before
me and TO lift paw for me to shake.
/ jollIed him bit and let him nose
me "a his hearts content. Then sud-
denly. as II he had discovered a long
lost master, he broke away and began
10 leap and dance around me. barking
a furious and hilarious welcome. In
the midst OF this hubbub heard hoof-
beats and the squeaking Of saddle
leather, and the dogs owner rode up.
AT first I thought the dimly outlined
Stetson-hatted figure In the saddle was
that OF boy. But IL was a woman's
voice, and a mighty pleasant one. that
called to the dog: Down, Barney.
and behave yourself--what's the mat
ter with you. siri"
stood up and pulled of my cap.
.rm chiefly the matter" said.
"Your dog seems to think he knows
me, and I'm awfAlly sorry that his
memory Is so much better than mine
You'd think--anybody would think
that woman riding alone In the
dark on solitary mountain road
would be handsomely startled, to say
the least, at seeing a man rise up fair
ly under her horses nose. But III my
little lady were scared, she certainly
didn't parade her fright.
Barney is such foolish dog. some
times" she said apologetically. HE
has a double brain. you know; half
of IL Is good-natured and silly and
the other half is--well, it's"
The dog had come around again
wagging his tail and at that magic
word "half' stopped to let him stick
his cold nose into my palm. The act
brought me near enough to enable me
to see him better, and had 10 clap a
hand over my mouth to keep from
shouting out and soaring the entire
combination into wild stampede.
For, II you'll believe me, the dog was
my dog. One-haIf OF his face was
white and the other was so black that
II merged and faded harmoniously In
TO the night
Il know" / said. strengthening up
again: my brain acts that way, too,
sometimes" Then: pardon me, but
would you mind telling me the color
Of the horse you are riding?"
The young woman laughed and her
laugh was just as jolly and pleasant
as her speaking voice.
"Winkie Is what the cow-men call
'pinto'--a calico horse" she answered
promptly.
"Sure I" l beloved. II knew itw
and the horse shied and the dog barked
In sheer sympathy. Then apologized.
please forgive the explosion. AS /
said a minute ago, my brain some
times acts like Barney's: half of II
being good-natured and silly and the
other half--well, Wen omit the de-
scription Of the other half for the
present, II you'll permit me. May T.
er-win you have the goodness to tell
me where I amr
'T-why-dear mel Don't you know
where you aref"
"Not any more than harmless, nee
essary goat. assure you"
I couldn't be certain, but thought
she took a little firIncr hold upon her
bride rein.
"Did you--did you come from An
geisf" she asked In a sort OF nwed
little voice.
''How did you guess 1T I was. In
deed--for very short space OF time
this very day--a member OF the An
gelic band. And II you should ask me.
might say that feel as though had
walked most OF the way here from
Angels. I--I-my car broke down. you
know"
YES" she said: II know"-just as
II she did. Then: II can az least tell
you where you are This is the south
ern slope OF Cinnabar mountain. This
road leads on down TO Atropla, about
three miles below"
"Y-es; Atropia was the place I was
trying to come nt."
She stopped and appeared to be think
Ing about something. Then she said
Really, think you would better
not go to Atropia. It's-well, It's
rstlf0 Inuo tuo1b