The St. Johns herald., 1921-06-30

CldISu pOSlllNSlys 1Ou uOI CdIS ldAh with me?"
 "Sure I do," and he strengthened up. q thought maybe you couldn't talk my language"
 "Oh, that eet; you not speak Span ish, senor?'
 "Well, hardly. I kin make out in way what anybody says, but when it comes to talking the lingo, I'm bit rusty"
 Where you Iearn?"
 "When was in the army, in Ari- zona."
 q in Arizona once-Tucson; you there? Good. You not soldier now2"
 "Oh, no; that was quite a while ago; that is why have forgotten my Spanish. There aren't many of your people up here."
 She shook her head, resting back against the table, and gazing at him frankly with her dark eyes. "Juan and I all alone here," she confessed. "Eet is not nice-no; I tlike not these Americanos. You do not look like the senor-vat vas ze funny name he call you?"
 Churchill"
 "Shirchil-bahl I not say eet verra good. Maybe you hav' some other name can say better? You tell me?"
 My given name, you mean; that is Tom"
 She laughed, shruggipg her shoul- ders.
 ''Toml Oh, know that; I call you Tom, then. am Pancha Villemonte. Which you rather say?"
 "Pancha, of course; and who is Juan?"
 "Juan Villemonte; he is my broth er-he. You not know heem, then?"
 "No; we just met above. I had lost my way, and we ran into each other up there. He and Indian Joe were driving cattle, and brought me along with them"
 Her eyes opened wider, and her hands interlocked.
 "You not here before, then? You never in Wolves hole till now?"
 "No."
 Je they say you ride with them? Madre de Diosl You know what zis place is?"
 "Yes, Pancha," he answered soberly, feeling her earnestness. "I know. l came to help a woman"
 "You tell them that? Indian Joe?"
 'Not just as I have you; let them believe I was in on the game being played. In fact, I didn't have to say much of anything, for as soon as mentioned the name of Churchill, Laud seemed to understand. What I failed to make clear was that my object was to help her."
 "Why you tell me this?"
 Because you are a woman, guess, and because I think you are straight"
 She stared at him a moment in si- lence: then went over and stood with her back against the door. She was breathing hard, and her cheeks were red.
 "She come from a ranch on the Cot tonwoodT
 "Yes."
 Her white teeth gleamed angrily be- tween the red of her lips.
 "An' what this woman to you, se- nor2 Why you care what happen to herY
 Shelby looked frankly into the girls face, determined to risk all, suddenly convinced that this young Mexican had an interest in his answer beyond any mere curiosity.
 Because I am her husband" he said quietly.
 "You! her husband?" She almost screamed the words, advancing to- ward him fiercely. "You not lie to mel They say to me you deadI They tell me that; they tell her that"
 "Who told you?"
 "AIacklin; the Indians-all tell eet. Running Horse, he keel you-ltke zis, seep
 "Yes, he struck me all right, Pan- cha: at least someone did, also they left me there. But was not dead"
 "An' what he want of her? What Senor MackIin want of her? You know that?"
 q know a little, but perhaps not all. heard two fellows talking about it you know them, hkely-Matt Han- ley and Hank Slaginr
 She nodded.
 'Hanley had got Macklin drunk and pumped him. It's some matter of a big fortune down East. It seems Macklin's real name may be Churchill, | and If so his father is trustee for all 1 this property, which really belongs to the woman. Macklin has got an idea