St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1921-12-10


on flat rock to gasp and laugh. It
had all been so supremely ridiculous,
and so beautifully in keeping with the
reputation 7 had left behind me at
Angels, that felt sure that now MOTH
ing less than verdict Of expert alien
lists would ever serve to convince these
Red Desert folk that was anything
but an escaped lunatic.
After the breathing spell 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 neighborhood of Atropia.
Two hours later I came into q sort
Of an excuse for road. Being pretty
well winded by the stiff climb out Of
the canyon ravine, I sat down at the
roadside to rest bit and to decide
which way I should go, to the right
or to the left. Just as I was making
up my mind heard patter Of feet
and dog barked.
A moment later could see the
beast, indistinctly. He had been COM
ing up the road and had stopped at
the sight-or scent-of me. Since q
dog argued the proximity Of dog
owning human being, called coaxing-
": "Here, Towser-here-come on,
old fellow-that's boy!' and the cur
ious thing about it Is that he did it,
running up little way and stopping,
and finally coming to squat before
me and to lift paw for me to shake.
I jollied him bit and let him nose
NE to his hearts content. Then sud-
denly, as If he had discovered long
lost master, he broke away and began
to leap and dance around me, barking
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 it was woman's
voice, and mighty pleasant one. that
called to the dog: "Down, Barney,
and behave yourself-what's the mat
ter with you, STRIP
I stood up and pulled off my cap.
I'm chiefly the matter" said.
our dog seems to think he knows
me, and I'm awfully 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 man rise up fair
~ under her horses nose. But IT my
little lady were scared, she certainly
didn't parade her fright.
Barney is such foolish dog, some
times,'' she said alphabetically. HE
has double brain, you know; half
Of it 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' I 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 to clap
hand over my mouth to keep from
shouting out and soaring the entire
combination into wild stampede.
For, If you'll believe me, the dog was
my dog. One-half Of his face was
white and the other was SO black that
it merged and faded harmoniously In
to the night!
II know" I 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 a
'pinto'-a calico horse" she answered
promptly. m...
"Sure" I beloved, IT knew It'll"
and the horse SHE'D and the dog barked
In sheer sympathy. Then I apologized.
"Please forgive the explosion. AS I
said a minute ago, my brain some
times acts like Barney's: half Of it
being good-natured and Silly and the
other half-well, we'll omit the. de-
scription Of the other half for the
present, If you'll permit me. May T.
civil you have the goodness to tell
me where I ann"
"I-why-dear me! Don't you know
where you are?"
mot any more than harmless, nee
essary goat, assure you"
couldn't be certain, but thought
she took a little frmer hold upon her
bride rein.
"Did you-did you come from An
gels?" she asked in sort Of awed
little voice.
GLOW did you guess 1t? I was, In
deed-for a very short space Of time
this very day-a member Of the An
gelic band. And If 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"
Eyes," she said: Il know"-just as
If she did. Then: II can at least tell
you where you are This is the south
ern slope of Cinnabar mountain. This
road leads on down to Atropia, about
three miles below"
eyes; Atropia was the place was
trying to come att
She stopped and appeared to be think
ing about something. Then she said:
REALLY, I think you would better
not go to Atropia. It's-well, It's
quite long walk"
NTH L ~