The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-12-16

rOauBiue 10 rest Dit and TO decide
which way should CO. TO the right
or to the left. just as was making
up my mind heard patter OF feet
and a 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 a
dog argued the proximity OF dog
owning human being, called coaxing-
~: "Here, T6wser--here-com on,
old fellow--that's boy |" and the cur
ious thing about Il is that he did II,
running up little way and stopping,
and finally coming to squat before
me and to lift paw for me 10 shake.
jollied him a bit and let him nose
me to his hearts content. Then sud
denly, as IL he had discovered long
lost master. he broke away and began
to 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 | thought the iimly outlined
Stetson-hatted figure In the saddle was
that OF boy. But 1t 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, siri"
stood up and pulled off my cap.
"Im chiefly the matter" | said.
.'Your dog seems to think he knays
me, and I'm awfuliy sorry that his
memory Is so much better than mine"
You'd thlnk--anybody would think
that q 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 II my
little lady were scared, she certainly
didn't parade her fright,
Barney Is such foolish dog, some-
times" she said apologetically. HE
has double brain. you know; half
of II Is good-natured and silly and
the other half is--well. it's"
The dog had come around again
wagging his tall and at that magic
word "haIf'' stopped to let him stick
hts cold nose into my palm. The act
brought me near enough to enable me
to see him better, and / had to clap a
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
4 my dog. One-half OF his face was
white and the other was so black that
It merged and faded tremendously in
4 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 rlding?"
The young woman laughed and her
laugh was just as jolly and pleasant
1 as her speaking voice.
Wrinkle Is what the cow-men call q
pinto--a calico horse" she answered
/ promptly.
l "Surer beloved. II knew itr
and the horse SHE'D and the dog barked
In sheer sympathy. Then apologized
please forgive the explosion. AS
said minute ago, my brain some
times acts like Barney's; half Of II
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 II
er--wiu you have the goodness to tel
me where ! ann"
1 "I--why-dear mel Don't you know
where you aref'
"Not any more than a harmless, nee
essary goat, assure you."
couldn't be certaia, but though
she took little firmer hold upon he
bride rein.
"Did you--did you come from An
gels?" she asked in a sort Of awet
little voice.
.How did you guess it7 was, in
deed-for very short space of tim
this very day--a member of the An
gelic band And IL you should ask me
might say that feel as though ha
walked most of the way here fror
} | Angels. I--L--my car broke down, 20
know"
| "yes," she said: ~ know"-just a
III Sne ulu. Inens Il can at least te
! you where you are. This is. the soutl
t ern slope of Cinnabar mountain. Thi
e road leads on down to Atropia, abor
three miles below"
e yes; Atropia was the place / wa
e trying to come at"
) She stopped and appeared to be thin
4 ing about something. Then she sale
i. Really. ! think you would bett'
II not 90 to Atropia. It's-well, 1t
/ quite long walk"
i. "The walk doesn't specially app
If me. I've done so much walking til
D. afternoon that a few hundred mile
1t more or less, In addition wouldn't
$. worth mentioning, But for some 9th
lie reasons
1t Eyes; for some other reasons" s