The Farmington times., 1922-09-22
hit bq william NacLeod Ro,ns
Illustrations by
h,wiN Myers

Il tnat girl covering among me wet
bushes bordering an unfrequented
bath heard the 'Hl-yi-yi" of Arizo-
ma and gave a faint cry for help. That
call reached Johnnie and brought him
on the run.
A man beside the girl jumped up
with snarl, gun in hand.
But the Runt had caught a sight Of
Kitty. A file of fixed bayonets could
not have kept him from trying to res
cue her. He dlved through the brush
like football tackler.
A gun barked. The little man did
not even know 1t. He and the thug
went down together, rolled over,
clawed furiously at each other, and
got to their, feet simultaneously. But
the cowpuncher held the gun now.
The crook glnred at him for moment,
and bolted for the safety Of the
bushes in wild flight.
Johnnie fired once, then forgot all
about the private little war he had
started. For his arms were full Of
! sobbing Kitty, who clung to him while
she wept and talked and exclaimed all
IN breath.
II knew you'd come, Johnnie. I
knew you would-you or Clay. They
! left me here with him while they got
away from the police. Oh, I've
been so scared. l didn't know
thought"
as all right. s all right, lii girl.
| Don't you cry, Kitty. Me n Clay
won't let 'em hurt you none. We sure
won't"
| She nestled closer, and J0hnnie's
heart lost beat. He had become
aware of duh pain In the shoulder
and of something wet trickling down
his shoulder. But what is one little
bullet in your geography when the
sweetest girl in the world is in your
arms?
Il amt nothln' but a hammered
down III haysed Of cOwpuncher," he
told her, his voice trembling, IAN
you're awful pretty an'-an'-"
| A flag of color fiuttered to her soft
cheeks. The silken lashes fell shyly.
Il think you're fine and dandy, the
bravest man that ever was"
ado you-figure you cOuid-2 II
Il don't reckon you could ever"
He stopped, abashed. To him this
creature of soft curves was of heaven
sent charm. All the beauty and vital
I ity of her youth called to him. 1t
seemed to Johnnie that God spoke
through her. Which is another way
of saying that he was in love with her.
She made a rustling little stir in his
arms and lifted flushed face very
tender and appealing. In the darkness
her lips slowly turned to his.
Johnnie chose that inOpportune mo-
ment to get sick at the stomach.
"I-rm gOin' TO faint" he an
nounced, and did.
|. When he returned to his lOve-story
JohnnIe's head was in kittys lap and
q mounted policeman was In the fore
ground Of the scene. His face was
vet from the mist Of fine rain falling.
Don't move. Some one went for a
car" she whispered, bending over him
30 that flying tendrils of her hair
brushed his cheek, "Are yOu--badly
hurt?"
He snorted I'm a false alarm.
Nothin' a-tall. He ies' creased me-"
you're SO brave" she cried, ad.
mirlngly.
He had never been told this before
He suspected 1t was not true, but to
hear her say 1t was mamma to his hun.
cry soul.
The cab stopped at the house of a
doctor and the shoulder was dressed
The doctor made one pardOnable mis-.
take.
Get your wife to give you this
sleeping powder If you find you can't
Sleep" he said.
"Y'betcha," answered Johnnie cheer.
fully.
Kitty looked at him reproachfully
and blushed. She scolded him about II
after they reached the apartment
where they lived.
Her new fiance defended himself
Hes only a day or two prema-chure
honey. 1t wasn't hardly worth while
explainin'," he claimed.
"A day or two. Oh, Johnniel"
"Sure. I amt gonna wait. Wha's
the matter with tomorrow"
Il haven't any clothes made" she
evaded, and added by way of diver.
sion. II always liked that kinda gold.
en- down on your cheeks"
"The stores are full of 'em. An we
amt talkln' about my whiskers-not
right now"
You're nice old thing" she whis.
pered, flashing into unexpected dim.
pies, and she rewarded him for his
niceness in way he thought alto
gether desirable.
A crisp, strong step sounded out.
side. The door opened and Clay came
into the room.
He looked at Kitty. "Thank heaven,
you're safe" he said.
Johnnie rescued me-" she cried.
"He got shot--in the shoulder"
i The men looked at each other.
bad, Johnnief"
-NOpe. A plumb III scratch. Wha's
J the matter with you1" +.