, 1922-12-20

Gale, IAN you ridley
Dick modestly replied II at he could.
according TO the eastern idea OF
Workmanship.
The ringing of a bell, which Bel.
ding said was a call to supper, turned
the men back toward the house. II
was not until they reached it and
were about to go in that Bedding
CHANGED to discover Gales cripplet
hand.
what an awful handl" he ex-
claimed. where the devil did You
get that?'
Il stove in my knuckles on Rojas,"
replied Dick.
you did that in one punch? Say,
I'm glad it wasn't me you hit! Why
didn't you tell met That's a bad
hand. Those cuts are full of dir.
and sand. Inflammation's setting in.
It's got to be dressed. Nell" he
called.
Dick saw a glimpse of golden hair
and a white dress In the door. But
they were not visible longer than a
second.
Dad, what's the matter?" asked
a voice that was still as sweet as
formerly, but now rather small and
constrained.
Bring the antiseptics, cotton. ban
dages-and things ont here. Hurry,
now"
Bedding fetched a pail of water
and a basin from the kitchen. His
wife followed him our and, upon see
ing Dicks hand, was all solicitude.
Then Dick heard light, quick foot.
steps, but he did not look up.
Nell, this is Mr.. Gale-Dick Gale,
who came with the boys last night"
said Relding. Hes got an awful
hand. Got it punching that Greaser
Rojas. l want you to dress it. /.
Gale, this is my stepdaughter, Nell
Burton, of whom | spoke. She's
some good when there's somebody
sick or hurt. Shove out your fist, my
boy, and let her get at it. Supper's
nearly ready"
Dick felt that same strange, quick
ening heart throb, yet he a never
been cooler In his life. More than
anything else In the world he wanted
to look at Nell Burton; however, d.
vining that the situation might be
embarrassing to her, he refrained
from looking Up. She began to battle
his Injured knuckles. He noted the
softness, the dizziness of her touch,
and then 1t seemed her fingers were
not quite as steady as they might
have been. Still, in a moment they
appeared to become surer Il their
work. When h sat down beside him
and rested his injured hand in her
lap as she cut %bandages, she was so
thrillingly near that he yielded to an
irrepressible desire to look up. She
had a sweet, fair face warmly tinted
with that same healthy golden-brown
sunburn. Her hair was light gold
and abundant, a waving mass. Her
eyes were shaded by long, downcast
lashes, yet through them he caught q
CLEAN of blue.
Despite the stir within him, Gale
seeing she was now absorbed in her
task, critically studied her with a sec.
ond closer gaze. She was a sweet
wholesome, Joyous, pretty girl.
"Shore 1t musta hurt?" inquired
Laddy, who sat an interested specta.
tor.
Eyes, l confess 1t did," replied
Dick slowly, with his eyes on Nell's
face. But 1 didn't mind"
The girls lashes swept up swiftly
in surprise. She had taken his words
literally. But the dark-blue eyes met
his for only a fleeting second. Then
the warm tint in her cheeks turned
as red rs her lips. Hurriedly she
finished tying the bandage and rose
to her feet.
81 thank you" said Gale, also ris.
ing. With that Bedding appeared in
the doorway, and, finding the opera.
tion concluded. called them in to sup
per. After the meal, having a favor.
able OPPORTUNITY when for a moment
no one was at hand, Dick went out
through the yard, past the gardens
and fields, and climbed the first knoll
Westward the setting sun gilded d
spiked, frost-eolored, llmitless ex.
panse OF desert. 1t awed Gale. What
a strange, gray. somber placei There
was a lighter strip of gray winding
down between darker hues. This he
realized presently was the river bed
and he saw now the pools OF water
narrowed and diminished In size till
they lost themselves in gray sand.
This was the rainy season. neal Its
end, and here a little river struggled
hopelessly, %for'crnly to live in the
desert. He received a potent impress
sion of the nature of that blasted age
worn waste which he had OWNED
was to give him strength and work
and love.
at was indescrlbably sweet
and provocative Of thoughts"