The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-12-14

keep watch ever the horses now div
apd night. Lord, how I'd >llatc to
have Rojas or Salasar-any Of those
bandit rebels-find my horsesi !.
Gale, can you rider"
Dick modestly replied that he could.
according to the eastern idea OF
horsemanship.
The ringing Of bell, which Rel.
ding said was call to supper, turned
the men back toward the house. II.
was not until they reached It and
were about to 60 In that Bedding
CHANGED to discover Gales crippled
hand.
what an awful hand I" 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? Sny.
I'm glad 1t wasn't me you hit Why
didn't you tell me? That's bad
hand. Those cuts are full of dirt
and sand. Infummation's setting in.
It's got to be dressed. Nell!' he
called.
Dick saw n glimpse of golden hair
and white dress in the door, But
they were not visible longer than q
second
Dad, what's the matter?" asked
voice that was still as sweet as
formerly, but now rather small and
constrained.
Bring the antiseptics, cotton, ban-
dagcs-and things out here. Hurry
now"
Bedding fetched pail of water
and II basin from the kitchen. His
wife followed him out, and, upon see
ing Dicks hand, was Ill solicitude.
Then Dick heard light. quick foot
steps, but he did not look up.
Nell, this is Mr.. Galc-Dick Gale,
who came with the boys last night"
said Belding. Hes got an awful
hand. Got 1T punching that Grenser
kojas. l want you to dress 1t.
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
tsS. and let her get at it. Supper's
neaSiT ready"
Di4t felt that same strange, quick
ening heart throb, vet he had never
been cooler in his life. More than
anything else in the world he wanted
to look Mt Nell Burton; however, di-
vining that the situation might be
embarrassing to her, he refrained
from looking up. She began to bathe
his Injured knuckles. He noted the
softness, the dcftncSs Of her touch.
and then 1t seemed her fingers were
not quite as steady as they might
have been. Still, in moment they
appeared to become surer in their
work. When she sat down beside him
ana rested his Injured hand in her
lap ms she cut bandages, she was so
thrillingly near that he yielded to an
irrepressible desire to look up. She
had sweet. fair face warmly tinted
";Ss ,snt sarne healthy golden-brown
s'4fff,atn Her hnir ~ns light gold
st;. .i@.;,!ahi. 81 Wn;ing mass Her
:T%s m"f" shnb"b by long, downcast
,*Siss act 'hrrugh them he caught a
E!eau ~ bluc
Despite ii,r n'ir within him, Gale,
seeing sl'" wnH now absorbed in her
task. critically studied her with Il sec
hhd cloHcr gaze. She was sweet,
wholesome. Joyous, pretty girl
shore 1t muSta hurt?" inquired
Laddy, who sat IN interested spccta.
/ tor
Yes. I confess it did," replied
Dick slowly, with his eyes on Nell's
face. but I didn't mind"
The girls lashes swept m swiftly
IN surprise. She had taken his words
literally But the dark.bue ewes met
! his for only fccting second. Thcn
the warm tint in her checks turned
as red as her lips. Hurricdly she
finished tying the bandage and rose
to her feet.
Il thank yon," said Gale, also ris-
ing With that Bclding appeared in
the doorway, and, finding the opera
ton concluded, called them in to SUD-
per. After the meal, having q favor
able opportunity when for a moment
no one was ut hand, Dick went out
through the yard past the gardens
and fields, and climbed the first knoll
Westward the setting sun gilded a
spiked. frost -colored, limitless OK.
pnnse of desert. 1t awed Gale. What
strange gray. somber place! There
was lighter strip of gray winding
down between darker hues. This he
realized presently was the river bed.
anu he saw now the pools of water
narrowed and diminished In size till
they lost themselves in gray sand.
Ihis was the rainy season, near its
cnd. and here a little river struggled
hop"lessly, forlornly to live in the
desert He received potent impress
sion OF the nature OF that blasted age.
worn waste which lie had OWNED
was to give him strength and work