The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-09-08

"What is it?" she asked shyly.
Medicine" he smiled. Doctors or
ders."
While she slipped the toddy Johnnie
brought from the kitchen tray upon
which were tea, fried potatoes, ram,
eggs, and buttered toast.
The girl ate ravenously. 1t was an
easy guess that she had not before
tasted food that day.
Clay kept up flow of talk, mostly
about Johnnie's culinary triumphs.
Meanwhile he made up bed on the
| couch.
Once she looked up at him, her
throat swollen with emotion. you're
good"
"Sho! We been needin' li'P sister
TO brace up our manners for us. It's
lucky for us found you. Now ! eX-
pect you're tired and sleepy. We fixed
up yOre bed in here because it's warm
er. You'll be able to make out with it
all right. The springs are good"
Clay left her with cheerful smile.
Turn out the light before you go to
bed, Miss Colorado. Sleep tight. And
don't you worry. You're back with
old home folks again now, you know"
Tired out from tramping the streets
without food and drowsy from the
toddy she had taken, Kitty fell into
deep sleep undisturbed by troubled
dreams.
The cattleman knew he had found
her In the nick of time. She had told
him that she had no money, no room
in which to sleep, no prospect of work.
Everything she had except the clothes
on her back had been pawned to buy
food and lodgings. But she was young
and resilient. When she got back
home to the country swhere she be-
longed, time would obliterate from her
mind the experiences Of which she had
been the victim.
1t was past midday when Kitty
woke She found her clothes dry. After
she dressed she opened the door that
led to the kitchen. Johnnie began to
hustle about in preparation for her
breakfast.
please don't trouble. I'll eat what
you've got cooked" she begged.
Its no trouble, maam. If thes
thing on earth enjoy dom It's sure
cookln'. Do you like yore aigs sunny
side up or turnedT
EITHER way. Whichever you like,
Mr.. Green"
While she ate he waited on her So
licitously. Inside, he was river of
tears for her, but with 1t went a good
deal of awe. Even now, wan-eyed and
hollow-cheeked, she was attractive.
In Johnnie's lonesome life he had
never before felt so close to girl as
he did to this one.
IL don't like to be so much bother
to you," she said. Maybe l can go
away this afternoon"
mo, ma'am, we won't have that a.
TALL" broke in the range-rider In
alarm. Were plumb tickled to have
you here. Clay, he feels thataway
too"
II gould keep house for you while l
s'"S' She s"se0o'eu e'ln's' Ano"
now TO cooK--and the place does need
cieaning'
"Sure 1t does. Say, wha's the matter
with you bein Gays sister, Jes' got
In last night on the trainf Thas the
story Wen put up TO -the landlord II
you'll gimme the word"
Johnnie>told the story OF the search
FOR her, with special emphasis on the
night Clay broke into three houses In
answer to her advertisement
Il never wrote IT, l never thought
of that. 1t must have been
ut was that scalawag Durand,
y'betcha. / amt still wearin my pin
feathers none. He was sore because
Clay had fixed his clock proper"
i've got no place to CO. except back
homeland i've got no folks there out
a second cousin. She doesn't want me.
lrdont know what to do Ii 1 had
woman frlehd--some one TO tel me
what was best"
! johnnie slapped his hand on his
knee, struck by a sudden inspiration.