Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-12-14
That's my Papago herdsman.

was not until they reached it and
were about to 90 in that Bedding
CHANGED to discover Gales crippled
hand
"What an awful hand" he ex.
claimed. "Where the devil did you
get thatY
81 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 me? That's a bad
hand. Those cuts are full of dirt
and sand. IntlammatiCn's setting in.
It's got to be dressed. Nell !" he
called.
Dick saw glimpse of golden hair
and white dress in the door. But
they were not visible longer than
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.
dages-and things out here. Hurry
now"
Bedding fetched a pail of water
and basin from the Kitchen His
wife followed him out, 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 Bedding. He's got an awful
hand. Got it punching that Greaser
Rojas. l want you to dress it. d.
Gale, this is my stepdaughter, Nell
Burton, OF whom l spoke. She's
some good when there's somebody
sick or hurt. Shove out your fist, my
boy, and let her get at it. Suppers
nearly ready"
Dick felt that same strange, quick
ening heart thrOb, yet he had never
been cooler in his life. More than
anything else in the world he wanted
to look at Nell Burton however, di.
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 it seemed her fingers were
not quite as steady as they might
have been. Still, in a moment they
appeared to become surer in their
work. When she sat down beside him
and rested his injured hand in her
lap as she cut handages, 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
sunbun. Her hair was light gold
and abundant, a waving mass. Her
eyes were shaded by long, dOwncaSt
lashes, vet through them he caught
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.
ashore it musta hurt" inquired
Laddy who sat an interested specta-
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 up swiftly
in surprise. She had taken his words
literally. But the dark-blue eyes met
his for only a fleeing second. Then
the warm tint in her cheeks turned
as red as her lips. Hurrledly she
finished tying the bandage and rose
to her feet.
Il thank YOU" said Gale, also ris-
ing. With that Belding appeared in
the doorway, and, finding the opera
ton 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 a
spiked, frost-cOlored, limitless eX-
panse of desert. 1t awed Gale. What
a strange, gray, somber place! Hhere
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, near its
end, and here little river struggled
| hODeleSSly, fOrlOrnly to live in the
desert. He received 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.