Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-05-05

| thinks the DANGER past. lou IL nave
to rest that arm for a while"
Ladd and Jim came peeping In at
the door.
"Come in, boys. He can have COM
pany-the more the better-if it'll
keep him content. He mustn't move,
that's ALL"
The cowboys entered, slow, easy,
cool, kind-voiced.
ashore It's tough" said Ladd, after
he had greeted Dick. "You look used
up"
Jim Lash wagged his half-bald,
sunburned head. "Musta been more'n
tough for Rojas."
"Gale, Laddy tells me one of our
neighbors, fellow named Carter, is
going to Casita," put Ia Belding
Here's a chance to get word to your
friend the soldier"
"oh, that will be fnep exclaimed
Dick II declare I'd forgotten
Thorne How is Miss Casta-
neda7 I hope"
"She's all right, Gale. Been up and
around the patio for two days She
and Nell made friends at once. I'll
call them in"
Both girls came in, Mercedes lead
ing. Like Nell, she wore white, and
she had red rose in her hand. She
was swift, impulslve In her move
ments to reach Dicks side.
"Senor, / am so sorry you were
ill-so happy you are better"
Dick greeted her, offering his left
hand, gravely apologlzing for the fact
that, owing TO a late infrmity, he
could not offer the right. Her smile
exquisitely combined sympathy graft
tude, admiration. Then Dick spoke
to Nell, likewise offering his hand,
which she took shyly. Her reply was
a murmured, unintelllgible one; but
her eyes were glad, and the tint In
her cheeks threatened to rival the
hue of the rose she carried
Presently Dick remembered to
speak of the matter Of getting news
to Thorne.
"Senor, may l write to him? VIII
someone take a letter? I
shall hear from hlml" she said; and
her white hands emphasized her
words.
"Assuredly l guess poor Thorne
is almost crazy. I'll write to him. :.
No. l can't with this crippled hand"
"That'll be all right Gale" said |
Bedding. Nell will write for you.
She writes all my letters.
SO Bedding arranged it; and Merce-
des flew away to her room to write, |
while Nell fetched pen and paper and
seated herself beside Gales bed to
take his dictation.
What with watching Nell and try
Ing to catch her glance, and listening
to Belongs talk with the cowboys
Dick was hard put to 1t to dictate
any kind of a credtable letter. Nell
met his gaze once, then no more
Bedding was talking over the risks In
volved In a trip to Casita.
an tell you, boys, I'll ride in my
self with Carter. There's business
l can see to, and I'm curious to
know what the rebels are doing.
Gale, I'm going to Casita myself.
Ought to get back tomorrow some
time. I'll be ready to start in an hour.
Have your letter ready. And say-if
you want to write home it's a chance.
we don't go to the p. o.
In month"
He tramped out, followed by the
tall cowboys, and then Dick was en-
abled to bring his letter to a close.
Mercedes came back, and her eyes
we're shining. Dick, remembering
Belongs suggestion, decided to profit
~ it.
MAY l trouble you to write another
or me2" asked Dick, as he received
he letter from Nell.
ITS no trouble, I'm sure-Pd be
pleased" she replied.
That was altogether a wonderful
peech of hers, Dick thought, because
he words were the first coherent
mes she had spoken to him.
He settled back and began.
Presently Gale paused. partly be-
ause of genuine emotion, and stole
look from under his hand at Nell
( she had in the very least been drawn
o him But that was absurd-im- !
,ossiblel
When Dick finished debating, his
yes were upon Mercedes, who sat I
curious and sympathetic.
low responsive she was He looked
{ Nell Presently she rose, holding
ut his letter. He was just in time
0 see a wave Of red recede from her
ace. She gave him one swift gaze, '
nconscious, searching, then averted ]
and turned away. She left the I
Dom with Mercedes before he could \
xpress his thanks.
But that strange, speaking flash of S
yes remained to haunt and torment g
ale. 1t was indescribably sweet, {
nd provocative of thoughts that he {
elieved were Wild without warrant
dawned upon him that for the brief
lstant when Nell had met his gaze /
he had lost her shyness. 1t was t
questioning eyes that had q
erced through him.
Next day Dick believed he was well !
1ough to leave his room; but Mrs, Q