San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-11
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1 sisted the thought of the auburn girl
her eyes blue as April--her swift
delicate tread.
He began to fish as the light thick
ened; but he only cast once or twice
and then decided to wait half an
hour. He grounded his rod and
brought a brier pipe and pouch OF
tobacco from his pocket. The things
of day were turning to slumber; but
still there persisted clinking sound
uttered monotonously from time to
time, which the sportsman supposed
to be bird. 1t came from behind
the great activities that ran oppo.
site his place by the pools. Brendon
suddenly perceived that it was no nat
ural noise but arose from some hui.
man activity. 1t was, in fact, the
musical note of a mason's trowel, and
when presently it ceased, he was an
nOyed to hear heavy footsteps in the
quarry.
A big, broad man approached him,
clad in Norfolk jacket and knick-
erbockers and red waistcoat with
gaudy brass buttons.
The stranger stopped as he saw
Brendon, straddled his great legs,
took a cigar from his mouth and
spoke.
"Ah! You've found 'em, them"
"Found what?" asked the detec.
tive.
"Found these trout. ] come here
for swim sometimes. I've won-
dered why l never sew rod in this
hole. There are n dozen half-pound-
crs there and possibly some bigger
ones"
1t was Marks instructive way to
study all fellow creatures with whom
he came in contact.
He saw a pair of broad shoulders
and thick neck over which hung a
square. hard jaw and determined
chin. Then came big mouth and the
largest pair Of mustaches Brendon re-
mcmbered to have observed on any
cOuntcnance. They were of foxy red.
and beneath them flashed large. white
teeth when the big man talked in
rather grating tones. His hair was a
fiery red. cut close and of hue yet
more violent than his mustaches.
The big man appeared friendly
though Brendon heartily wished him
away.
This bally place seems to bewitch
people," said the big man.
The. other laughed. There is a
magic here. 1t gets into your blood"
1 $50 it does. A man ! know is build
ing himself bungalow out here. He
and his wife will be just as happy as
q pair of wood pigcons-at least they
think So" --
Il heard trowel clinking."
YES, lend hand sometimes When
the. workmen are gone. But think of
ito turn your back on civilization
and make yourself a home in a
desert.D -
Might be worse-if you've got no
ambitions"
"Yes-ambition Is not their strong
point. They think loves enough--poor
souls. Why don't you fish," ~
Waiting for it TO get q bit darker"
"Well. so long. Take care YOU don't
catch anything fhat'll pull you i'm
Laughing at his joke the, red man
strobe off through the gap so yards
distant. Then in the stiffness Mark
heard the purr of a machine. He had
evidently departed upon. motor BIZ
cycle to the main road half mile dis
tant.
When he was gone Brendon rose and
strolled down to the other entrance of
the quarry that he might see the bun
galow of which the stranger had
spoken.
The day grew very dim and the fret
Of light and shadow died off the earth.
leaving all vague and vast and feature
less. Brendon returned to his sport
and found a small "coachman" fly suf
ficiently destructive. The two pools
yielded a dozen trout, of which he kept
six and returned the rest to the wa
ter.
Tramping back under the stars. his
thoughts drifted to the auburn girl Of
the moor. .4
Four evenings after his first fishing
expedition to the quarries, Mark dc
voted IA morning to the lower waters
Of the Mcavy river; at the end Of that
day. not far short of midnight. when
glasses were empty and pipes knocked
ont. half q dozen men, just about to
retire, heard a sudden and evil report.