Evening star., 1923-12-09
A STORY OF ACTION,
LOVE, SURPRISES
And the Old Contrast BetUeen the Orient
and the Occident
and the Occident

last station. They had passed mono
for at least an hour. BY consulting
the timetable in his pocket, he
learned that the train would pass no
other for a couple of hours more.
The next train was not due until
4:30 the next morning.
y y y =
THE sun had set, and black
shadows were linking themselves
across the plain. He shivered. glad
of the leather coat which he had
slipped on as a protection against the
dust
He climbed down the embank-
ment--and started through the
greasewood to find a road, but a half
hours search revealed not even q
wagon track.
He retraced his steps to the track.
Some wildcat engine or freight train
might happen along. He must have
a fire as a signal. His knife made
no impression upon the rhinolike hide
of the yucca, and the mesquite thorns
quickly covered his hands with blood
Moreover, his pursuit Of the train had
| made him very thirsty. But nowhere
was there any sign Of water.
1t had grown dark and the wind
had risen. Rand took refuge In the
small arroyo beside the track. He
kicked a hole In the mudbank on one
side of the arroyo. turned up his coat
collar, and collected a small bundle
of dead greasewood twigs Luckily
he had matches, although his Gig
arctic case was empty. He covered
there, holding his hands to the feeble
blaze, until the twigs were consumed.
1t was too dark to find more Well,
he must make the best Of it.
Crouching In his shallow cave, his
stomach empty. his feet and legs
numb with cold, his hands smarting
from the pricks OF thorns, his eyes
filled with dust, his whole figure COW
cred with a white powder OF aIkali,
he pictured himself In the dining car
of the limited discussing the menu
with Anna under the electric lamps.
He could not endure his cramped
position for long. however. and pres
emily found IL necessary to get up
and stretch AS he stood there, fac
ing the darkness single-handed, he
felt a curious exaltation of spirit.
coupled with . strange accession of
purely physical strength. After all,
he wasn't going to die out there; he
didn't have to freeze or starve to
death simply because that fool train
had gone OF and left him. He'd beat
his way out Of the mess somehow!
A moan came from the north. The
darkness became more Opaque. A
storm was coming, straight from the
Sierras! The moan rose to roar
that steadily grew In volume. Great
towering clouds Of alkali came drift
ing across the plain, and the air was
filled with sand that peppered his
face and hands. For the flrst time his
adventure appeared ominous. AS he
was about to return to the shelter of
the arroyo, he caught the gleam of
twin motor lights a mile or more
away, wavering through the dark
ness.
Rand began running toward the
approaching lights, which bobbed er-
raticalIy up and down. He stumbled
madIy through the dust clouds, car
oming from one yucca to another.
and tearing his clothes upon the mes
quite and prickly pear. Nearly ex-
hausted, he reached a point directly
in front Of the car and the next in
stant he was in the full glare OF the
lenses. He threw up his hands with
a warning shout into the teeth Of the
gale. The motor stopped. dropped
into low gear. and crept toward him
A voice shouted from behind tho
lights, "Put up both your handsr'
ID AND quickly raised his arms again
~ and found himself looking
straight into the muzzle Of q revolver.
What do YOU want?' came from
above the shrek Of the wind.
'T got left behind out there by the
Limited" he answered. "Can you give
me a light to the next town." The
engine ceased throbbfng. Something
flashed behind the revolver. The mo-
tor lights faded out.
"Stay where you are till give you
the once over?' The voice was q
woman's. Rand waited. arms ex-
tended like q scarecrow, while the
owner OF tho voice inspected him
carefully by means OF q trouble light.
Then quite Unexpectedly she said.
You're Mr.. Clifford Rand. aren't
you?" Rand could not help laughing.
Fame had its uses. after all!
That's who I am," he admitted.
do you mind II drop my hands?" A
chuckle came from behind the light
Funny! thought you were trying
to hold me up. But can you blame
me? Do you get left that way often7'
without waiting for his answer she
returned the pistol to her belt. crank
ed the fiivver. got in, and turned on
the lights again.
"Climb aboard"
Rand did so. wondering Whist she
looked like. The girl threw in her
gears and they moved of. "How did
you know my name7' he asfed. peer
ing at her.
i've seen you playing polo. Every
s.rI in Santa Barbara Knows You BY
sight"
"And may ask to whom owe my
~escue?"
my name IL Isabella Sands" she
answ cred. my luther has q ranch out
beyond the San Marcos. I toach at the
high school in the winter" Her voice
and enunciation were both alluYtng.
But a school teacherl An old maid,
probably!
How did you manage to be ma.
roonedT
"The train stopped and got OF to
pick some flowers"
"Oh" she laughed.
"I suppose sound all kinds % an
idiot" he said.
mot at ALL" she responded gaily.
'rYou sound very gallant!" It was the
first time that the obvious connota-