Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-10-21
The Water Bearer

her undergarment He had an impress
slnn-nn mnre-of shadow rising b,
the door and vanishing de had eye
only for the girl. consciousness oni.
Of her plight and the knowledge tina
she had closed the gate and saveS
him after some desperate fight.
He took her in his arms and raised
her, Imp and pitiable. A red blotcl
on her curving shoulder and marks
on her wrist were already purpllnl
into angry bruises. He called to her
but she did not respond There was q
rough bench In the place and he laid
her on Il. catching down a sweater
jacket from nail-it belonged to the
gatetender. who had gone to get his
share OF the barbecue-and he but
toned II around her before he ran out
Of the gatehOuse for aid.
The speeches we're over. the crowd
getting into their. cars ready TO COM
piete the trip. They would not come
In this direction. he knew. and shout.
ed at the top of his lungs 10 attract
attention. He felt that Betty was not
badly hurt beyond bruises and shock.
but he felt helpless: not wanting 10
leave her. not knowing what best to
do. There were thousands OF gallons
Of water under his feet, but none with
which to revive her. save that which
dripped from his clothes. A woman
was needed-perhaps doctor. HE
did not want to take her into the
curious crowd
He shouted again just as car
broke from the ruck and came down
towards the gatehouse. The occupants
saw him waving. II they did not hear
him, they sensed trouble In his pose
and the car leaped ahead under the
flow of gas. II was Cox. with Burns,
coming to see what delayed him. The
superintendent had told the president
that Warner was giving the tunnel
final inspection.
AS the car came up Caleb hailed
Cox
There's been an accident" he said
Foul play Of some kind Nothing
serious, but want Mrs. CarquInez
to attend to Miss Clinton. She was
attacked. trying to save me. You
know Mrs. Carqulnez, Cox. she'll be
by my car. Get her"
''Wife OF the artistf I remember
her. Do you want furns7''
But Caleb had turned hack into the
gatehouse. Cox's driver turned the
car on the ramp and the car went
back at full speed. Burns halted in
the doorway. uncertain at the sight
OF Caleb kneeling beside Betty Clin-
ton. The girl was reyiving, saying
something to him.
mo place for me" BuFHs told him
self. 81 can't do anything In there"
He turned his back. waiting for rein
you're Safeg" Betty raised her
head and Caleb pIlIowed It on his
arm.
"Yes, thanks to you" he said.
awhat happened7"
"Oh, I'm so glad" Sudden tears
choked her utterance and she began
to sob Historically.
The car came racing back again
with Carquinez and his wife in the
tonneau with Maria. Luis Padilia on
the running board.
Maria swept Caleb aside, her eyes
Mrs. CarquInez as she
oosed a rush Of Spanish with her
arms about her senorita. Betty Clin-
ION fought or her hysteria. braced nj
he entrance OF the rest. and sat up.
"Iim all right. Maria" she said
You'll want TO know what happened
saw, that gentleman"-she looked at
3urns. lowering IN the background
With Padilla-"speak to Mr.. Warner.
Then you left the tables" She turned
o talk directly to Caleb.
II thought that something had gone
wrong, by your face. and watched ,
iou going toward the gatehouse.
aw a man pass one OF the openings
D the screens and follow you. had
cen him before. looking IN from
there the food was served. back OF
,here you sat. Just before you left
lie had a beard, he looked rough and
lid His eyes we're glIttering like a
iad dogs. I fancied knew him
omehow and tried to remember
here. knew the memory vas in
ONE way sinister. r. may have
cen intuition. but II possessed me
o I slipped from my seat while Mr.
Tincklay was speaking and went 70
here could watch the road You
ere nearly at the gafeh0use, almost
INNING. And this other man was
inning. too. not on the road but
mong the sage. bent double. lurching 9
J n he was drunk. trying not to be !
EN-. following you. A figure OF evil
nd suddenly placed him. knew It
as Baxter And was sure ne
cant harm 70 you 9
II should have used my head bet Z
r." she confessed. color coming back y
her cheeks. slowly spreading over
&c and neck under CaIeb's gaze. AT
asst I should have called Luis, but !
ly thought Of one thing. 20 warn 81
"a ! think that even then ] guessed o
rat was going to happen That you
ire going into the 'funneI-and Bax. 81