Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-09-09
The Water Bearer

struck the ridge trail down to Fl NidC
BY the time he had finished eating
tremulous light above the western
ridge proclaimed imminent moonrisl
and the efforts OF the luminary to con
quer the already retreating masses o.
cloud In their dIsorderly flight
Caleb stepped onto the bridge eau
tiously. either hand on the guide-rope
OF steel wire. held up BY iron stan.
chIons that were bolted through the
floor planks. The structure shud.
dered under his tread as he felt his
way along. Suddenly the rhythm of
its trembling changed and became so
Irregular as 70 force him to a stand
still The joitlng increased. Some
one else was on the bridge coming
from the valley side. Was II Padlllaf
He held HIS ground. The boards
we're not Wide enough to permit Of
two passing breast TO breast. They
would have to side about each other.
II it was Padilla and the Mexican
wanted to dispute the crossing. there
would be trouble Caleb was not GO
ing to turn back. He hesitated wheth-
er TO call ont as the other came on,
his tread sounding distinctly.
Then the moon suddenly broke
through Its veil and sent a transient
ray into the mouth of the gorge. Out
of the dark. as If spotlight had been
projected against a black curtain,
staring at Caleb while he stared back,
leaped the face Of Ted Baxter: the
features lncredulous at first, swiftly
changing. before the light failed. to a
sneering. tnuntlng mask. His voice
sounded out OF the dark as the light
vanished.
"what the devil are you doing up
hereT"
The query held scornful emphasis
that aroused In Caleb such a swift,
consuming hatred In answer to the
challenge, as he had never known
himself capable Of This man, within
reach, once his friend. had done him
treacherous injury. Now was the time
to strike a balance.
I've been looking for you. Baxter"
he said Though didn't exactly ex-
pect to meet you here. I;know every
thing you've done. It's opened my
eyes had an idea that you were
fairly decent, that You possessed at
least some remnants OF honor. some
rags OF friendship. You haven't got |.
any more principles than a yellow
cur. You :"
II haven't. ehT' broke in Baxter.
The moon came glImmering through
again. because I've bested you in a
business deal where you thought you
we're so almighty smart. you get sore
You went sneaking around yourself
trading on friendship and pretending
to make love TO girl. so that you
sould find out what you wanted about
Hermanos valley and then have II
condemned for reservoir. You talk. /
ng about honor You tried to hood.
Wink Clinton and found It out ind
aved him. Rags OF friendship You
pretended to be my best friend and. {
when 1t came to showdown. you lied
o me and said you didn't have any 6
money. Why7 Because you lacked Z
he backbone to come out and say So
ecause you were so id Yankee. I
fraid you might lose a penny" n
A lurch Of the bridge. a sudden q
french. A chilly wave stopped over {
he boards. II flowed about the ankles
both OF them Caleb stood with o
ne hand free. the other on the hand a
ope. balancing himself, whipped to n
lry by each word Of Baxter But he .
Id not interrupt him. He was walt o.
X for the light to get stronger He 9
Duld see the other hut dimly. his face
trust forward, shooting out his n
ords. ttyIng to make them sting c
sepeF. Il
'That was business and got the "
ut Of you. To HI with all that es
hat isn't what you're sore about M
> because I've cut you out with the II
ri. Why don't you own up TO til" W
axted laughed mOcklngly. di
You don't suppose. you poor boob, tr
al she would ever look twice at q 70
an like you as a lover. You've got 81
luted maple strip In your veins. te
les got blood, red. hot ! kissed tn
r less than half an hour ago. r." te
Fury Overmastered Caleb. Baxter of
d touched the sensitive core Of the III
iole matter-Betty Clinton He OF
lped for his man and felt the we'll w
med. smashing impact OF Baxter's In
is TO neck and Jaw as he himself To-
owe hard TO the body. But the an
-aight punch that nearly found the ~
tai point" jolted him badly and ne
I aim dizzy. He grappled 20 q sh
nch as the moon sailed out. wadIne pr
rough a shallow sea OF splndrlft en-
uds. IN,
CTo BE coNTrNUED.) ne
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