Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-07-29
CHAPTER VIII
Proapecta


Caleb secured an amiable. steady
gated saddle horse for his trip the
next morning.
He carried his creel. an awkward
thing to a rider of his lack OF expert
ence In It he packed his lunch and a
survey instrument or two with note
book and drawing materials. In his
rod case. another cumbersome thing
for him to carry. he included besides
the joints Of his pole steel rod tina.
he had secured at a blacksmlth's In
the upper valley, tempered probe to
be used for investigating depths Of de-
posits. He had a biologists hammer
In one pocket, In another pipe and
tobacco. His camera was tied to the
saddle.
LelsuFely he rode down the valley,
diverging sometimes and climbing O
ridge, probing with his steel rod, tax
ing photographs, making a contour
sketch where the camera would not
serve his purpose. marking closely the
lip OF strata, the character Of rock
formations, the general lie of the coun-
try. Finally, close to noon, he rode
down a wash, the sides OF which were
clothed In buckeye and oak. and
lunched by the side of Boca creek.
where the two -sycamOres made an
archway for its waters
He took the pendant from its pack
ing and laid II In the palm of his
hands. The artifcer had done well.
The tiny fishes united by the ribbon,
were delicately yet sharply cut.
Two fish united. A symbol Of two
living things that lived and moved In
the same medium-water Joined by
a ribbon. Pisces and Aquarius A
swift suggestion came to him that the
symbol might indicate more than he
had Intended when he ordered the
trinket He flushed little as he won
dered whether the girl might devise
some intimate intention In the design.
Then he laughed at his own presump-
ton. It was her sign. It's connection
with that on his own seal was fanci-
ful. far-fetched
He put the pendant back, got up.
rolled his blanket, saddIed and rode
out into CaiIente Sink, turning south |
along the creek, on through the can
yon to the suspension bridge. There |
he dismeHnted and led his horse down
the bank to the edge OF the creek. He
took of his roll and thrust the blanket
and raineoat into the hollow OF tree
that was masked with ferns, together
with his creel and rod case. Unen-
numbered. he Hoped on to FL NIdo.
''ThIs is my party CALL" he an
nounced to Betty, who came to meet
him, after PadilIa. with smile of
greeting, had led away his mount for
a grain feed and a promised rundown
and Maria had shown him into the
patio
The girl looked grave. seemed quiet,
ne fancied. But she frightened at the
gift and accepted II without reserve.
els this really my sign7' she asked.
zone would think that l was a twin.
at was very thoughtful and origi-
nal of you to choose this. shall like
it best OF all my gifts. Something
made for me, something that belongs,
If we are TO credit the astrologers.
Do you know, we have an old volume
that treats Of such nonsense. Father
Wilt be pleased. too" Her own pleas
ure was so open and earnest that Ca
leb felt his satisfaction growing He
was glad she appreciated his taste.
They discussed the picnic and her
friends, in friendly fashion. Thurston
had returned to his Fresno vineyards.
The vedders, It seemed. had liked Gu
lei and wanted to see more of him.
Carmen had reiterated her determina-
tlon to insist upon new beret from
him.2"If II was only a souvenir of the
OCCASION" she had said. Betty APP
peared inclined to tease him a little
about the impression he had made on
Carmen.
q am afraid l shall not see much
Of Miss Wilson," he said Il expect s
10 be very busy shortly. '
She did not inquire specifically what {
he meant and he did not volunteer It, {
He did not mean to discuss his dis I
,Overy with anyone until II was an &C
fact-unless II became nee c
sssaIy In the order Of business. Later v
he might have to breach the subject
o Betty and her father. 8
At the end OF an hour he rose to go b
md the girl ordered his horse saddled.
She gave him her hand. cool and Il