Arizona state miner., 1926-10-02
The Water Bearer

remarks, together with little summa-
ries supplied him by Betty Clinton
soon put Caleb in possession Of sur
face information concerning the mem
bers of the party.
Thurston had been bank clerk, los
ing his position in the merger of bank
ing interests. But he had possessed
sound commercial faculties and,
backed to some extent by his uncle,
he had started raisin growing in the
Fresno valley. Now he owned hun
dreds Of acres and was rated almost q
millionaire, soon to pass that mark.
Henry Vedder was editor Of the Pho
neer, weekly published in Golden,
OF recognized literary merit. His wife
had leaning toward modern esthet-
les, extending to her gown and her
mode of hairdressing. She apparent
ly saw nothing except through the
medium of her husband and she hung
on his every word in the attitude Of
one who eagerly waits the opportu-
nifty to encore the performance of a
favorite dramatist
George Brompton was an artist
I who specialized in mural work. He
was the most diffident of all the COM
pany, with an especial shyness toward
| Carmen Wilson, which that vfvacious
parsonage did not appear to regard
as the kind of tribute to her charms
that she preferred.
Thurston and Betty Clinton had
[ IrfH
| picnic on horseback. The rest had
come in a blackboard, by the longer
road, wagon preceding with the ma
terials for the barbecue. Luis Padflla
had come mounted. The vehicles and
the horses were slowed in the old
barns. The whole party was return
ing to Ell NidO In the early evening.
where Maria was now preparing
fitting dinner for the fiesta of her
young senorita's birthday.
"You are TO come, too," she insisted
to Caleb. "And stay over tomorrow.
am not to be denied anything today
and 1 make that an order. You need
not feel that you are crowding or
were not included in the original in
vita tion. There is lots of room.
"You have made it an ORDER" said
Caleb. '"That settles it."
Here again was a different side to
the girl, he thought, as he listened to
her lighthearted talk, admiring her
quick wit. He caught himself watch
ing her closely whenever she laughed.
The inside of her mouth was as pink
as kittens and she laughed without
reserve, so that one caught a gleam
Of even rows of teeth that needed no
dentist, backed by the rosy glow of
health.
Caleb enjoyed himself thoroughly,
the food, the company, the talk and
the shady spot beside the stream.
After the meal, Betty Clinton pro-
posed an excursion. Vedder claimed
to have had an inspiration for a poem
and said that he was going to try to
put it on paper in the old garden. His
wife was no more to be detached from
him than a limpet from a rock. Clin-
ton himself made the excuse that he
was not feeling especially energetic
"Then Mr.. Brompton must stay to
keep you company" announced Car.
men. "You and Mr.. Clinton can dis
cuss that pioneer panel. Mr.. Bromp-
ton," she went on to Caleb, while
Brompton smilingly acquiesced in the
arrangement, though the smile was
as wan and lacking in warmth as a
winter sun, "is working on a set Of
panels for Judge Hemingway's new
house. They are to represent Call
fornia, past, present and future. And
MIR. Clinton is brim full of pioneer
lore, aren't you, Mr.. Clinton?'
It was obvious that Carmen Wilson
intended to make the trip to the look
out a foursome. Clinton smothered,
a smile. Brompton seemed to be used
to this sort of thing and the four
started.
They were less than half way when
Betty Clinton suddenly missed her
camera.
II have been intending to take a
photograph of that view for two
years." she exclaimed. "The light Is
wonderful. Wendell, you'll get it for
me, won't you? Wen wait here It's
in the blackboard under the seat"
Thurston went swinging off on his
errand and the three sat down to be
comfortable until his return. The
change of scene seemed to have put
Betty Clinton in more serious mood.
''Have you found your opening
yet?" she asked Caleb.