The Coolidge examiner., 1931-08-14


spoken, almost careSSing voice OF
the southwestern cowman ano
ranger. AT this Sabra's anger, born
of fright, vanished. Besides, he
was so young-scarcely more than
boy.
We'll" she explained, a little
sheepishIy, 81 was worried.
My husband went off on the track
of a deer hours ago
he hasn't come back then
when Clim l came out and
he was gone. . l was $3.50
Wont you sit and rest yourself,
ma'am" suggested the spokesman.
The words were hospitable enough,
yet there was that in the boys tone
which conveyed to Sabra the sug-
gestion that she and Gin had bet
ter be gone. She took Gins hand.
Now that her fright was past she
thought she must have looked very
silly running down the draw with
her tears and her pigtail and her
screaming. She thanked them, u.s.
ing little southern charm and
southern drawl, which she often
legitimately borrowed from the
ancestral Venables for special oc-
casions such as this.
I'm ve'y grateful to yOu-all, "
she now said. You've been mighty
kind. If you would just drop
oro1Dd to onr cop,D I,p, Sura INV
husband would be delighted to
meet you"
The young man smiled more
sweetly than ever. and the others
looked at him. an ineXplicable
CLINT of humor in their weather
beaten faces.
Il sure thank you, ma'am.
We're movin' on. my friends here
and me, PrOnto. Floyd. how
about you getting a piece of deer
meat for the lady, seeing she's
been cheated of her supper. Now,
if you and the little fella don't
mind sittin' up behind and before,
why, I'll take you back a ways.
You probably run fu'ther than you
expected, ma'am, scared as you
was" She had, as matter of
fact, in her terror, run almost half
a mile from camp.
He mounted first. His method
of accomplishing this was some
thing of a miracle. At one moment
the horse was standing ready and
he was at its side. The next there
was flash. and he was on its back.
1t was like an optical illusion In
which he seemed to have been
drawn TO the saddle as a needle
flies TO the magnet. Gin he drew
up to the pOmmel. holding him
the horses rump, clung with both
arms round the lads slim waist.
Something of a horSewOman. she
noticed his fine Mexican saddle.
studded with silver. From the
sides of the saddle hung hair-cov-
cred pockets whose bulge was the
outline of gun. A slicker such
as is carried by those who ride the
trails made a compact ship-shape
roll behind the saddle. Suddenly
she noticed that the young rider
wore gloves. The sight of them
made her vaguely uneasy, as
though some memory had been
stirred. She had never seen a
plainsman wearing gloves. 1t was
absurd. somehow.
A hundred feet or so from the
camp he reined in his horse alb
ruptly, half turned in his saddle.
and with his free hand swung
Sabra gently TO the ground, lean
ing far from his saddle and keep
ing q firm hold on Gin and reins
as he did so. He placed the child
In her upraised arms. wheeled, and
was gone before she could open
her lips to frame word of
thanks. The piece of deer meat.
neatly wrapped lay on the ground
at her feet. She stood staring after
the gallOping figure, dumbly. She
took Gins hand. Together they
ran toward the camp. Isaiah had
fire going, pot of coffee bub-
bling. His greeting to Gin was
sternly admonitory. Ten minutes
later Yancey galloped in, empty
handed.
What chase he led me! Twice
| thought | had him. I'd have run
him into Texas if | hadn't thought
you'd be-"
Sabra. for the first time since her
marriage. felt superior TO him was
Impatient of mis- tale of prowess.
She had her own story to tell.
spiced with indignation. -" and
just when ! was ready to die with
fright. there he was. talking to
these four men, and sitting on-the
knee of one of them as though he'd
know him all his life. eating nuts
Yancey seemed less interested in
the part that she and Gin had
played in the adventure than in
the appearance and behavior of the
four men in the draw. and especial
ly the charming young man who
had so galIantly brought them
back.
Thin faced, was he? And q
youngster? About nineteen or
twenty? What else?"
'Oh, low voice. and kind OF
sweet, as though he sang tenor
And his teeth"
1ancey interrupted. Long
weren't they? The two at the side
| mean. Like a wolf's?"
"Yes. How did you Do you
know him?"
"Sort Of" Yancey answered
thoughtfully.