The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-22

| fierce and savage like that wildcat" &"
YES" she admitted with a sigh
"We're all under the spell of it, all
hard and relentless, kinda. But we
don't have TO be-what is it YOU
called that NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
sly. The desert shows it's teeth
| most of the time. It's full of sting
and barb and thorn. But that's
only one side of it. All the time
it's trying to tell US something else,
isn't it?"
His brooding eyes rested on her.
So she, too, felt ii. this wild young
thing, so full of contrary impulses.
Of passionate resentments, of brave
elusive dreams. of mysterious crav-
ings for goodness and beauty. He
forgot that she was of the enemy.
Something primeval stirred in him,
JOY old as the race. that walked
with Adam and Eve In the garden.
Without taking thought of it he
knew that they rode alone in
world wonderful.
whats it tryin' to tell us?" he
asked in his low gentle voice.
Il don't know-quite. But some
thing goOd-and hopeful. The lovely
flowers of the yucca and the cactus
aren't they a promise to us?" She
laughed at herself, soft-eyed. MAY
be that seems silly to you. But it's
the way | feel Tonight, now. In
all this still moonlight the desert
isn't threatening us, is itT
They were drawing up into
country Of creased arroyos. On the
crest Of a hillock they stopped and
looked back across the Painted des-
ert. The man was for a moment
carried out of himself. Looking at
this starry-eyed girl, clean and in
nocent and rhythmic in the fresh
ness of her youth. 1t seemed pos
sible to escape the Inheritance of
his dark environment. There was
something in life deeper than hate
and selfishness and revenge IL he
could only find it.
Down the wind came drumming
the sound of hoofs. The two lis
tened In silence. Each, sitting poised
and alert on their mounts, knew
that several horses with riders were
moving rapidly toward them. The
fact had its significance In a coun-
try where one might travel a day
without meeting a human being.
Voices became clear, snatch OF
laughter. an oath. Sllhouetted
against the skyline, three COW
ponies moved along the ridge
across the arroyo.
Julia gave a little cry Of greet.
Ing. lost In the clipclop Of the hoofs
and the chuffing OF the saddle leath.
er. She turned to her companion.
to suggest that they canter down
and intercept the riders. But the
words dice on ber lips.
The man beside her was watch.
ing the riders as they descended
from the ridge and disappeared. He
sat crOuched, eyes narrowed to
hard shining slits OF light, teeth
clamped like vice. The change
In him shocked her. He had be
come a machine designed to stalk
and kill, desert animal savage and
ferocious, the deadlier for the STILL
ness Of his emotion.
"Did you-know who they were?"
she asked.
The eyes that looked at her were
chill. He nodded without speech.
Il reckon Dad sent them to bring
me home"
She knew he would not accept
that explanation, since she could
not believe 1t herself. They had
come through Tincup pass and we're
headed south. Moreover, they car
ried rifles. Why? What DID they
want with them?
Does 1t need three men to bring
you home-two Texas hired killers
like Stone an Gitner, as well as
yore brother?"
KILLERS Who says my fathers
men are killers" she famed. "Who
are you. anyhow"
"Wils McCann," be flung back at
her.
He could see her recoil and stiff
en-. II might have known 1t. You
liar" She threw the epithet like
a missile in his face. IF I were a
man"
you've got an able-bodied broth
err" he suggested ironically. Maybe
you could hire him to take crack
at me from the mesquite. He might
have better luck next time"
II don't know what you're talking
about" the girl said scornfulIy.
ASK him when you see him
again. He wouldn't lie. Jasper
wouldn't. He's a Stark, you know"
She swung her horse and gave ii |
q touch of the spur. Before 1t had |
gone twenty steps the man was rid
ing beside her.
''Hit the trail I" she ordered hotIy. |
II don't need your help to get |