The Washington times., 1934-12-13

the water holes and is patrolling
the land with his henchmen.
And yet you talk about having
a fight forced on you. Why,
Sari wouldn't dare do this if he
weren't sure of your backing
and your influence with the
Governor" For a moment he
hesitated, then added, There is
one thing has always been a
mystery to all of us here in the
desert-how you have let your
self be hoodwinked by Nicholas
Sari and accepted his word in
preference to your own sons"
Defiance
Again that stubborn look crept
into Solon LoWell's eyes. and
Barnes stopped as he felt the
hand of his sister gently touch
his arm. Then calmly but very
earnestly he added, "As long as
I live I'll publish the truth about
this rotten steal until the stencil
becomes so great every decent
man in the Southwest will de-
mand justice"
What will you sell the Times
for?"
THE Times is not for sale to
you or Sari at any price,"
For a silent moment Lowell
looked searchingly into the
others face, then laid his hand
heavily on Barnes shoulder.
"Still the old crusader of the
desert, eh? Well, I like your
fire, Will. Let's hope that if the
day ever comes when we must
be enemies we can be friendly
ones"
Lowell looked toward the girl
and his eyes softene.d After all,
there isn't enough sand in all
this state to make up for losing
the friendship of Nora"
He Strengthened his tall, spare
figure. Il leave for Phoenix TO-
night to see the Governor, and
tomorrow a bad situation in
Washington calls me- East. I
shall not come back this way
But before I 60" the mans
eyes raised painfully and he
turned to the girl, Il want you
to take me to where Bruce lies"
She said no word, but slipped
her arm through his.
It was a gentle, sunlit knoll
just back of Verde, where for
turbulent generations the men
of the desert had buried their
dead. Names Of the adventur-
Gus vanguard of many lands
were carved on those time-worn
stones-names of fighting Irish,
of British younger sons, and
restless men of the North.
Proud, sonorous names of Span
ish conquistadores who for their
brief span lorded it over this
domain-all these had made his
tory within the border country
and in passing bequeathed the
memory of those days as a heri-
tage to the next generation
all these. their striving over, lay
at last in that quiet, sunflecked
burying ground that looked out
over the eternal desert.
Too Late
Shaded by tamarisk and cyp.
ress, the two solitary figures
came slowly down the well-worn
path and stopped at last before
a grave, newly turned and flower
covered, where no headstone yet
stood. Beside it white shaft
bore the name of Solon Lowell'S
wife. Uncovered, the graying
man stood there, in utter silence.
while high above him the wind
caused the crisp dead grasses
at his feet to rustic like
sand. Dry-eyed and motionless
he looked down in stony con-
temptation, then slowly shook
his head. ''Too much of me
lies buried here on the edge of
the desert" It was as if the
voice came from far away. so
low it was, so emptied Of any
human passion, except perhaps
regret.
I'VE were strangers" the
voice went on. Ever since his
birth we were Strangers-and
now-too late" He looked at
the girl standing so close be.
side him, her eyes bright with
tears. "Too late. What curse
was laid on me, Nora, that
always my own flesh must be
strangers to me? Always
something between. Where is
the fault? Is it mine?"
She pressed his hand tight
in both her own, and her
voice in answering was softer
even than her eyes. Perhaps
there is no fault-not really.
To Be Continued
Copyright. 1884, By Tom Gill. Distributed
by King Features Syndicate, Inc.