The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-07-12


heels a sadness came, the odd. unac-
countable feeling OF personal loss and
sorrow which had assalled her that
night at Myra's.
She shook herself, mentally and
actually, and was angry at herself
again. and when this man spoke she
listened. forgetting.
I'm violent man, Miss Savarin."
he said strangely, land my life won't
bear tn light-but q thing like that
makes my blood boil. There ain't no
manner of use hurting something that
can't fight back, and a woman an Z
child-well. they're set aside, some
way, like starvln' kitten, or a dog
that no one wants. No kind of man
would do them harm-not an be 4
man."
You think that-honestly7 said
Sonya. Right In your hearth"
"Why. of course" he said surprised.
Don't your"
Eyes. oh. yes. woman feels like
that. but men are different. | just
wondered"
Have you been back to Lone
Mesa7' he asked presently.
NO." said Sonya, II haven't. I've
been pretty busy. housekeeping and
sewing. Have your"
"Twicet. At night. Watched tn
moon come up across TIL desert, and
1t was wonderful man can't de-
scribe it--like new life comm to 4
dead world"
Il know" said sonya, I've seen 1t
from there myself"
"Alone7 My Cd, Miss Savarln. you
shouldn't be goin' around this country
by yourself like thatr
"Why not7 I'm perfectly safe. Every
one knows me, and there isn't Nav
ajo. drunk or otherwise, who'd say
word to me-"
Not tn Navvys, no. ma'am," he
said painfully. but they Amt all there
are, you know"
How well she knewi But she was
sorry the inference had been drawn.
las for being drunk--will you be-
lieve me when / say haven't touched
glass or bottle since-since that
day-on tn cliff Every time I've tried,
your face has come before me plain
as plaln-the white fury of 1t. the
courage-G-dI / choke an quit try.
In"
| I'm glad,r she said. "DIdn't tell
you 1t was never too late to look uni
Didn't TT
Sure you did. but that don't mean
anything In this case. I'm Just telling
you that your face stopped my liquor.
It'll stop lot of things for YOU
the girl said In a rush and was as
tonished at herself
"What-do you meanr' he said
slowly.
'I--oh. don't know" said Sonya.
trembling. "only I know you've got to
stop-stop that Border stuff. That
you've got to change-the leopard
spots"
'Yon," he said, wetting his lips,
which had suddenly lost their color,
"you-want me to-do that7"
Yes" said Sonya thickly, Eyes"
Then, by Cd" he said through
his teeth, "pll--"
What he meant to say was not an
parent, for at that moment they both
heard what they had been too tensely
strung to hear before-the roar OF q
motor In the sky. A small gray ship
slipped down directly over their heads
and dropped to landing on the desert
ont beyond. The man took one look
and reaching out an arm, he pushed
Sonya and Darkness back into THE
canyons mouth, I'm d'Oro shielding
them both. The touch of his breast
against her shoulder, the scent OF him.
tobacco and sweat, the nearness OF his
bronze cheek, sent wave OF weakness
over the girl.
Get backl' he rasped. "for tn love
OF heaveni Go In deep, please, an
don't come out till It's gone"
Then he Ind struck hts huets to TN
dOro's shining tanks and Was out like
I flash across the sand.
For moment Sonya sat where he
had left her, shaking Al with 4 chill,
bewildered and a little scared.
What was thisf
What had driven the blood from his
facet
And why did he 60 straight to the
plane Ii he was frightened7
Here was the answer to some of her
questions, that she knew instinctively.
IL only she could 90 out there her.
self She could not even see from
where Darkness stood, 10 prompt and
10 efficient had been his action. But
she must see. Sonya's lips set, as
they did when she faced a crisis for
her skill, and she dismounted and,
dropping Darkness rein, went forward
carefully the few steps that separated
her from ths sheer edge of the can
yon's mouth. Taking of her hat, she
carefully leaned along the rock until
her line of vision reached the open
and the plane. And what she saw be-
Uildered her more than she had been
before The Blue-eyed One was OFF
I'm dOro, and one man was on the
ground beside him. while another was