The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-06-07
CHAPTER II
6onyz Gets 4 New Name.

BY early dawn Sonya was up and
dressed. her saddlebags replenished
with such remedies as she might need
for her battle with Old Man Death In
the hogan beyond Chez wash. Dark
ness, full fed and watered, waited pa
ttently In the patio. She stood In the
dim Kitchen with a cup of coffee In
one hand. hastily made sandwich
In the other. and talked ioWly to Lila.
.It's going to be hard day, old
DEAR" she said. land | may not get
back tonight. II don't, don't worry.
I'll be with Two Fingers and the
babies and poor Little Moon. II she
seems to be going. I'll not leave her"
NO" said Lila, mo, of course not.
know. What shall tell Rod when
he gets up7"
He knows I'm going--I told him
last night--hut not that might stay
over. Tell him again how 1t Is with
Little Moon-and mention the babies"
They're just dirty little Navajos to
him.
They're tragic babies just the
same" said Sonya sharply. land he
will have to zee it. Well, 70 long.
I'm off"
She set down her empty cup. pulled
on her gloves. and went softly out.
She Rugged Darkness nose. which
nudged her breast after little rite
that was common between them, and
went up his tall side and into her old
saddle with the easy grace OF work
Ing COW hand.
The big horse, hard as iron and per-
feet In training, leaned to the almost
imperceptible motion of hand and
rein on his neck, and trotted out OF
the patio. Once on the sandy stretch
OF level country he rolled away In 4
long and tireless lope, a harbinger OF
hope, a brlnger Of comfort to the
Iowly.
Far to the south and west Sonya
could see Lone Mesa. She loved the
great tableland. Times without num-
Der she had climbed Its steep trail on
Darkness. to ride Its three-by-hve-mlle
top, to silt In the sun beside Its ancient
pueblo walls with their rotting lad
ders. to stand on It's sharp-cut rim and
scan the lone world below. Until yes
terday nothing had ever disturbed her.
nothing disputed her right OF way
until yesterday.
At the thought her face flushed red
with anger at the man who had ridden
her down to the mesa's edge and
pulled her from her saddle, his hand
some face aflame with rapine. She
felt the blood burn along her cheeks.
1t was resentment she felt. the fierce
rage OF indignation that anyone or
anything should interfere with her
freedom and her right to 1t. Her dark
eyes were hot with 1t. her soft mouth
act In prim line. But the look she
gave the mesa as she rode along be-
aeath 1t was neither fearful nor re-
signed. II was look Of promise. as
If some stubborn thing within her
would take her to Its lonely heights
more often than usual now.
The sun came up Az she and Dark
ness entered the broad mouth OF Chez
wash with Its red sandstone walls,
and little later they came In sight Of
the hogan OF Two Fingers A round,
low habitation OF single room, laid
I'D OF fiat stones one above another,
like fakes of prehistoric dough. II
From its central rise thin thread of
smoke assembled. Something caught
at Sonya's heart--lt was 30 stark and
poor home. lts people so helpless.
Two Fingers met her beside the water
hole. He was man of around thirty,
weathered like dark leather. his pa
tlent face as native to the land as
Lone Mesa itself, and there was about
him simple dignity. as there was about
the poorest of these Indians. He wore
a blue flannel shirt, corduroy pants
held by a silver-studded belt. and his
hair was long and bound In two neat
doubled flares on the back Of his head
Though he spoke fair English and had
4 slzahle band Of sheep. this manner
of wearing his hair stamped him as q
wild buck one of those who haf
not yet become entirely civilized. Fol
,ne thing, Two Fingers did not drink
and for another. he still worshlped his
ancient gods. Sonya liked him.
Now she said. Hello, Two Fingers
How Il she this morning."
bad" ha said briefly and reached