The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-06-07

lashes- one sQuafted patiently Dy the
heap OF skins and blankets, her I'm
gers on Little Moons hot wrist
SO the hours passed-and the crisis
came. tense, painting hour. with the
silver thread In the little tube running
up CHASTITY record, and the patient
dark head rolling at last In unendur-
able suffering.
Sonya held the moving hands, bathed
the drawn face.
| Hold Observation-Disclosures
steady she kept saying In Navajo,
hold tight. little mother"
And after timeless space when she
neither moved nor took her eyes from
the others features, there came 4
creeping Stiffness hush, 4 cessation
OF movement The weary head dropped
sldeWise. the thin hands became quiet
| Sonya loosed them and reached fer
her stethoseope, her hypodermic oiled
and ready with Its needle In = cup OF
sterile water. This was the crux, and
she must not fail-for Two Fingers
and the babies out In Chez wash some
| where.
She did not fail.
| With the sun on the western rim
OF the austere desert the Indian came
| up the wash with one child asleep on
his shoulder. the other on his back.
Far or he saw Sonya standing at
the hogan's door and stopped 4 long
moment to study with his eagle eyes
her pose. her manner.
She stood tall and straight, and one
hand was laid high up on the bleached
pole OF the doorway. the other rested
on her hip. Her head was up, too,
and at the sight Two Fingers swung
out In a swift dog-trot-
1T In well. Blue South Woman" he
said with conviction an he came to
her; You have saved her"
ut Is WE'LL" said Sonya proudly and
smiled into his dark face.
Without another word he went into
the hogan and looked down at Little
Moon, sleeping heavily with 4 sweat
upon her skin.
So the night came down, blue with
Its dark sky. silver with Its stars. and
Sonya lay down ON the second pile Of
skins and went to sleep with her hand
on Little Moons
Two Fingers sat all night In the
hogan's door, and none might know
what was In his mind of gratitude and
hope and silent Joy.
Sonya was up by dawn, and Little
Moon was awake, weak unto death
but peaceful. Sonya fed her and made
a pot OF the precious Cruel and instruct
ed the man In its giving. Its protection
from contamination.
"Youd better 90 to the trading post,
Two Fingers" ahs told him. and get
soma more oatmeal biz package.
Take the children with you. She will
be all right She needs rest now, no
worry. and much Cruel Also. pres
emily, mutton broth. 70 today to my
own place--to sleep-and / will como
back. Her life Ia yours now. See that
you keep 1t by doing as tell Fyou."
To Little Moon herself she said, II
go now--to rest--but will come
again. Drink the Cruel AZ / have given
II to you. little at time, and sleep
much-sleep all you can. So viii you
walk In the sun again"
Then she was outside the hogan.
pulling on her gloves, her saddiebags
at her feet. waiting for Two Fingers
to bring her horse.
He put the bags In place, and over
the saddle his eyes vera on her
gravely.
There WAS i Blue Woman of the
South once" he said In Navajo, whose
son. being son OF the Sun god, too.
delivered the Navajos from under the
earth. She was all goodness-ths
Turquoise Woman. She makes her
hogan In your heart"
To save her life Sonya, who knew
the legends OF these people, could not
help the tears that sprang to her
eyes. 1t was because she was a little
tired. maybe BIZ unstrung with the
recent ordeal--but Two Fingers was
telling her that she had delivered him
and his. Before she could reply a
sound struck on the stiffness, the
crack of horses hoof against stone,
and she looked quickly down the wash.
There, almost upon her, was Rod
ney Blake on Serge's bay mare.
why. Rod r. abe cried. How In
the world did you 1nd met"
Serge told me the way. Are you
ready7
Eyes. Just going. Oh, I'm glad you
camel TIN be grand ride back with
the sun coming up. This Is Two Fin
gers, whose wife Ia sick"
The Indian looked up, but Rod
Blake did not see him. 1t was N Il
she had not spoken the last few words
or as II they had not penetrated hii
consciousness
"Yes," he said, sit will, though |,
has been cold"
"All right" said Sonya, reaching fol
Darkness rein. "Let's 90. I'm ready
and so Is Darkness. He's been pennet
up too"
She did not finish, for another SOUND
came out Of the profound stiffness o.
A. n..-~taa 49, ~hrN1n nnd u1idm nf !