The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-05-31
CHAPTER l
Lone Mesa.

SKY cupped serenely above. and still
she endured with her mouth set and
her dark eyes flaming upward at the
face which topped the mesa's rim.
This was a mans face, young and
lean and weathered as the land about
face Wild as hawks, with long blue
eyes that watched her painfully.
Moreover. 1T was drunken face-or
It had been ten minutes ago.
Now 1t was SOLDERING fast, and there
was sweat at Its temples.
Let go with one hand-please-an
catch tn rope" Its owner begged. "for
tn love of GodI"
Leave God out of It the girl
painted thinly. "A lot you know about
him..
Then for your folks, miss. Haven't
you got some folks somewhere who'd
break their hearts II you'll you
fell7"
"Sure l have-a brother who'd kill
you II he knew"
I'D give him tn chance. Only
catch tn rope. It's little pull. Ill
have you up here In minute"
For what7' she asked bitterly.
The man groaned.
"F0r your life-an your safety"
You give me your word7"
Yes. VIII you take 1T"
Il will. Swing that loop to my other
shoulder. I'm left-handed."
With the expert precision of a
trained COW hand the man swung the
loop around her slim body. With 4
cat-lIke sweep of her left hand the
girl caught 1t. let go the bare root of
the dead pinon pine stump on the rim
which had saved her. and swung clear.
Hand over hand the man raised her
the scant ten feet which had separated
them and pulled her over the edge OF
the cliff. Together they rose to their
feet and stood looking Into each others
eyes with tragic tenseness which pre-
cluded speech.
Then the man stopped and picked
up the girls wide hat and tImidly
held 1t out to her. She took Ii without
a word. set 1t on her dark head,
brushed the white, sandy SLIT of the
cliff-face from her shirt and riding
breeches. and watched him catch her
horse and lead Ii back.
She took her rein and swung up In
her saddle, her lips set In tight line
above her firm chin. In that tense
silence she leaned to the start. when
he caught her horses bit
@I-miss." he said thlckly, II want
TOTO say that ain't ever felt SO bad
In my life I've done q LOT of things
that wouldn't bear light. but nothin
90 bad az this | never made so big a
mistake In judgment In all my days.
an there amt no excuse can offer.
1ust--just didn't know woman lived
who'd rather die than--than-"
"No?. said the girl like a rasp.
you've got lot to learn, then. Now,
get out of my way"
She lifted the rein again, leaned In
her saddle, and the tall black horse
beneath her leaped to his stride from
4 standing start.
Across the high mesa she went like
4 streak of flame, her scarlet shirt
against the blue sky making fire In
the spirit of the man who stood watch
ing her. When he could no longer
hear the sound OF her horses feet slid
Ing In the loose stone silt he stopped
and picked up his own hat. For a
long time he held 1t In his two hands,
staring at II unseeing.
Down on the sandy levels the girl
gave her horse his head and sailed
away toward the north and east. Two
hours later she rode into the stone
tagged patio OF her brothers ranch
house and swung off with the last
thunder of the iron-shod feet.
That was pretty piece of horse
manship, Sonya." said mans voice
quite spectacular. How long have
you ridden like thatf"
"Oh, hello, Rod Why, don't
know. Ever since I've been In this
country, | guess-five years now. It's
4 land that makes for flight and Wide
gestures"
Il see. You've been gone an uncon-
scionable time. Whereve you beenT
oyer beyond Chez wash. There's
sick woman In a hogan. and I'm
afraid she's going to die"
shadow passed across the girls
face, darkenIng II for moment.
These Indians are so pltiful. Rod,
so patient, so hopeless. And they are
80 poor They make me fairly qnes-
ton destiny sometimes"
MY darling Why bother your dear
head? What's one Navajo more or
less?"
II wish you wouldn't talk like that
Rod she said earnestly. IF you
knew them like do you couldn't
They are lost people, that grant
you, who know they are lost, and they
are going down to oblivion like gal
liant ship with It's sails set and flags
flying. You don't understand, Rod"
NO" said the man, getting up and
coming toward her, II don't. Neither
do | want to. | only understand that
your absurd devotion to them Is keep
- x.o,, fr,v, no nd frnr. upnr RIGHT.