Nogales international., 1935-01-12

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things around rhe set quietly o.
Sers&.i on tn. ac1iably sagglnq
pM ch.
From som>xhere asar :na iowes
meadow ST.. heard TIC deiioe:A:s
toco.o cf hoofs. r.: 't~r aad Iruiic
ct :.as meadow 9:s+.s. That would
be cae Of her i1o:aes.
Tic ctesdy: -rvact'rg sound
..ade Ger drcwsy. Ths Wiley wa:
SO Gu;ct. ::4e xocd dad :sdges tucked
it in. b*.4 cs tsc |:oyrs tsH peaks
loomed sarl :v. 50 .tecio:;s II, ::lt",':-
light. ',r::;;;'s Ea.1 81. Won
dsred if il woai; BE-:
She had learned ~. ~E9-ne" for
Barry w1s :-.fsar high up in the
hills. She w7:;...itre6 if he had al
ways lived there. He must he
been away to school. He didn't
talk like the c;h=rs. . She liked
him.
{ Martha's solid step sounded back
Of her.
You better get to bed. You loo&
mighty near done o.. to me-"
just lazy. You've done wonders.
l like my ranch, Martha. Perhaps
I'm hopeless greenhorn, but l
do"
80 DO l." said Martha unex-
pcctcdly. "I've always liked it."
ooh, do you?" A certain listless-
ness had gore cat OF her voice. l
thought perhaps-weil. its gener-
ally agreed to be rather run down,
isn't it,"
Nothing that plain, ordinary
hard work and little backbone
won't bring up again" said Martha
bluntly. "There's a home and
reasonable livin' on it. and in good
years there ought to be little over
to tuck in the bank"
She looked shrewdiy down at he
small dark head, at shapeiy. taper
fingered hands claspcd over a
rounded knee. Martha had a head
and used it, but whatever she may
have felt OF curiosity or doubt she
kept to herself She added a brief
afterthougft, cautiously.
And if you evc- got tired Of
ranchin', guess you wouldn't have
any trouble turnir' your money
over Anybody could easily turn
it into a dude ranch, and | gucSs
there's rich men that would like It
| just for the shootin' and hshin' BACK
in the hills New I'm on my way
to bed. We've got to get up early
tomorrow morning"
"All right, Martha. I'll follow IN
minute. Be sure to call me"
The firm step retreated. Anne
was alone again, and thoughtful.
Home and living. It was curious
how precious that seemed now.
Hidden away in her smaller suit
case there was still little store Of
bills in that golden bag, hated and
yet miraculous. Enough 20 buy
some reeded things for her ranch
ito, and a little i'll reserve, always
in reserve, if by any chance disaster
should pursue her even here, and
the need for flight should come
suddenly.
Hide mcr" she whispered fierce
ly. Hold me and hide me, until
no one remembers my face"
A memory stung her like nettle.
She shook it off abruptly and
jumped to her feet.
Four days had passed since Anne
had arrived at this tucked away, ne
elected ranch of hers, four days of
almost unrenlitting work which
had sent her to bed with every
muscle protesting and had swept
her in FIVE minutes into dreanless
sleep.
From the kitchen came a subdued
rattle of pans. Anne's eyes opened
wide and she reached for the watch
lying on an unsteady little table be-
side her bed. Seven o'clock!
A swing and soft thump took
her out of bed, and she threw open
the door and ran out.
Martha, you villain, you've let
me oversleep! Don't you know I'm
a hard-work:ng woman"
Her shrewd eyes warmed, in spite
of an inner protest, as they looked
at the gay little figure in the kitchen
door. Bright eyes and a curly mop
of hair, bare feet thrust into gaudy
Chinese slippers, silken. impudent
pajamas, scarlet and black.
IF you're goin' to run around in
those red pants, you'd better keep
an eye on the door. First thing
you know one OF your reg'lar callers
will be stickin' his head in, and then
whatll you look hke1"
"Why, just like thisP She
plucked a bit of gay silk in each
thumb and forehnger and bowed
extravagantly. Then with a sudden
CLINT in her eye she swung out
slippered foot at a perilous angle
and twirled off in a series of extra
ordinary dance steps. The older
woman stared at her, a girl gone
mad, whirling and swooping, small
feet stamping a curious time beat
in light, staccato thuds.
Like it, Martha?"
Martha got her breath back. "Oh,
go long" she said Grossly, and a
laugh came back to her as the slim
legs flashed through the bedroom
door.