Nogales international., 1935-01-12

-: - $50
| hard to imagine ever needing a 6se
after that sunshine outside"
"Wait until the ripp:og nights
come. They can be chilly :loa1Ea
now" He fingered in the doorway.
"I'll do chore or two for Aartha
before she gets after me, and :n*s
if you're ready, we can take iouS
around Or perhaps you'd rather
unpack first"
Before I've seen my own ranch!
Never! l just want to get out some
sensible shoes. III join you in just
a minute"
He went, but with a backward
look. Interested and not little
puzzled. He knew that the girls
of his own generation did practically
what they pleased, but they didn't
usually please to bury their talents
in humdrum and unspectacular farm
work. Perhaps it was just a whlln,
or a let-down after love affair,
or-Oh, damn it, what business was
it OF his, anyway? He went to flnd
Martha Larrabee.
Left to herself, Anne grimaced
frankly at the slightly dingy look
of her new quarters, and blessed
Martha's stern creed of soap and
water. She slipped into a pair OF
smart sport shoes, and hurried cut.
Mrs. Larrabee, l can't ask two
perfect strangers to do all my work
for me. It's awfully nice OF them
to be willing, but it's really too
much"
MY names Martha" said that
capable woman composedly, and
don't. you worry about the work.
1t won't hurt EN-. Besides, they'd
want to anyway. It's only neigh
borly. Now you run along and tell
Barry to show you around, but be-
fore he goes he might as we'll help
Boone out with that table. |
thought we might have supper
early, and eat it outdoors"
A step sounded on the porch.
Anne knew already whose it was.
I've brought you some water,
Martha. The we'll seems in good
shape, but I'll take better look at
it tomorrow It's placed right for
drainage, too"
He sighted Anne. White, even
teeth flashed. "All ready for action?
Come along, and I'll show you the
estate"
She trudged off gaily with him.
to look at her kingdom. Martha
looked after them, with eleYated
brow and that little quirk at the
corner OF her smiling mouth.
= Him" she said cloquently.
"Runnin after a girl"
The tour of inspection took in the
hay barn and wagon shed, tool
house and store house, disused
blacksmith shop cluttered with odds
and ends, fairly good cabin with
several bunks, used, no doubt, III
buster days. There were farm inn
plcments more or less in repair, a
fair assortment of tools, some no
ticeably patched harness and quite
respectable saddle.
They left these dusty details be-
hind them and walked slowly down
beside the little creek, hustling
busily along over its stones. Young
willows crowded close to its banks,
cottonwoods lowered gracefully,
golden green with young leaves.
1t was quiet and lovely here.
"An Indian" said Barry Duane,
would feed a tribe on what
Simpson wastes. A primitive dam
out there and some irrigation
bitches on each side would add acres
to this place. But try to make
them do it,"
There was a curious bitterness
in his voice, out Of all relation to
such harmless subject. She
wondered.
Why, I think it sounds excit-
ing"
broke off with an apologetic grin.
Don't let me get started. It's a
hobby of mine. Come on, let's go
up to that knoll. You will get
good view down your little valley
ana nice glimpse OF SOIHc dSPcHS
on the other side. When they turn
in the autumn that upper slope is
like running gold"
bitches and views and creeks,
bitterness and an eye for mountain
slopes running with autumn gold
An unexpected young man Life
might not be so solitary here after
all.
That had been hours ago. They
had eaten picnic fashion, with zest-
full appetite and in the open air.
Strange that it should seem SO ma
tural! They had talked Of deserts
and of deep bosomed hills, Of the
temperamental habits Of the dry
sandy washes in the season of rains.
OF everything, in fact, except the
reason why a girl with beautiful
hands and the smart tailoring OF
expensive city shops should have
elected to live on little ranch in
an isolated valley.
Then finally, rather reluctantly,
her two sun-browned guardians had
climbed into the disreputable car
and departed.
After that she had tied herself
into a big apron and worked with
Martha, despite protest, and now,
after two hours Of beating and dust
ing and washing and dragging