The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-20
CHAPTER HI

The heraldic growing of Ma Pel- phryS roosters, amplif1ed by clear atmosphere and a complete lack of other sound, awoke Mary Melissa Lane next morning. She jumped out of bed, startled.
 'Goodness!" she murmured soft- 1y. The chicken house wasn't 20 feet from her window, and dawn was creeping up on the other side.
 "Thta choo. Miss Lane?" called Ma. we been waitin' on you."
 When her thoughts had cleared the girl had to smile at herself. Many night she hadn't more than started to ebd at this hour she struck match to see her wrist watch. Four-forty a. rn.l
 "Yes, Mrs. Pelphry. Are we to get up now?"
 'Ever'body's up but you, honey. Breakfast on."
 The others had eaten. Hades Jones and the younger man, Holli- man, were already busy with the myriad details of making packs for the mules and horses. Bob Barry sat beside the parlor lamp, working with pencil and papers.
 Morning." he greeted her, cheerily. Sorry to haul you out here."
 She was embarrassed, but she covered 1t with a smile. "I'll get used to it-I hope. Please forgive me. But really had no idea about the time to arise. And no alarm clock, except the roosters."
 They laughed at that. but she quickly spoke again.
 "Dr. Barry, I hope you believe me when I say I want to work as well as put up the money for this trip. I admit I'm inexperienced, but"
 He grinned at her. "Stout fel- lowl But take 1t easy, and learn as you go along. We'll divide up the duties when we get to camp, if you like. There'll be a deal of book work, records and such. You can help there I know"
 Can't I do something now? To- dayI"
 He thought for a moment before he answered that.
 "Why perhaps you can. One item of equipment overlooked yesterday is some clothing for the cook. I arranged for one before you came. He's an Indian, and he's to meet us at my shack. But all redskins are penniless, Miss Lane. How'd 1t do for you to slip over to the store and get him some clothes and tobacco? Store opens at 6 o'clock"
 "All right" she agreed.
 She gave thought to the matter. while eating her breakfast. The meal, incidentally, was a chal- lenge. Ma Pelphry apparently ex- pected a slight city girl to con- sume six enormous hotcakes, with butter, and syrup; three fried eggs; & plateful of biscuits, fresh and hot; assorted cuts of beefsteak dipped in flour and fried, with thick gravy beside them; @ jar of squawberry jam; mug - not a cup-of cavalry-type coffee.
 'Lissa thought 1t best not to ap- pear surprised, but she wondered how to keep from hurting Mrs. Pelphry's feelings. In the end, however, she found that she had done amazingly well. It was the heaviest breakfast she. had eaten in. all her life, she felt sure; the desert air was already getting in it's heady thrusts, slightly intoxi- eating due to altitude. She smiled inwardly at memories of tomato juice and dainty toast.
 "You ain't on your feet yet, honey, but you'll be eatin' all right soon" Ma apologized for her. "Takes a spell to get the train travel out of @ persons bones. always say"
 "Thank you. but 1t was deli cious," Mary Melissa said, and meant 1t. Actually 1t was @ strange delight to eat with zest that way.
 "Now come and I'll help pack your things for the trip" Ma sug- gested.
 "Thank you, they're all packed. I mean" She had given this de- tail no thought; really. Suddenly she remembered the very small bags assembled there by Hades Jones and Hoffman. For an ab- sence of at least a month, she ob- served, they couldn't have more than one change of clothing each Wise Ma Pelphry appeared to read her thoughts.
 You won't really need much, honey,' she counseled. "Just strong outdoor things. Now that pretty pink gown, it."
 But its my bathrobe, Mrs. Pel- phryl"
 Tt may be, honey, but you won't need it. You will be miles from any water hole. Even old Hades cain't pack in water for your bath every night. But it'll be all right
 Mary Melissa regarded this with dismay. The little intimacies of her routine life she realized, would have to be sadly altered. Silently she thanked herself, for the tenth time already, for deciding not to bring maid to Arizona. But she
 CARROLL