Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-01

Before she could answer him the
great cliff back of the Brazee home
answered for her: "Lay-eee-e-e-e"
The echo delighted her. Jerry
sang out again. He had clear,
really musical baritone, and he
looked particularly happy and
handsome this morning. Lorena dis
covered that the ebullience and
verve of him were contagious to
a degree. Before she knew it she
was yodeling, too. She hadn't real
lied before that the cliff was so
powerful a sounding board.
1.-THE echos best if you stand
near the corral or near the wind
miI," he informed her. Mrs. Fra
zee's big alarm bell gets all mixed
up in it's own notes. It's too close to
the cliff"
"How high is the cliff, Jerry?"
Nearly a thousand feet. Eight
hundred anyway. And straight up"
1T seems to lean over. Hover
over the house. Can you-could I
climb up there? Isn't it a grand
view?
"Sure. You can see from Canada
to South America, more or less.
Indians used it in the old days as a
signal point. Smoke signals and all
that bunk. Chief Cochise and his
Apaches used to be the tough guys
in this border country. Now it's
Luis Escobar. Hal"
"Oh," said Lorenas
"By the way, where did you say
the big brave he-men fighters are
this morning? Sort Of slipped off
in shame, didn't they? They are
artists at lodging Escobar. I may
have to take a half hour off and
bring Senor Luis In myself some
afternoon"
"That would be very sweet Of
you," she said disdainfully. why
don't you?"
"Give me a kiss If I do: Hunh 2"
She didn't answer him. She real
lied, with some regret, that he was
rapidly leading the conversation
into a too personal vein again. She
regretted it, because Jerry Dale
could be delightful boy If he'd
permit himself to be.
For once in his life Mr.. Shot
Rogers refused to trust his own
trusted friends.
II just don't believe it," he was
saying. 1.-THE cows didn't go up our
branch of the stream. I'd swear
ine a showdown with Luis Esco-
bar. And just as often had they
been thwarted. Worst Of all, they
couldn't even understand what
had happened. Almost sullenly
they trudged off to the bunk-house
to go to bed.
Shot was last to leave the Bra
zee porch, and when he finally
started, Lorena Hamilton called
quietly to him.
II didn't tag along after you this
time, Shot," she said sweetly.
He stopped instantly, looking
into the shadows beside the house.
IT didn't see you out here" he
said. How're you doin'?"
"Im just fine. thank you. How
are you?"
"I'm-uh, I'm all right. You-you
feel like maybe walking a little ?"
Il thought you were angry with
me-"
Nom. No. I been pretty cut up
with myself. I couldn't ever be mad
at you. Neverw
"Why Shot! That was a pretty
speech"
"Well-"
We'll, what? Come on, we can
walk over and sit on the windmill
trough and play in the water"
II been playing in water all day.
I'm still soggy." T
"Tell me about it. / just heard a
part Of what you told Uncle
George"
She linked her hand in his elbow
and they walked toward the wind
mill, his spurs clink- -clinking, his
hat scraping against the rough
corduroy pants he wore as he
swung it idly in his right hand. He
gestured with his hat as he de-
scribed the events Of the day. He
found he could talk freely with her.
In fact, he discovered almost at
once that Lorena's presence was
soothing and comfort
ing to his soul, for he had been
more upset inwardly than he was
tired Of muscle and bone.
BY the time they sat on the rocks
near the windmill tower they were
talking intimately and in full trust
again. Lorena felt her heart sing
ing. The day had been a miserable
one for her. She had been imagin-
ing all sorts Of fantastic, sad and
tragic things; hadn't even been
hungry, which was her worst sign.
Just sitting here with Shot, though,
brought new life and interest into
her being. and his own spirits re-
sponded in kind.
1.-THE truth is, Lorena," he was
soon admitting, "I'm not getting
no-not getting anywhere a-tall.
With g. bunch Of armed men, I
mean. We're plumb up a tree. got
to stop depending on rifles and set
down and do some plain and fancy