| Show Y r 7 r i fr t 1 r rM rMa a 6 r 1 DOUBLEDAY pORAN Co I Inc W N V SERVICE n SYNOPSIS Seeking Socking death by herself from tho the summit of lone I one on Mesa Iosa to escape dishonor at tl U e o hands of or n on desperado Sonya Sonn Son a allows herself to bo be rescued by her suddenly attacker at sobered and rei nt ent at- at The Tho girl eirl Is a colt elf appointed ph n to tho the ajo Na Indians Ing on an nn Arizon sheep ranch with her brother Serge Sere his site Ifo f Ilia inn and heIs their small daughter Gibs D he Is enK to Uhl-I Uhl welthy wo 1 but her heart Ii Iv the tho friendless Jos and she shee shee j ei e edes Littie des a n wedding Sony on pulls Lit tie Moon loon wife alto Iro of or Two T 0 11 a I aNajo Na ijo through the crisis of or an nn nest Two T ringers Fingers Is le deeply to gr tul ful ful Sonin Sonn n again aln meets the min n who I had Insulted her lie He tells 1 J er or ho he bitterly regrets his action mad ind never ne er ha hal a minutes R rete since Inee th t div v Sonya Sona Son a Is fleeted erected but un unforgiving unforgiving tors forgiving CHAPTER Ill III-Continued III Continued t t- t so co o she jogged cl away flY down n Chee fI h her hat liat down o cr her eyes c e ec smiling n little just In the thc lie jo joi of Using Ih Ing and the thc beauty of the thc lie desert There was wis no one olle sick about now that J I little Ittle Moon loon was as getting sell ell welland and she slie would could do come of the thc things cne wanted to do for Cor herself for along a along along long time nor For on one she he would go over o and spend i a couple of or d days I S sIth Ith her friend I Mn ri J I little on the thc Black SIJ Sheep ep She Site hadn t t seen her for three months and she che w wms s erv erv fond of herShe herShe her herShe She started euly to old a if ms much of the day s a heat as possible and made malle the lon long hard ride In good time trotting Into MK Myras I ra S door just as ns she che chens vis ns putting dinner on tile the table I Mira Myra ra a n tall gaunt desert des desert ert bitten of face and fOI form fonn m but dawn fair Inside her soul coul wis wms nt at ather her stirrup before she che could ills dismount mount Mi 1 soul alire e I she cried catch Ing Inci the girl girls s hand now Isn t thIs n a treat trent I l Ah Aim Sonia on om n how ho glad I Iam omit am to see sec you I She put her arm around the girl girls s waist and the two women entered the thc wide snide Ide low nos ranch rauch house where time the fa faor batons or smell of faked baled mutton nail potatoes scented the warm air Son i smiled around at the cool coo deep room so eo plain so BO comfortable comfort s here this tills tad ind Inti courageous Intrepid Myra hued hed her hard life the meal steaming sti-aming on the table was as plain but good hot bread the tl mutton and potatoes onions sliced slice In i n Inear and a can of fru fruIt opened In her honor Myra 1 SI ra rn 0 ned aull a nd ran the Black Blick ranch Oh Son Sonia Sonya 3 said M 1 Myra ra happily I Just can t t tell you ou how good It Is Isto l to see y on I It Its s be been CD a long time sInce we ac e had u l a talk an aD Ira I m ju just jus t gain to lav off ofT the whole hole afternoon n for the matter Come on on Sony a alet alet let s go an nD rest Soil on a folIo followed folIoed ed her Into the dark darkened ened room beyond which sel ed as a athe s 2 the best Jest room roost of the life house On Its wells were ere astonishing paintings of o othe f the desert land In oils rich true glowing glo aSeS tint would could hat ha ha e e haI I drawn their crow cro crowds ds In any galIer gallery of the world These were ere M I ra LI Lit LittIe tics tIe tic s romance her draught of be lut her outlet for that Inner which four foun J I so 0 little chan chanIn e In the st at irk Irh serIce ser sen Ice of the sheep ji Al I Ah b the struck Sonya ne neIth Ith Itu tue and anI l ah aha a s is tS now she slie he stood before e them muscling Its Hs Its It's a shame Min h r she slie sal j 1 Jno floss no situ big Ing her head that these e i cs cm can t t be hung In res re's oi OIl ill Ibe I be some day when hen Im I m there I II see about the matter You goon there then Sonya onya T a It trip tripa trip r al a 11 1 l e od oil n ai Ms h rl ra quid li ly o 0 o aid fald bald Sonia Sonya and ics es Ao 1 I trip Going to sta star sta staI I J guess What the Hie 1 he word ord came quick and sharp Sonia Sonya cOIl a mo moed mo ed uneasily nodded I think so she slie said turning to loop look at Myra M I ra fa gram gra gravely ey sly Wizen hen a woman oman Is engaged to marry a im mm site she goes where when he lie ll cs cs t she h Il Mil his I t knos- knos know No o It Isn t public property but butI Ilm I tim amts Rodney Blake mabe an old college Q friend nd of ol Serge Serges s l line hue man Myra ra 1 stood silent 8 i Sonya s face with her clear clang gray grav grayeyes gr eyes ees Wh Sonya she bhe said present presently ly Iy how liow will we sc e all is er doth do th out you lou ou And 3 et Ct that s only h ness It will be fine line for you lou re ve ye used ell ll cd so fa fast t and deeply In this des desert doert desert ert that Its It's only right you go 10 ba bac where when here you iou ou belong bet ct et the tho re rest t an a life that s comin to you iou ou lou lotu de desere d ser eerie It 11 ell ell ma maybe ell maibe be But now let lets s sIt down and visit 11 o e a 1111 husen en t hat hata h ha a real talk tall test f t for months and months SOD bon 1 1 heard tint that the Brights still III farther o Q cr er east cast hind hall a u pair of 1 twins thins Ins nn An I 1 that ban m ca 11 avina inn ous border thief nd hid been 1 just across the Illo Grinde cruel fled hed n a grim Moslem warning sarning to hi his s kind Iso Mso that lint the thc of the lip I J ord il has coming In to the Blick Shim tp th Ii it elY y nIght on one of Ills his cm t n scant nt jou The two 10 1 0 hIts lilts of ness s seemed emEd to suggest t eich Ich the lon and the till gentle half hulf mad old roan mill sho ho rode rolle the desert ert country year ear Inear In tear ear car out nut In the to e sale souls Con Sonn hid hll seen slen hm hints a time or t two 0 he before fore foreIn In her turn she che lold told Min Myra I r of the sickness of I J ittle Moon loon of Mr Ir t St ter and the thc children he lie hall had ered In from Blue SIm a sushi h and flimsily of the maim linn of I J one Mes and wint shat hid Ind tint that Ih day dayon on the wind scud Ind swept slept s ept top of the thc table laud Mr I I ild Myra Ivra breath lesl li us liS she hc the girl hingIng In ing on the face fice of the precipice shy h did you ion take tahe that jump Son Sonya Hushed flushed MO lib h Do you ion think Id I d care ciro to live lire after aCter after being the ph plaything thIng of a drunken I I Ir Il hat did he lie look looh ill e asked I rl curiously 11 as he a cow bo boa Son t 1 considered c 11 ell he was dres dressed el e a one et ct I J wondered wint t outfit he could not 1 for since s were se ere re all sheep os 0 o er there you lou ou know And he was sas as good to fool 1001 at Till 2111 and slim hipped with Ith the strangest long blue e eyes es esI I er c e er s Sl w Odd eyes es that could change chane In a second They I hey were fierce at Gist first Ol t like lIbe a h b s reek less le s and selfish The Thc made me fu Cu furious just to look 1001 at them And then when lie ice rats siw 1 I wis sas In dead earnest this bout about this tiling they turned tm ned perfectly terrible wIth anxIety like hike a n mans s who silo ho sees a achild achild s child 1 dyIng mad cut n Ill t I help l IH it If 11 you JU see what hat I mean ell an anyway y wiy it its s ancient history and I J hope I never lay lai e eyes es on him again the good for nothing n And now nos tell me about yourself Icon How s the ranch going It wis sas 1 t twilight when the Brame cani ame out Into the ranch yard and some come someone one n wis ms coming conning Into the round stool ode ade corral whale hel e the big tanks shImmered s with Ith S sweet Beret waters raters from the well sell under the windmill was sas as i m strange str crea creature ture If e Bier er er there was wis one tint that sat wearily on OD hIs little gra gray burro burrs lending folding another ind rand inning haying a n third of lilma a thIn stooped figure In rusty black lilac garments g tint that bone bOle about them o something of the dignity of chancel I and ind sacristy A wl wide e d black hit Int sit sat Squarely on the e head of long lon Ian c lute halt that thit feIn fell fellIn 11 In dusty ringlets to his lids shoal shou I ders drs rhe rime tired burros bunos JUri os drank as ns It if iff f f iw and time the master oft off the one lie he ro role 1 stin ling pt p 1 beside side It i while hile It sIll rifled ed Its 11 I thirst I Mira ra hid Donn clo 11 her pits pin and nn went sent ent to thIs tills ne newcomer comer her lie hand hu nd e extended tEnde J Hello sir clr slit she said s-ild Il cr c re glad to vice see e sou ou u f meres s of f feed Cecil In th barns londer minder lut I ut up u your toe stock in ran come came on In Sup Supper per 11 II soon Coon be rell ready Good lood day dllY my slid said the theold theold old n man shaking hands ii with Ith her herI herl he I m glad id to 1 l e here too ton fIle fie Hi road Is long sometimes 0 III times I Ito I e come corn from JunIper 1 lank ink toda today hew he heI I whistled h Min Myra I rint fh 1 t 1 Is isa i a Ion Inn long trail trull an tin n a hard bird one espe- espe dally for burros I Oh they the thedo do well is ell mi my little fi fel 10 lows ions s 1 he re true truc versants cen of the lord ord ord ne never neer er a alms 11 a aya s willing heir reward re Is certain I Im m in sure If It I n Hen ren t l I Id d be un tin u the thi they are so patient so co 0 gen gc n gentie tie lie tie looked it at I Mil I a pith wl his Ills faded old 01 1 dark e ees e es Sure said cald the hastily sure 2 ure the thoi 11 It he be rewarded re Just as assure assure g sure as am an thIn thing The Int smiled stalled relle I knew ou oud d understand tins Irs Mi MiI g little I I Ittle he lie sold said S S- S Same me people don t Times The smile when shen hen I tell them that th Now lion O OJ J III II go upA upA up upA A little later time all sat cat do dorm don n to toa toa a simple meal and an I Sonya Son n a studied him with Ith careful glances glance's Site She had hi heard heart so much about here 11 here he ii hId Ind id come from rom the country did dd not DOt know knoss or where lie he nude made his hl habitat or If it he er c li hind had one In ID r ln rand ind shine summers ummer 8 bent hent and an 1 I winters sinters Inter s cold he rode the thC lonely londy stretches on his tiny mounts carry In his Bible and his lils first mid kit Many Mani Ian a life he had cased ed a In emergency ny m a n dIfference he lie hud had patched up many a n bit of tour cour courage age ht 11 he h hId Ind id put In some falling fulling heart They Ilici called him far ai und and nude Iele the Sel Sen ant shortened hortent from The tenant of the J lord orl mad he had no other name but that tantas lantas fant tic soubriquet lie was wis very old und mind the time rigors of life Ilfe Ind h him to the tho bone bOlle its tins uns had burned his Ills wrinkled kIn to the color of old leather But there wis wms IS In his face fice n a name flame tint that shame 1 the thee e 1 l out of men beholding hard c D lUll Ical as they might 1 t tL e L eThey The They put hurts him up ind Inti fed fN hi Ills his hug hur burros roc roq and listened these thue dark hind riding men of cattle limp and sheep cheep camp ho he toil tol them of their sits sins and the 1101 e a of the lie orld florid orld th tint that t ne never r died How much of It went ent In he lie nc er 1 i new Ince since till this y lire are i t silent Ilent lot limit hut It us as not Ills his hl job jot Jol to i know knots Thil fht was cos liS to gibe the ort ird tint that only So rIO now Sony Solo Oll i 1 h watch atel ed hIm smiling Ing i a little In iii gentle Jentle S sy and recalled 1 the stet les of Ins Ills Joo good goodness goodness 1 ness an 1 hIs lils unbounded Illch sue slie In ht heard V 1 little old mm mar filled with pith un unpin h In zeal hIs Ills si spirit Irit a fi fire tine of eran evanel III e a those e who oho had s rail ed cd the t e e eat t In nn tin earlier he commanded the respect ct of ot all lr C cure In III contact with milli him him- him himlie the lie mad old of the lord Jon J Ilio 1 Imo he sun rent doss do down don n entirely and the vast n t si 1 reid rl of time thc sandy sindi 1 elJ clothed them themselves eh es In royal mill ro 11 purple beyond ond n p s dreams The J lh he world orl wis sas IS i t 10 el place the nt said In Ills his soft old olce lit fit footstool for the feet of Go Cod TI ere wis sms 11 no Bill ll c II In him It of itself Only man made e Cs evil II Mm Man with Ith his hig ced g c eed An and his cruelty I 1 s wis ms d In the lin Im I'm I and his tie lie hind seen n them with his 0 own n e eyes es eshe he the thc Sel Sets Ent of the lord J i ord in hum humble hie ble places 1 limey he tra traveled together by ul night ht mud ind d dinger ranger waited halted on them death and danger and discs ter It Ind struck Just across the tl louder Bolder In tint thit stuk form hung Imn upon a cross crocs It was no common thIef who sho ho rotted there In the windy wind I Isun sun but one who sho ho hid Ind betrayed ed his mister ster himself that master dark darl and cold ind sucked as Infernal fire Cre lIe He was wag a passer po and a force Corce not to be reckoned with willor or questioned Though se hun hunI hundred I Bred mlles miles lay liy between the Border and this sheltered spot still the ther th r F f s b U 4 I r Ir Ira a I p fa far r aS T Presently She Left the Ancient Tank Tan k and Went On Toward the North finger of the Vs One could cou coul d reach even esen e en hue litre The old man had ha d seen Len s Miny shadow shado s 5 Chief of them the laster Masters Master s blue bluee c e eyed cd ed henchman ho o good sta stayed e ed il here time the e Blue Blue eed ed One went scent by bylie bj He lie had Ind heard of him time the th line IllIe last year the time tall one bronze hair sho ho hodS sas dS always alwa t seen een when ushers hen disaster was has as to folio follos A s sign ln and a symbol S of dIsaster this t till III one us with Ith the 1 wild slid lid eves ees es e es And he lie Ind Imad seen him three days di s baLl balk k riding down dorm the trill to lied Hed hock Canyon on on It a home e of solid gold goh goldSo So did the kicked One mount hIs hi followers folIo ers ershell hell ell Its It wis s is growing grousing ro roIn In late and lie he lies wis s tired The Thc old were ere nl al sass S tired So 0 he lie noun find Ind hIs hi blankets and Iu huh I If his friends I lie He rose roce mad ind ho e bowed bossed with n a lean lei gl gi Ice u re remnant of sonic SOllie for ir I gotten otten tint time wont sent ent iwa anu I II a tow toss tile the camp lie he had Ind made with his picks packs and his weny burl bunos os nail Sony oni on i 1 Sa sit still In I er every r atom atom of her lier body hOlly a strange L It seemed us as If n a hush hushIng hus husIng li Ing lug hand hUDd had Ind been laid lall upon her spirit something cold and sinister ler t came down don do n upon lien Iler like a cloud 1 oil II seemed to fill fall with lh us the nig night it and the thc old nuns mans s words surds and pros Irs shim slie shivered ered and find wrapped her h harms arms across each eich other as If f to hut shut It out I hen she che shook her herself he self and listened 1 to Ml M I u 11 i who sho ho hoV w V IS along iving 1 Ing how mad nud the Servant SU nos we weA A strange s old creature Gentle and ai ij kind and quite quite mad so I ra thought Put thought he lie was nos lIS sonic some |
