Bloom of Cactus

the cliff house. At every shot from the rifles of the infuriated

," she soothed. "You'v

g to clasp the nec

you're back! It's been awful! Dad had one o

hooting already. Quit your shaking. I don't

im with innocent childish wonderment. Her piquant little face was flowerlike in its delicate contours and apricot tinting; her big blue eyes were

her amazement. "He'

Carmena reassured her. "Shake

a timid hand. "You-you won't side wi

idn't I tell you we're pards? His name

the soft little hand

mena is right. I will not side with Coch

ps parted in a smile

Then you'll be my bro

ore than fourteen could be so na?ve.

happy, if Carmena

As the down-drooping lashes veiled her dark eyes a deep blush glowed under the tan of her dus

share in a lifetime. He had saved her and she him. Together they had suffered agonies of thirst and exhaustion, and together they had cheated

ight. That she should fancy herself beginning to fall in love with him was quite understandable. The discovery of t

d shotgun thrust out at him from a small slit window in the end wall of the room. Behind the gun, framed deep by the thick stone of th

at was shrill with

p! Drop

between Lennon and t

ad! He's a frie

eyes blink and the muscles of the gray fac

ordered. "Mr. Lennon and I are par

doorway on the right of the window and scurried across the opening into which the crane had swung its l

in mute appeal. He had given her his promise to help her father. T

aughter tells me you were a lawyer. I'

ened to a sh

at you are received here with reservations. Your prese

d Carmena. "We'll all bear witness. Come in now. We're both half dead

anced at

ut the t

," suggested the timid Elsie. "Th

non Carmena took this prepo

t not a drop of tizwin,

fficiency of heavy, comfortable furniture hewn out of cedar. The chairs were seated and backed with tightly stretched rawhide. Se

oup. While her back was turned Farley winked leeringly at the visitor and offered him a half-emptied whiskey flask. Carmena was in ti

equal to the task of satisfying even so ravenous a hunger and thirst as Lennon's. Elsie had come

re was no resumption of the firing. Lennon felt that he understood the reason, when the girl

o a cool dark inner room. He curtly pointed out a rude bed-frame across which had bee