The sun was more vexatious, being an hour lower, when we bravely entered Benton’s boiling main street. We made brief halt for the finishing up of busi ness ; and cleaving a lane through the pedestrians and vehicles and animals there congregated, the challenges of the street gamblers having assailed us in vain, we proceeded—our Mormons gazing straight ahead, scornful of the devil’s enticements, our few Gen tiles responding in kind to the quips and waves and salutations. Thus we eventually left Ben ton; in about an hour’s march or some three miles out we formed corral for camp on the farther side of the road from the rail road tracks which we had been skirting. Travel, except upon the tracks (for they WQre rarely vacant) ceased at sundown; and we all, having eaten our suppers, were sitting by our fires, smoking and talking, with the sky crimson in the west and the desert getting mysterious with purple shadows, when as another construction train of box cars and platform cars clanked by I chaneed to note a figure spring out asprawl, alight with a whiffle of sand, and staggering up hasten for us. First it accosted the hulk Den ial, who Was temporarily out on herd, keeping the animals from the tracks. I saw him lean from his saddle ; then he rode spurring in, bawling like a calf: “Pawl Pawl Hey, yu-all! Thar’s a woman yonder in britches an’ she ’laows to coma on. She’s lookin’ for Mister Jenks.” Save for his excited stuttering silence reigagij, a minute. Then in a storm - of rude raillery— “That’s a hoss on yon, George!” “Didn’t know yon owned one o’ them critters, George,” “Does she wear the britches, George?” and so forth—my friend Jenks arose, peering, .his*, whiskered mouth so agape that he almost dropped his pipe. And we all peered, with’the Women of the caravan smitten mote but H in^ tenSely'curtous, while the solitary figure, braving our stares, came on to the fires. “Gawd almighty!” Mr. Jenks delivered. Likewise straightening I men tally repeated the ejaculation, for now I knew her as well as he. Yes, by the muttered babble others in our party knew her. It was My Lady—formerly My Jjadyr-clad ia embroidered short Spanish jacket, tlghtish velvet pantaloons, booted to the knees, pulled down upou her yellow hair a black soft hat, and hang ing from tho just-revealed belt around her slender waist, a re volver trifle. She paused, small and alone, viewing us, tier eyes very blue, her face very white. “Is Mr. Jenks there!” She hailed clearly. “Damn’ if I ain’t,” he mum bled. He glowered at me. “Yes, ma’am, right hyar. You want to speak with me! “By gosh, it’s Montoy o’s woman, ain’t it!” were the com ments. “I do, sir.” “You can come on closer then, n^a’am,”- he growled. “There ain't no secrets between us.” y Come on she did, with only an nt’i hesitation and a little u-essiou of the lips. She t our group fearlessly—her £’as crossed mine, but she be yed no sign. j“I wish to engage passage to Salt Lake.” 't 4With this hyar train!” gasped JenTrs. “ Yes. You are bound for Salt Lake, aren’t you!” “For your health, ma’am!” he stammered. She faintly smiled, but her eyes were steady and wide. “For my health. I’d like to throw in with your outfit. I will <*ook, keep camp, and pay you well besides. ” “We haven't no place for a woman, ma’am. You/d best take the stage.** “No. ThereTtbo no stage out till morning. I want to make ar rangements at once—w’ith you. There are other women in this train.” She flashed a glance around. “And I can take care of myself.” “If you aim to go to Salt Lake your main holt is Benton and the stage. The stage makes through in four days and we’ll use thir ty,” somebody counseled. “An’ this bull train ain’t no place for yore kind, anyhow,” grumbled another. “We’ve quit roarin’—we’ve cut loose from that hell-hole yonder.” “So have L” But she did not turn on him. “I’m never going back. I—I can’t, now; not even for the stage. Will you permit me to travel with you, sir?” “No, ma’am, I won’t,” rasped Mr. Jenks. “I can’t do it. It’a not in my line, ma’am.” “I’ll be no trouble. You have only Mr. Beeson. I don’t ask to ride. I’ll walk. I merely ask protection.” So do we,” somebody snig gered ; and I hated him, for I saw her sway upon her feet as if the words had been a blow. “No, ma’am, I’m full up. I wouldn’t take on even a yaller dog, 'specially a she one.” Jenks announced. “What your game is now I can’t tell, and I don't propose to be eddicated to it. But you can’t travel along with me, and that's straight talk. If you can put anything over on these Other fellers, try your luck.” “Oh!” she cried, wincing. Her hands clenched nervously, a red spot dyed either cheefc as she appealed to us all. “ Gentlemen 1 Won’t one of you help me? What are you afraid of ? I can pay my way—I ask no favors—I swear to you that I’ll give no trouble. I only wish protection across.” “Where’s Pedro? Where’s Montoyo?” She turned quickly, facing the jeer her two eyes blazed, the red Bpots deepened angrily. “He? That snake? I shot him.” “What! You? Killed him?” Exclamations broke from all quarters. She stamped her foot. “No. I didn’t have to. But when he tried to abuse me I de fended myself. Wasn’t that right, gentlemen?” “Right or wrong, he’ll be after you, won’t he?” The question held a note* of alarm. Her lip curled. “You needn’t fear. I’ll meet him, myself.” By gosh, I d©E t mix up in no quarrel ’twixt a man and his woman.” And—” ’Tain’t our affair. When he comes he’ll come a-poppin V’ Such were the hasty comments. I felt a peculiar heat, a revulsion of shame and in dignation, which made the pres ent seem much more important than the past. And there was the recollection of her, crying, and still the accents of her last appeals in the early morning. “I thought that I might find men among you,” she disdainful ly said—_a break in her voice. “So I caine. But you’re afraid of him—of that breed, that vest pocket killer. And you’re afraid of me, a woman whose cards are all on the table. There isn’t a one of you—even you, Mr. Bee son, sir, whom I tried to be-friend although you may not know it.” And she turned up6n me. “Yon have uot a word* to say, I am never going hack, I tell you all. You won’t take me> any of you ! Very well.” She smiled wanly. “I drift, along, gentlemen. I’ll play the loue hand. Montoyo shall never seize me. I’d rather trust to the wolves and the In dians. There” be another wag on train.” “I am only an employee ma dajpi,” I faltered. “If I had an outfit of my own I certainly would help you.” She flushed painfully; she did not glance at me direct again, • but her unspoken thanks enfold ed me. “Here’s the wagon boss,” Jenks grunted, and spat. “Mebbe you can throw in with him. When it comes to supers that’s his say ao.o I’ve all I can tend to, myself, and I dou’t look for trouble. I’ve got no love fqr Montoyo neither,” he added. “Damned if I ain’t glad you gave him • dose.” Murmurs of approval echoed him as if the tide were turning.a little. All this time—not long, however—Daniel had been sit ting his mule transfixed and gaping, his oddly wry eyes upon her. Now the large form of Cap tain Adams came striding in con tentions, through the gather ing dust. “What’s this!” he demanded harshly. “An ungodly woman! I’ll h*v« no rafficking in my 0 - . train. Get you gone, Delilah. Would you purue us even here!” "lam going, sir," she replied. "I ask nothing of you or these— gentlemen.” "Them’s the two she’s after, paw,: Jenks and that greenie,” Daniel bawled. "They know her. She’s follered ’em. She aims to travel with ’em. Oh, gosh! She’s shot her man in Benton. Gosh !” His voice trailed off. "Ain’t she party, though! She’s dress ed in britches. ’ ’ "Get you gone,” Captain Ad ams thundered. "And these your paramours with you. For thus saith the Lord: There shall be no lusting of adultery among his chosen. And thus say I that no brazen hussy in men’s gar raets shall travel with this train to Zion—no, not a mile of the way.” Jenks stiffened, bristling. “Mind your words, Adams. I’m under no Mormon thumb, and I’ll thank you not to connect me and this—lady in ary such fashion. As for your brat on horse-back, he’d better hold his yawp. She came of her own hook, and damned if I ain’t be ginnin’ to think—'—” I sprang forward. Defend her I must. She should not stand there, slight, lovely, brave but drooping, aflame with the help lessness of a woman alone and Insulted. “Wait!” I implored. “Give her a chance. You haven’t heard her story. All she wants is pro tection on the road. Yes, I know her, and I know the cur she’ get tig away from. I saw him strike her; so did Mr. Jenks. What were you intending to do ! Turn her out into the night f Shame on you, sir. She says she can’t go back to Benton, and if you’ll be humane enough to understand why, you’ll at least let her stay in your camp till morning. You’ve got women there who’ll care for her, I hope.” I felt her instant look. She spoke palpitant. .“You have one man among you all. But I am going. Good night, gentlemen.” “ No! Wait 1 ” I begged.1 * You shall not go by yourself. I’ll see you into safety.” Daniel cackled. * ‘ Haw haw! What’d I tell yu, paw! Hear himt” “By gum, the boy’s right,” Jenks declared. “Will you go back to Benton if we take yout®’ he queried of her. “Are you ’feared of Montoyo! Can he shoot still, or is he laid out!” “I’ll not go back to Benton, and I’m not afraid of that bully,” said she. “Yes, he can ■hoot, still; but next time I should kill him. I hope never to see him again, or Benton either.” The men murmured. You ve got spunk, anyhow,” said they. And by further im pulse: “Let her stay the night, Cap’n. It’ll be plumb dark soon. She won’t harm ye. Some o’the woman folks can take care of her.” Captain Adams had been frowning sternly, his heavy face unsoftened. “Who aro you, woman!” “I am the wife of a gambler named Montoyo.” “Why come you here, then!” “He has been abusing me and I shot him.” * * There is blood on your hands ! Are you a murderess as well as a harlot!” “ Shame 1” cried voices, mine among them. “That’s tall lang uage.” Strangely and yet not strange ly, sentiment had veered. We were Americans—and had we been English that would have made no difference. It was the Anglo-Saxon which gave utter ance. She crimsoned, defiant; laugh ed scornfully. “You would not dare bait a man that way, sir. Blood on my hands! Not blood; oh, no I He couldn’t pan out blood.” “You killed him, woman!” “Not yet. He’s likely fleecing the public in the Big Tent at this very moment.” “And what did you expect here, in my train!” “A little manhood and a little chivalry, sir. I am going to Salt Lake and I knew of no safer way.” “She jumped off a railway train, paw,” bawled Daniel, “I seen her. An ’ she axed for Mist- • er Jenks, fust thing.” “I’ll give you something to stop that yawp. Come morhin’, we’ll settle, young feller,” my friend Jenip growled. “I did,” she admitted. “I have seen Mr. Jenks; I have also seen Mr. Beeson; I have seen,oth ers of you in Benton. I was glad to know'of somebody here. I rode on the construction train be cause It was the quickest and easiest way." "And those garments!" Cap tain Adams accused. "You wis^ to show your shape, woman, to tempt men’s eyes with the flesh?" She smiled. "Would you have me jump from a train in skirts, sir? Or travel far afoot in crinoline? Put to soothe your mind I will say that I wore these clothes un der my proper attire and cloak until the last moment. And if you turn me away I shall cut my hair and continue as a boy.” “If you are for Salt Lake— where we are of the Lord's choosing and wish none of you— there is the stage,” he prompted shrewdly. "Go to the stage. You cannot make this wagon train your instrument." "The stage?" She slowly shook her head. "Why, I am too well known, sir, take that as you will. And the stage does not leave un til morning. Much might hap pen between now and morning. I have nobody in Benton that I can depend upon—nobody that I dare depend upon. And by rail way, for the East? No. That ia too open a trail. I am running free of Benton and Pedro Mon toy o, and stage and train won’t do he trick. I’ve thought that out." She tossed back her head, deliberately turned. ‘ ‘ Good night, ladies and gentlemen. Involuntarily I started forward to intercept. The notion of her heading into the vastness and the gloom was appealing; the inert ness of that increasing group, formed now of both men and women collected from all the camp maddened. So I would have besought her, pleaded with her, faced Montoyo for her— but a new voice mediated. “She shall stay, Hyrumf For the night, at least! I will look after her.” The Captain’s younger wife,' Rachael, had stepped to himj laid one hand upon his arm—her smooth hair touched ashine by the firelight as she gazed up into his face. Pending reply I hastened directly to My Lady herself and detained her by her jacket sleeve. “Wait,” I bade. Whereupon we both turned. Side by side we fronted tha group as if we might have been partners—which, in a measure, we were, but not wboly accord ing to the lout Daniel’s cackle and the suddenly interrogating countenances here and there. (To Be Continued.) Then the Fun Started Prom the Kansas City Star. Mrs. Guaherly: “May I alt beside yon, Mr. Bashfulboy? I Just offered to sit be side th*.t wretched Mr. Nettleton and ho said he was particular about the com pany he kept." Mr. Bashfulboy: “Did he reallyT Ha ha! Tes. certainly sit right here. I’m not a bit particular." THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND THE VALLEY ROAD Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus—II Tim. 2:3. Remember that In this world every mountain top of privilege is girdled by the values of lowly duty. Remember that the transfiguration of the soul is but the preparation and encouragement for the sacrifice of the life. Remember that we are not to tarry in the transitory radiance of Mount Hermon, but to press on to the enduring glory of Mount Zion, and that we can only arrive at the final and blessed resting place by the way of Mount Calvary. Remember Peter's words In thO full experience of the School of Christ For the spirit of Jesus was In him, and taught him what to say, when he wrote at the close of his life: “Beloved, think it not strange con cerning the fiery trial which la to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." “But rejoice. Inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding Joy." The Touch Test. From the Boston Transcript. -rJ'/ohnnyt ??ur needs washing. Did you look at it in the glass this morning?’’ “No mother, but it seemed all rlghs when I felt It." 111 —-■ — - — Open sugar bowls are prohibited tn public eating places In Akron. Ohio, on the ground that they are unsanitary and a menace to health. The Salutation ef the Dawn From The Independent. Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn! Look to this Day, for It la Lite. The very Life of Ufa. (n Its brief course lie all the Verities And Realities of your Existence; The. Riles of Growth, The Glory of Action, The Splendor of Besuty: For Yesterday Is but a Dream, And Tomorrow 1s Only a Vision; But Today well lived Makes every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness , And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope. Look well, therefore, to thle Dayl Such Is the Salutstloa ef the Dawn. . .. I II ■ .Si fit To you—he's worth $2,500 in Prizes THB da Pont Company is offering $2,500 in mer chandise prizes for team and individual scores in an International Crow-Shooting Contest. Sportsmen in the United States and Canada are eligible. The crow is a destroyer of growing crops and of game birds. He is a menace and a nuisance. Get him I Send for two, free booklets telling all about the crow. It costs you nothing to enter the contest. Write today for full information. Owners of Coffee Rooms Thrown Into the Sea Coffee came first out of Arabia and Abyssinia, according to the best Infor mation available. The first reference to It in literature was made by Avicen na, a Mohammedan physician,,who died in 1037. “It fortifies the members,” he wrote; “It clennses the skin and dries up the humidities that are under it and gives an excellent smell to all the body.” The “kaveh bnnes” of Mecca were the first coffee houses. Kair Bey, the governor, discovered that those who met in the coffee houses discussed poli tics and religion, sometimes critically. So he ordered the kaveh kanes closed. The sultan at Cairo disapproved of the governor’s Indiscreet zeal and had him executed. But in Constantinople, where plots lgalnst the oppressive government were hatched over the coffee, the pub lic houses were closed and reopening meant that the proprietor was sewed Vi a sack and thrown into the Bos porus.—Detroit News. Oversight Brown was making n business trip on a branch railroad and was not due at his destination until shortly before midnight. Accordingly, he settled back In hts seat and attempted to sleep. Tt was quite a struggle for a while, and he had just dozed off comfortably when he was awakened by some one taking hold of his arm and shaking him. Brown looked up to see the con ductor standing over him. “What’s the Idea?" he demanded. “Ticket,” demanded the conductor. “Why, I gave you my ticket a long time ngo, just after we left the junc tion,” Brown explained. “Well," replied the conductor, “If you had told me that I wouldn’t have bothered you." Scarce Variety “Are you fond of entertaining call ers''” “Vis, hut, dear me! so few of them are.” A Standard for 90 Year*. As n laxative anil blood purifier there is nothing better than Brandreth Pills. In use throughout the world.—Adv. Russian Chemist Makes Strong Wire From Sail A wonderful discovery lias been made by a Russian scientist, whe claims to have found a method of male* ing wire stronger titan gteel out of common rock salt. His discovery is the result of a series of extraordinary experiments in the mutability of metals by structural chemistry. The scientist found that by submit ting the rock salt to high heat pres sure before the elementary crystals be gan to decay he sweated the decay by changing the structural arrangement of the atoms and molecules, and ihhQ change increased the durability and ductility of the substance 300 times, says London Tit-Bits. He is continu ing Ids experiments with other metal substances. If this discovery can be applied to metals it will revolutionize the world. It will mean, amongst other things, trains capable of running 200 milea an hour and turbine steamers thaft could reach Australia in ten days. Where /* Cave of Nativity? It is a winding cave in Betldeitetn. beneath tlie Church - of the Nativity, btdlf over it liy the Km press Helena, nnd tlie Kmperor Constantine. This* cave is the supposed birthplace of Christ. Tlie supposed position of th the cup by the nddfefou of *■ boiling water. Poetum Cereal [in package.] for (hoes who prefer the flavor brought out by boiling fully 20 minute* The coat of either form it •bout one half cent a cup. '