Out from the porch the view was restricted to glimpses between the

pines, and beyond to the opposite wall of the canyon. How shut-in, how

walled in this home!

"In summer it might be good to spend a couple of weeks here,"

soliloquized Carley. "But to live here? Heavens! A person might as well

be buried."

Heavy footsteps upon the porch below accompanied by a man's voice

quickened Carley's pulse. Did they belong to Glenn? After a strained

second she decided not. Nevertheless, the acceleration of her blood and

an unwonted glow of excitement, long a stranger to her, persisted as she

Advertisement..

left the porch and entered the boarded hall. How gray and barn-like this

upper part of the house! From the head of the stairway, however, the big

living room presented a cheerful contrast. There were warm colors, some

comfortable rockers, a lamp that shed a bright light, and an open fire

which alone would have dispelled the raw gloom of the day.

A large man in corduroys and top boots advanced to meet Carley. He had a

clean-shaven face that might have been hard and stern but for his smile,

and one look into his eyes revealed their resemblance to Flo's.

"I'm Tom Hutter, an' I'm shore glad to welcome you to Lolomi, Miss

Carley," he said. His voice was deep and slow. There were ease and force

in his presence, and the grip he gave Carley's hand was that of a

man who made no distinction in hand-shaking. Carley, quick in her

perceptions, instantly liked him and sensed in him a strong personality.

She greeted him in turn and expressed her thanks for his goodness to

Glenn. Naturally Carley expected him to say something about her fiance,

but he did not.

"Well, Miss Carley, if you don't mind, I'll say you're prettier than

your picture," said Hutter. "An' that is shore sayin' a lot. All the

sheep herders in the country have taken a peep at your picture. Without

permission, you understand."

"I'm greatly flattered," laughed Carley.

"We're glad you've come," replied Hutter, simply. "I just got back

from the East myself. Chicago an' Kansas City. I came to Arizona from

Illinois over thirty years ago. An' this was my first trip since. Reckon

I've not got back my breath yet. Times have changed, Miss Carley. Times

an' people!"

Mrs. Hutter bustled in from the kitchen, where manifestly she had been

importantly engaged. "For the land's sakes!" she exclaimed, fervently,

as she threw up her hands at sight of Carley. Her expression was indeed

a compliment, but there was a suggestion of shock in it. Then Flo came

in. She wore a simple gray gown that reached the top of her high shoes.




Most Popular