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moment； and with a graver voice continued； 〃You have done it very
welldo you knowvery well！〃
In the slight embarrassment produced by his sudden change of manner
she felt that her thanks seemed awkward and restrained。 〃Don't
thank me；〃 he laughed； with a prompt return of his former levity；
〃that's my trade。 I only advised。 You have saved yourself like a
plucky womanshall I say like Blue Grass？ Good…by！〃 He mounted
his horse； but； as if struck by an after…thought； wheeled and drew
up by her side again。 〃If I were you I wouldn't see many strangers
for a day or two； and listen to as little news as a woman possibly
can。〃 He laughed again； waved her a half…gallant； half…military
salute； and was gone。 The question she had been trying to frame；
regarding the probability of communication with her husband；
remained unasked。 At least she had saved her pride before him。
Addressing herself to the care of her narrow household； she
mechanically put away the few things she had brought with her； and
began to readjust the scant furniture。 She was a little
discomposed at first at the absence of bolts； locks； and even
window…fastenings until assured； by Concha's evident inability to
comprehend her concern； that they were quite unknown at Los
Cuervos。 Her slight knowledge of Spanish was barely sufficient to
make her wants known； so that the relief of conversation with her
only companion was debarred her； and she was obliged to content
herself with the sapless； crackling smiles and withered
genuflexions that the old woman dropped like dead leaves in her
path。 It was staring noon when； the house singing like an empty
shell in the monotonous wind； she felt she could stand the solitude
no longer； and； crossing the glaring patio and whistling corridor；
made her way to the open gateway。
But the view without seemed to intensify her desolation。 The broad
expanse of the shadowless plain reached apparently to the Coast
Range； trackless and unbroken save by one or two clusters of
dwarfed oaks； which at that distance were but mossy excrescences on
the surface； barely raised above the dead level。 On the other side
the marsh took up the monotony and carried it； scarcely interrupted
by undefined water…courses； to the faintly marked out horizon line
of the remote bay。 Scattered and apparently motionless black spots
on the meadows that gave a dreary significance to the title of 〃the
Crows〃 which the rancho bore； and sudden gray clouds of sand…pipers
on the marshes； that rose and vanished down the wind； were the only
signs of life。 Even the white sail of the early morning was gone。
She stood there until the aching of her straining eyes and the
stiffening of her limbs in the cold wind compelled her to seek the
sheltered warmth of the courtyard。 Here she endeavored to make
friends with a bright…eyed lizard； who was sunning himself in the
corridor； a graceful little creature in blue and gold； from whom
she felt at other times she might have fled； but whose beauty and
harmlessness solitude had made known to her。 With misplaced
kindness she tempted it with bread…crumbs； with no other effect
than to stiffen it into stony astonishment。 She wondered if she
should become like the prisoners she had read of in books； who
poured out their solitary affections on noisome creatures； and she
regretted even the mustang； which with the buggy had disappeared
under the charge of some unknown retainer on her arrival。 Was she
not a prisoner？ The shutterless windows； yawning doors； and open
gate refuted her suggestion； but the encompassing solitude and
trackless waste still held her captive。 Poindexter had told her it
was four miles to the shanty； she might walk there。 Why had she
given her word that she would remain at the rancho until he
returned？
The long day crept monotonously away； and she welcomed the night
which shut out the dreary prospect。 But it brought no cessation of
the harassing wind without； nor surcease of the nervous irritation
its perpetual and even activity wrought upon her。 It haunted her
pillow even in her exhausted sleep； and seemed to impatiently
beckon her to rise and follow it。 It brought her feverish dreams
of her husband； footsore and weary； staggering forward under its
pitiless lash and clamorous outcry； she would have gone to his
assistance； but when she reached his side and held out her arms to
him it hurried her past with merciless power； and； bearing her
away； left him hopelessly behind。 It was broad day when she awoke。
The usual night showers of the waning rainy season had left no
trace in sky or meadow； the fervid morning sun had already dried
the patio； only the restless； harrying wind remained。
Mrs。 Tucker arose with a resolve。 She had learned from Concha on
the previous evening that a part of the shanty was used as a tienda
or shop for the laborers and rancheros。 Under the necessity of
purchasing some articles； she would go there and for a moment
mingle with those people； who would not recognize her。 Even if
they did； her instinct told her it would be less to be feared than
the hopeless uncertainty of another day。 As she left the house the
wind seemed to seize her as in her dream； and hurry her along with
it； until in a few moments the walls of the low casa sank into the
earth again and she was alone； but for the breeze on the solitary
plain。 The level distance glittered in the sharp light； a few
crows with slant wings dipped and ran down the wind before her； and
a passing gleam on the marsh was explained by the far…off cry of a
curlew。
She had walked for an hour； upheld by the stimulus of light and
morning air； when the cluster of scrub oaks； which was her
destination； opened enough to show two rambling sheds； before one
of which was a wooden platform containing a few barrels and bones。
As she approached nearer； she could see that one or two horses were
tethered under the trees； that their riders were lounging by a
horse…trough； and that over an open door the word Tienda was rudely
painted on a board； and as rudely illustrated by the wares
displayed at door and window。 Accustomed as she was to the poverty
of frontier architecture； even the crumbling walls of the old
hacienda she had just left seemed picturesque to the rigid angles
of the thin； blank； unpainted shell before her。 One of the
loungers； who was reading a newspaper aloud as she advanced； put it
aside and stared at her； there was an evident commotion in the shop
as she stepped upon the platform； and when she entered； with
breathless lips and beating heart； she found herself the object of
a dozen curious eyes。 Her quick pride resented the scrutiny and
recalled her courage； and it was with a slight coldness in her
usual lazy indifference that she leaned over the counter and asked
for the articles she wanted。
The request was followed by a dead silence。 Mrs。 Tucker repeated
it with some hauteur。
〃I rec