The light had disappeared from the nearest house; only an uncertain bulk of shapeless shadows remained. Other remoter and more vague outlines near the horizon seemed to have a funereal suggestion of tombs and grave mounds, and one--a low shed near the road--looked not unlike a halted bier. He hurriedly put up the shutters in a momentary lulling of the wind, and re-entering the store began to fasten them from within. While thus engaged an inner door behind the counter opened softly and cautiously, projecting a brighter light into the deserted apartment from some sacred domestic interior with the warm and wholesome incense of cooking. It served to introduce also the equally agreeable presence of a young girl, who, after assuring herself of the absence of every one but the proprietor, idly slipped into the store, and placing her rounded elbows, from which her sleeves were uprolled, upon the counter, leaned lazily upon them, with both hands supporting her dimpled chin, and gazed indolently at him; so indolently that, with her pretty face once fixed in this comfortable attitude, she was constrained to follow his movements with her eyes alone, and often at an uncomfortable angle. It was evident that she offered the final but charming illustration of the enfeebling listlessness of Sidon. “So those loafers have gone at last,” she said, meditatively. “They'll take root here some day, pop. The idea of three strong men like that lazing round for two mortal hours doin' nothin'. Well!” As if to emphasize her disgust she threw her whole weight upon the counter by swinging her feet from the floor to touch the shelves behind her. Mr. Harkutt only replied by a slight grunt as he continued to screw on the shutters. “Want me to help you, dad?” she said, without moving. Mr. Harkutt muttered something unintelligible, which, however, seemed to imply a negative, and her attention here feebly wandered to the roll of paper, and she began slowly and lazily to read it aloud. “'For value received, I hereby sell, assign, and transfer to Daniel D. Harkutt all my right, titles and interest in, and to the undivided half of, Quarter Section 4, Range 5, Tasajara Township'--hum--hum,” she murmured, running her eyes to the bottom of the page. “Why, Lord! It's that 'Lige Curtis!” she laughed. “The idea of HIM having property! Why, dad, you ain't been THAT silly!” “Put down that paper, miss,” he said, aggrievedly; “bring the candle here, and help me to find one of these infernal screws that's dropped.”