  We report the first survey of chemical abundances in M and K dwarf stars
using atomic absorption lines in high resolution spectra. We have measured Fe
and Ti abundances in 35 M and K dwarf stars using equivalent widths measured
from (lambda / Delta lambda) = 33,000 spectra. Our analysis takes advantage of
recent improvements in model atmospheres of low-temperature dwarf stars. The
stars have temperatures between 3300 and 4700 K, with most cooler than 4100 K.
They cover an iron abundance range of -2.44 < [Fe/H] < +0.16. Our measurements
show [Ti/Fe] decreasing with increasing [Fe/H], a trend similar to that
measured for warmer stars where abundance analysis techniques have been tested
more thoroughly. This study is a step toward the observational calibration of
procedures to estimate the metallicity of low-mass dwarf stars using
photometric and low-resolution spectral indices.
