Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-15

Alph, throwing the rein of the pony over a
post, went with Glen into the house.
But another eye had seen this meeting on
the prairie, and Lon shook with rage as he
saw the tender embrace.
Curse ye, curse ye,' he hissed you
sneakiEg wolf, come to steal my pretty
lamb
In the morning Glenn found that Lon had
gone away without warning, but her father
said he would be back for the shearing The
cir. was relieved by his absence, but could
OF entirely qUell the haunting dread that
oppressed her
the herd, and the gang of shearers was at
work. There was heard the "clicl1,"
click of the swift-mov.ng shears, inter
mingled with the beating of the lambs
separated from their mothers. Lon had
come back, and was working busily, albeit
it was noticed how somber and gloomy he
looked
''Yer'd think Lon'd lost his last friend on
'arth." said one of the shedrers.
Guess his gals gave him the grand
bounce chucl-iei another
To their goo1-na tured s2llies Lon. made
little reply, only clipped on the faster
Alph was among the Shaarers. as he had
clipped his own flock early, and there was
no faster shearer. no one more popular
than the young Ohioan.
During the week of the shearing Glenn
vas acc0sted by an cid man, heriar, who
mad been for many years on the ranch.
What is it, joe?', as she saw he had
Glen" the old man gave an embarrass-
ed cough, for he had guessed her secret;
don't want to make you Uneasy, but don't
like the look o. Ions face, when his eyes is
on Alph. 1t kinder makes me grow cold,'
"Oh, Joe. you'll watch him. You'll not
let him hurt Alph, will your" said Glenn,
pieadiIgly. all her fears returning.
III keep my eyes on him when Is
round, but the sarpint may bite in the
lark"
"oh! Joe. I've that feeling. too-that Lon
may strike Alph in some unguarded hour.
Oh, what shall we do?" said Glenn, SOD
bing.
Don't cry, Ciem. Eff old Joe doesn't keep
his eye peeled, it's cause he's sleepin'."
One night, shortly after this conversa-
ton, Glenn was sitting at the window in
her little room, her heart filled with strange
and indefinable forebodings. She had blown
out the lamp and all silent in the
house, when suddenly she heard a football
on the prairie outside. Her eye at the
same time. caught SIGHT of figure which
instantly disappeared in the shadows.
Somehow she felt it was Lon, and that he
was going in the direction of Alph's ranch.
To put her hat, place her revolver In
the pocket of her dark gown flor Glen was
expert shot ard steal softly out of the
house, was quickly DONE Her determine
ton was to follow the retreatng figure and
find his destination. Softly calling her
faithful dog Jack. she followed on the trail
Of the mar who had disappeared.
There was no moon but the stars were
red planet glittering ike a jewel on the
bosom of the night. The air was sweet
with the faint perfume of the spring
flowers. The silence was weird and OPP
pressive, save when broken by the cry of
the coyote. the bleating of a sheep, or the
call of a disturbed bird. But Glenn, child
of the prairie. was not afraid for herself,
but felt sick at heart as she thought of the
danger that threatened her beloved. Walk
ing rapidly but noiselessly, with a whisper
of quiet to Jack, she had not gone more
than half mile when she came in sight
of the figure moving before her.
PART IL
Would he go down the draw" she
thought, for that led directly to Alphs
cabin The man without stopping COM
menced to follow the windings of the
draw" which cut into the prairie deep,
Irregular cash. Clem's heart was beating
fast now, but she kept the man in sight,
keeping Jack by her side. The dog was
quiet. save at intervals giving out low
whine Evidently he knew tire man whom
they were following. They were now near
the rancl cabin, for Glenn could hear the
gurcling IF the springs that rushed out of
tie sides Of the draw" When the man
came as far as the spring he stood perfect
~ motionless a long time. 1t seemed an age
10 Glen. She could not from where she
was crouching IT, one of the inches of the
sheep shed distinguish his features Sud-
fist in the direction of the cabin, then turn
ed and came so near Glenn she thought he
could hear tie beating of her heart. She
pressed her hand over the dogs mouth,
and the Intelligent animal OWNED he was to
be silent.
AS the man passed Glen got a fair look
az him, and dim as the star shine was, she
saw it was Lon. He never looked around.
however, but hesitated few moments and
then slowly and softly approached the cab
in where Alph and his herder were, as she
supposed. sleeping. Lon having reached
the cabin crouched in corner, where the
darkness was clinging in deep shadows
What his object was Glen could not deter
mine, as from her place of concealment she
watched him anxiously. Suddenly in the
distance she heard the sound of wheels
What could it mean? Their she remember
ed that Alph had talked of going to town
for some supplies. He often drove in after
the days work was through. Her heart
was beating violently. What should she
co? She must warn Alph in some way of
his danger Some three hundred yards
down the draw" narrowed 70 a few feet
If only she could reach it Ii. observed she
could stop Alph and warn him. Calling