Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-08-17
CHAPTER VII
a WOMAN IN THE QUESTION

60 in front OF him doomed a fig
ure, also on horseback. At the same
instant the stranger accoSted him by
uttering a shout which might. Ia that
clear, still air, have been beard at the
ranch
Can YOU tell me if there Is a bu-
man habitation near hereg' he asked
as soon as Isle, pistol In hand-for
strangers were not always friendly In
that wild countrywide up to him.
There Is one, sir" replied Isle
"Are you in trouble?''
II should say so" was the petuIant
response. do you know a rapchman
10 this region by the name Of Craig
Thompson?~
Yes. sir: very well indeed"
-1s II MS house that is near hereY.
mo He lives so miles away, but
my fathers house is about a mike dis
tant- VIII you go there with me? In
he morning will guide you to Tbomp-
sons ranch.~
Thank you. young man l accept
your hospitality most gladly. My
daughter will he especially pleased. for
she is frightened to dSath Mt the pros
pect Of spending the night on the
plains, with nothing but the stars for
8 counteTpane"
Your daughterg' exclaimed Isle.
Yes. my daughter. | don't wonder
that you express surprise at finding
two strangers alone at night In such a
place as this and one of them woman.
1t is all because OF her obstinacy. It's
woman's mission to get men into trou-
bic. She would come out here today.
! could not prevail upon ber to wait
until we could get guide. She never
rode horse In Der life, so found and
bought an Old wagon. which has done
nothing but break down ever since we
started and DOW it has gone beyond
repair"
How much more Of an explanation
he WOULD have volunteered Is not
known, for st that instant they were
both interrupted by a clear voice call
Ing to them out OF the darkness, and
presently Ieisle saw approaching them
figure such as he had never seen be-
Tore, not even in his most vivid hours
or imagining-the slender, wiHowy.
sperfectly clad figure OF woman fresh
sfrom the hands OF her modiste.
S>~I could not remain alone In that
horrid place, with all sorts OF eyes star
ing at me out of the darkness she
said as she approached. who have
you got with you. papal 1 hope It is
not one OF those dirty Indians"
"a gentleman, Erna, who has offered
TO assist Us. This is my daughter sir
Miss Ernestina Thomas am Thomas
o. Thomas OF Kansas City May ask
what your name tsp
Isle raised his broad brimmed hat
from his head with courtesy that was
instructive while he replied:
az am the son OF Richard Max well
who OWNS this ranch. am quite sure
that my father will welcome you. al
though II will be the first time that
woman has ever entered our house,
"If the night were darker, so that
could not see you. | should say that
you were woman yourself" retorted
Miss Thomas. -Is your father WON
an hater. Dir. MAXWELL
81 believe So" replied Lisle calmly
"Have you not another borse, Mr.
ThomasY'
"No; ! stripped the harness OF the
only one we had TO search for assist
ance. We left Belmont this morning
with the only conveyance that could be
procured, and we've been hopetessly
lost ever since we started. 1t comes
OF permitting a woman to run things
for you"
you were nearer Thompson's ranch
when you started than you are now.
You have come past It," said Lisle.
leaping from his horse. "If your daugh-
ter willHlet me assist her to mount my
horse, 1 will head the way to my fa-
ther's house. 1t is not far"
What! Ride on that saddle? Sit
astride, like a man? I guess not! IN
walk" exclaimed the young lady In
-dismay. How far is it?"
/! "More than a mile"
{ ~Well, that won't hurt me. walk
D.; farther than that in one afternoons
shopping at home. But how are we
going to take all my thingsT'
I'VE will leave them whore they are
till morning" said Lisle. They will
not be disturbed. If you are ready, we
will start on"
4 But l can't go step without some
OF my things. Can't you put my small
est trunk on your horsep
81 am afraid not. We can walt while
you open it. however, and take out
whatever you think is necessary"
; 1--WE Will not do anything OF the
kind" interposed Mr.. Thomas THE
trunks can stay where they are till
morning, and Erna can stay here or
come with us, just as she pleaSes.
Start along, Mz. Maxwell and we'll
follow"
Lisle was accustomed 70 absolute
authority on the part Of fathers, and he
obeyed.
+ Come, then" he said, leaping lightly
. into the saddle. when we have risen
the next ridge, the house Will be in
view. There is light in the library,
!, and we will be able to see It. 1 will
ride on, then, and prepare my father
for VO1Ir coming