The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-09-13

S anu ueep uOWu III his own
mind he knew that she was right. He
was a firm adherent 20 the principle
that personal perpleXties are best
fought out in solitude, and in reality he
admired Lisle for her determination
and upheld her in it,
While Mr.. Thomas and his daughter
remained with him he was content TO
let things go on as they were, but when
the week of their stay came 10 an end
and they had departed be soon became
moody. a condition which always i'm
mediately preceded one of his fits Just
before the guests left him Erna be-
sought him 10 ride or send over 10
Crescent and Cross for Information
concerning Lisle, but the old frontiers
man was obdurate.
"'Twon't do" he said grutily. when
Lisle wants me, she'll send for me, and
l agreed not TO bother her until she
did. She's got sand. Lisle has. and il
won't do 10 cross her in the mood she's
in just now. She wouldn't stand it.
She'd take the bit in her teeth and get
TO buck jumping SOS she'd throw the
moSey right along to Kansas City and
say nothing. and when Lisle has her
stampede out she'll quiet down and go
to feeding all quiet and serene. After
that III take her to Kansas City TO see
you, and then we can fix her up and
regulate matters"
Nevertheless his restlessness increas-
oil no In
swelled itself into two, and the two
heightened into three and then four,
and Craig developed a habit Of riding
off alone on the plains and being alb
sent all day. At such times he inevta-
bly, rode in the direction Of Lisle's
ranch to a spot that was situated a lit
tie more than half way between the
two places and sufficiently high so
that from it he could with the aid Of
his binoculars quite plainly see upon
the veranda of the ranch house where
he believed Lisle was still engaged in
fighting it out" He used to dismount
from his horse, turn him broadside to-
ward the ranch, and, resting his arms
upon the saddle, study for an hour at a
time every moving object thar came
into his range of vision. Sometimes he
thought he recognized the figure Of
Isle, and during the ensuing % hours
there was always an appreciate lift
ing of the cloud that rested upon him.
But he never went farther than that
particular point, and he never permit
ted one OF his men to do so.
IF | don't keep my word with her
now, she'll never trust me again as
long as | live" was his mental com
ment whenever the inclination 70 oh.
tain information on the sly proved al
most too strong for him. But he be-
came more and more morose as the
weeks passed, hoping all the time that
she would not permit the entire two
months to come to an end before she
communicated with him. but ut last
when only two weeks remained until
the time would be up. he began 10 count
the days convinced that he would nei
Their hear from nor see her until the eX
piration Of the time.
When the morning Of the great day
arrived, he was UP with the sun his
moroseness had vanished, and Craig
Thompson was himself again. He pos
sessed implicit faith that Lisle would
keep her word, and he felt as certain
that he would have news Of her or see
her before the sun set as he was fnat
he would live until that hour. Thai
day he did not ride out, as usual. but
he roamed restlessly about the place
n. -, I'll, s,f1 la
men, whistled gayly while he inspect
ed things"
As the day advanced and began tC
decline he became uneasy, and at last
wheB the sun glowed like ball of fire
in the west preparatory TO hiding itself
behind the Sierras he began to talk t
himself, swearing under his breath il
a manner which, If he had uttered the
words aloud, would have Mortified the
most accustomed ears.
The sun dropped out Of sight, and
still there was no sign of Isle.
"The day won't be up till midnight,
muttered Craig. I'll wait till then
but not minute longer. When the
clock strikes 10, I'm going to light ou
for Crescent and Cross"
When evening fell and darkness set
tied upon the earth, he did not go in
side, as was his custom. He brought
an easy chair out upon the porch anC
settled himself in its depths to wait
straining his ears TO catch the slight
est sound that would announce the ap
proach Of a stranger, and at last, wher
the hour was considerably past o, h,
bounded to his feet with sudden inter
est, for his practiced ear had detected
the unmistakable football Of a gallop
ing horse. In n moment more the ride
came into view and presently drew
rein Immediately in front of the wait
ing man.
as this Thompson's ranch?" he in
CURED.
"You bet it is" was the quick re
spouse.
II want Craig Thompson"
That's me, stranger"
A II. r.