Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-10-10

| 1t; feel il. l am your brother, you
told me so yourself: and you will not
| let me help
| He was so honest, so kindly so open
ly and unselfishly devoted to her. so
anxious to be regarded as her next OF
kin so unfeignedly hurt by her avoid
ance of him, the thought came TO her
that here was one upon whom she
might rely for help. She felt years
older than he: indeed he had stood to
! her always as daring, healthful. gen.
erous boy She was !mpulslve and she
turned to him with both hands out
stretched:
Il am in trouble. Mr.. Allyn. Help
mel"
She had gone too far now to retreat.
Tears trembled on her lashes and
cheeks, He stared at her in amaze and
confusion. Like many others of his sex,
at sight of the tears he felt inclined to
take to his heels She was half sick
with shame. yet she longed passionate
ly for word of her lover and felt that
she must go on:
mood for week. What happened
week ago."
"A week ago-what happened week
ago. he stammered, why, nothing
except that the smuggler fellow stole
my sombrero and ran away
"Yes," she said softly and smiled
at him through her tears. Slow-creep-
ing blush mounted and surged over
chin cheeks and brow, bathing her face
in pink. Her hands clasped loosely in
front of her. she stood before him tim
Id, shrinking and vncast, mute APP
pealing confession every curve of
her lovely figure .iyn grew red then
pale, then red again,
Why, damn mel" he burst out.
Why Lois Why--why--y don't
mean-but it's prepost-but, yes, damn
me. | believe it's so"
1T is So" she said facing him brave
ly now
But he's smuggler chap. cat
tie
Stop" her hand was raised. her
eyes were flashing; she was doing bat
tie for her own He is not a thief. he
Is not a murderer; he was a smugglsr
so again He loves me. | love him.
Don't you dare to speak evil of him"
she broke down in a passion of sobs
and chung to him for support.
"All right, All right" he said
soothingly, much touched and thor
oughly frightened you know best,
I'm sure. You wouldn't do anything
except for the best | can understand
how it happened. He's handsome
ras-young fellow, and has got good
pluck, too. Just brace up, Lois, please.
and tell me what you want"
She recovered with surprisingly ra-
pidity and still chung to his coat sleeve.
She smiled at him and said
Il want message from him and he
Is across the river not far from here.
Get ii for me-"
Am | to ride over there, and ask
every one | meet whether he has seen
a pale, beautiful rustler with a lame
wing, and keep on asking until | find
him, and then have him write to you
or shot him il he refuses"
Yes"
We'll" said Allyn, cts a nice bust
ness but III do it, I'm your brother,
amt -"
Yes"
And you love me as sister,"
Yes "
only as sister,"
only as a sister. Don't be a goose"
Three days afterward Allyn. dusty
and worn. returned at the noon hour
from supposed chase OF cougars n the
Mexican hills. He dismounted in front
OF the ranche-house, stalked into the
school-room. handed crumpled note
to Lois, chucked "Palomita' under the
chin and walked out again. The note
ran:
Your friend has come to me. God
bless him for it, and you for sending
him. | start southwark tomorrow. in
hope and love. to return in the early
summer Wait for me- In hope and
love. My darling! My darling!"
ITO be Continued)