The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-09-06
(Continued from last week.
CHAPTER NH.

~ RAIG THOMPSON, with the
~ bride OF u led horse In his
SE|y1 grasp and with three men
kkG similarly provided accompa-
nying him. was riding with all speed
toward MaXwell's ranch. Already half
the distance Of 80 miles had been COW
cred, and already he had changed
horses twice. urging them TO their ut
most effort, impatient, silent logged.
Before him. not half a mile away, was
rise of ground, more lofty than the
others, and as he spurred his animal to-
ward il a hOrseman emerged from the
blank beyond and halted upon its crest,
silhouetted against the sky. Even at
that distance Craig recognized the rid
er, and, rising In his stirrups. he waved
his hat in greeting. The salutation was
returned. The half mile which sepa-
rated the men was quickly travelled,
and the galloping party came TO a halt.
ride on ahead, boys" ordered Craig,
addressing his companions. "I'll trail
along behind with the kid. Wen get
there soon enough, reckon, since Isle
is out here TO meet us. Is it true, Isle,
that Tom Thomas and his girl are
there?'
Eyes. They.a are at the house."
That's all right. You skip along,
boys, and don't mind US. Wen jog
along at slower pace. Lord, kid, but
1t was lucky that | was home. hadn't
been there more'n an hour either when
Pete rode up with the news. No foul
play, was there. Lisle?"
NO"
''Just turned up his toes without a
word, Ell? Broke your heart, too. Ell?
Pull up here and let me look at you.
What's the matter with you, lad? That
amt all grief that | see in your face.
There's something else there. What
makes your eyes blaze SO? You look
just as you did when you drew that
bead on Jim Cummings while your
other arm was held fast to your body
by the rope"
81 feel very Quch the same as | did
then, Craig" responded Lisle II am
in very much the same position with
the difference that l cannot see an en-
envy to fire at. Let us rest here awhile.
/ have something to tell you"
They did not leave their saddles, but
sat vis-a-vis, Lisle with her back to-
ward the ranch, Craig facing 1t and
studying with manifest care the Looping
of the horses which bore the three men
who had ridden on ahead. He cOnsid-
cred it best not TO speak again until his
young friend had told what there was
to say.
Craig" said Isle presently, you
have regarded me as rather a queer
specimen of n boy ever since we first
met. There is something concerning
me that must be told, something that
wish to tell you, something that just
now / could not tell to any other per
son-something which you must retain
as a secret in your own heart until
give you permission to reveal it and
above all, something concerning which
you must advise and direct me-"
LET it go, lad; I'm listening"
81 am woman, Craig"
Thompson did not move a muscle OF
his body except those which controlled
his visual organs. He turned his eyes
slowly until they rested upon the face
Of Lisle, and then, with marked DELHI
GRAFTON, but undoubted emphasis, hC
said:
"You don't mean it!'
81 am a woman, Craig"
"Who told your
"Miss Thomas"
"How did she know itW
81 do not exactly know. When my
when Richard Maxwell died, tainted
She revived me, and"-
al know the rest. Does Tom Thomas
knowY
Not yet"
Thompson did not speak again for 9
moment or two. The muscles Of his