The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-08-08

IL him much more than a mile
|Ib0Mi when out Of the semidarkness
&S:S in front of him doomed a fig
ure, also on horseback. At the same
instant the stranger accosted him by
uttering shout which might, in that
clear, still air, have been heard at the
ranch.
Can you tell me if there is a hui
man habitation near here?' he asked
as soon as Lisle, pistol in hand-for
strangers were not always friendly in
that wild countrywide up to him.
'There is one, SIR" replied Lisle.
"Are you in trouble?'
Il should say so," was the petulant
response. ''Do you know a ranchman
In this region by the name of Craig
Thompson?" -.
eyes, sir; very we'll indeed"
us it his. house that is near here?'
mo. He lives 80 miles away, but
my fathers house is about mile dis
tant. Will you go there with me? In
he morning will guide you to Thomp-
sons ranch"
Ihank you, young man. l accept
your hospitality most gladly. My
daughter will be especially pleased for
she is frightened to death at the pros
pect of spending the night on the
plains, with nothing but the stars for
a counterpane."
Your ,hter!' exclaimed Lisle.
Eyes, my daughter. l don't wonder
that you express surprise at finding
two strangers alone at night in such a
place as this and one of them>a womo1.
1t is all because of her obstinaey. It's
woman's mission to get men into trou-
BILE. She would come out here today.
l could not prevail upon her to wait
until we could get guide. She never
rode horse in her life, so 1 found and
bought an old wagon, which has done
nothing but break down ever since we
started, and now it has gone beyond
repair"
How much more of an explanation
he would have volunteered is not
known, for at that instant they were
both interrupted by a clear voice call
ing to them out of the darkness, and
presently Isle saw approaching them
figure such as he had never seen be-
fore, not even in his most vivid hours
of imagining-the slender. willowy,
perfectly clad figure of woman fresh
from the hands of her modiste.
Il 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
| viii
not one of those dirty Indians"
"a gentleman, .Erna, who has offered
to assist us. This is my daughter, sir
Miss Ernestina Thomas. l am Thomas
o. Thomas of Kansas City. May ask
what your name is?"
Lisle raised his broad brimmed hat
from his head with a courtesy that was
instructive while he replied:
Il am the son Of Richard Maxwell,
who owns this ranch. I am quite sure
that my father will welcome you, al
though it will be the first time that a
woman has ever entered our house."
IF the night were darker, so that l
could not see you, should say that
you were woman YOURSELF" retorted
Miss Thomas. 'Is your father wom-
an hater, Mr.. MAXWELL" ~
II believe so," replied Lisle calmly.
"Have you not another horse, Mr..
Thomas?" .e= a.
"No; | stripped the harness off 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 hopelessly
lost ever since we started. It 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 will let me assist her to mount nv