Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-07-25
CHAPTER II.
IN THE LAND OF NO TWILIGHT.

Long days and nights of railway
travel: visions of wide brown fields
bare in the early winter, and snug
farm houses, with smoke-coils nestled
among the hills; the roar OF large
cities in which soft coal was burned
and the air heavy with pestilential
doors; ever the sunshine growing
warmer and the sky, seen in little
through the car window, growing
bluer; ever a change OF faces among
fellow passengers and an occasional
change of train-crews; ever success
sion of flashing landscapes and eye
balls strained with gazing at them.
ever the clank and rattle and roar
and throb and jar of the moving mon
ster which bore her; then wider fields.
which were prairie. and darker woods,
which were forests, and Lois English
had crossed the Texas line into coun-
try as dissimilar from that in which
she had been reared as if it had belong
ed to another world. All railway trav-
eli after q time becomes alike monot-
onous and depressing, WEAKNESS to
the flesh.
On the fifth day after leaving Gray
borough she stepped from the dusty
train to little station platform more
than a hundred miles west of San An
tonic. Around her, far as the eye
could reach. rolled a brown sea of
grass. Near to the station grew half
dozen discouraged cottonwoods There
were we'll and a windlass, a little
frame-house fifty yards away, about
which wandered n score OF tired chick
ems; three or four friderless, riderless
donkeys, apparently eating dust. on
the far western horizon thin line OF
trees, marking intercourse; over
head a brilliantly intensely blue sky
dominated by glazing sun. The air
was thin and dry and COOL however,
an dthe girl felt certain exhilaration
from it as she stretched her tired limbs
by rapid walk up and down the plat
form. The station and telegraph oper-
ator. shirt-sleeved and smoking tobac-
co rolled in a corn-shuck, came TO her
and said with mild interest:
You are Miss Lois English, amt
you?"
She said she was.
Well" he went on, 81 got a telegram
last night from Fort Clark, sent by
Mr. Glynn, the BALCONIES boss, and he
told me to tell you that the mules will
be after you today"
The mules?"
Yep. The ambulance you know
the rancho trav ling rig. 1t had orter
show up pretty soon. Won't you walk
over to the house? My wife's there.
Been married most year"
Thanking him. but declining this in
vitation, Lois resumed her walk. Her
three trunks were piled at one end OF
the platform and as she passed and re-
passed them she noticed that they were
much worn and battered. Evidently
some of the men up st. Louis way had
been in a hurry After half-hour OF
exercise she began to feel hungry. Then
away to the eastward her eye was at
tracted by small cloud of dust. So
faint that it was scarcely discernible, 1t
grew rapidly larger. Fifteen minutes
later it resolved itself into q large We
hicle with a canvas top and sides,
drawn by four mules. On the front
seat was Mexican driver doing moth
ing. BY him sat slender young fell
low who held the reins carelessly in
one hand while the other swung
whip with long lash. His feet were
braced and his elbows were squared.
He was ''tooling" the outfit In approx
ed London fashion. The mules dashed
up to the platform at swinging gal
lop, half-circled and came to a dead
stop, the ambulance not foot from
the boards. The young fellow shifted
his whip to the left hand, raised a
huge gray sombrcro, heavy with silver
tinsel, and bowed gravely. There was
a flush OF pleasure on his face. Mr..
Tom" Allyn. OF Devonshire, rather
fancied his driving. Lois returned the
bow. Already she liked the dash and
swing Of the arrival and the frank blue
eyed face OF portentous gravity which
looked at her from under the SOM
brero. II was all 80 unlike Graybor-
ough. At this moment the station
agent reappeared and announced that
the mules" had come. Seeing that all
four of them were within twenty feet
OF her, Lois looked at him a moment
IN establishment, then thanked him
EusRlngly for the information. The
young fellow with the reins laughed
gaiiy and tossed them to one side Of
MIN. The sleepy Mexican had sprung
10 the head OF the leading pair OF ami
mais and held them by the bits. Allyn
leaped to the ground, remsrkng:
mats one on you, Ransome?" Bear
p hand with these trunks, will you?"
together the luggage was piled into
Inc rear end of the vehicle and the tail
gate put in place. Only then did the
director Of ceremonies turn to Miss
English, remove his hat and hold out
ms hand with frank smile and a
l'2k OF unconscious admiration In his
eyes.
] am delighted to welcome you, Miss
hHsilsh, he said we are a little
idte because coming aions one Of the
mules took II into his LONG head to
,hmp on another's back. However, we
ar" mere now. We shall start as soon
= YOU give the word. Let me intro
uAee myself. | am Mr. Thomas Allyn,
one OF the belongings Of BALCONIES
'ahehe. Believe me. they will all be
gao TO see you-Mrs. Glynn especially.
ohe Is the only white woman there
LOIS thanked Him and asked:
mere is the rancher
twenty miles due west, on the river.