The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-10-24

her before she reached the house ant
stop her with unaccustomed decision
Il want to talk to you, Miss Eng
l1sh-Lois.' he said. II think yor
have avoided me of late. Why?"
y have not been WE'LL she an.
swered, failing in the suddenness Of
his attack to do better than conjure
up woman's stereotyped excuse.
Even if that were so-and you
never looked better in your life, I am
sure-am not still your brother?"
A look of pain in his frank boyish
face touched her and she held out he1
hand. Forgive me-" she said, "but
indeed am out of sorts and not the
best Of company" .......
You are in trouble, I fear"
"No, I am merely at outs with my.
self. 1t will pass
Can; not help you?"
1t Is. nothing SO serious as to need
help. Women must have their humors
you know, Mr.. Allyn"
Damn it! II do know" he respond
ed bitterly. "You are having one now.
You have had one for a week. Some
thing has gone wrong with you; /
know it; Ifeel it. am your brother;
you told me so yourself; and you will
not let me help" ss
/ He was SO honest so kindly, so openly
and unselishly devoted to her, so anx-
lous to be regarded as her next kin,
SO unfeignedly hurt by her avoidance
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 a daring, healthful, gener-
Gus boy. She was impulsive and she
turned to him with both hands out
stretched:
II am in trouble, Mr.. Allyn. Help
me-"
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 passionately for a word of her
lover and felt that she must go on:
"You say that have been in strange
mood for a week. What happened a
week ago."
"A week ago-what happened a 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 loose
ly in front Of her, she stood before
him, timid, shrinking and downcast,
mute appealing confession in every
curve Of her lovely figure. Allyn grew
red, then pale, then red again.
''Why, damn me" he burst out.
"Why, Lois! Why-why-you don't
mean-but it's prepost-but, yes, damn
me. believe it's SOL @
1T is So" she said, facing him
bravely now. "
But he's a smuggler chap, cat
tie" .H
"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 murderer; he was a snug
gler for only three months. He will
not be so again. He loves me. love
him. Don't you dare to speak evil of
him!" she broke down in passion of
sobs and chung to him for support,
Call 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. I 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 surprising rapid
ity and still cling to his coat sleeve.
She smiled at him and said: g.
Il want message from him and
he is across the river not far from
here. Get it for me-"
"Am I to ride over there, and ask
every one meet whether he has seen
pale, beautiful rustler with a lame
wing, and keep on asking until I find
him, and then have him write to you
or shoot him if he refuses?"
Yes" d. .g
"Well," said Allyn, cts a nice bust
ness, but I'll do it. I'm your brother
amt II"
Eyes"
"And you love me only as a sister,
Eyes"
only as a sister?"
Only as sister. Don't be goose
| Three days afterward Allyn. dusty
and worn, returned at the noon hou,
from a supposed chase Of cougars II
the Mexican hills. He dismounted II
front OF the ranche-house, stAlkedi Int
the school-room, handed. d q crumptSi
note to lois, chucked .".Palomita,, un.
der the chin and Nalked out again
The ncts i'm: !. /. ;s I; 50, III
your, friend has come to ma, Got
bless hinApr Isl, Ind you Tor Ssndina
him! ! 4taFt southward Tomorrow, 81
hem and 10Jfa IN ,.afrrys II - ~