Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-16

1t was daybreak. The gray light stole
DULY in at the two small windows She
wrapped heavy shawl about her, and
stepped out into the woodshed that was
| house
The three dogs barked and whined in
4 chorus of greeting AT sight of her, and
she unloosened their chains and lei
them romp into the house. All at once
he largest, Travers' favorite, stopped
short on the door sill, with uplifted
nose and forepaw and howled anxiously
The other two had crouched gratefully
! beside the stove
Go in, Tramp said Betty.
Tramp howled louder and longer, and
turning from the door, pushed her out
doors and plunged into the snow.
For an instant she hesitated, her
heart beating fast with dread, then Slip
ping on the high rubber boots which
[ravers had laughingly insisted be-
lonsed IN the trousseau of a North Da-
kota bride, she followed the trail Of
Tramp.
The snow had stopped falling. 1t lay
in huge drifts around the house like a
frozen sea. The ar was sharp and Bit
terly cold 1t stung her face like the
cut OF whip, and left path behind.
Now and then he stopped, lifted his
head. and sent out the long howl that
found echo in her own heart He was
making his way steadily towards the
northeast division. At first she kept up
with him, but before they had covered
mile the dog was far ahead, and she
traced him by the tracks he left for
her
Suddenly his bowls ceased, and she
heard him barking. Struggling on with
dizzy BRAIN and numbed body, she found
him standing over body half buried in
the snow. licking the icy hands and
face with frantic JOY
Dom" she cried. Don, husband an
swer me-
1t was Travers. From head TO foot he
was bound with his own lariat, and in
an instant the truth flashed on her.
Rocky had lied about the herd, and had
taken his revenge. leaving TraIers
helpless at the mercy of the blizzard, as
his brother had met his death.
She knelt beside him, her head on his
breast to catch the flutter of life. 1t beat
family and irregularly, and when she
pressed her lips to his with eager, ten
der pleading there was a drowsy lifting
of his eyelashes.
The sharp crack of a pistol broke the
stiffness of the frozen prairie AS it
came again Tramp set up an answering
howl of alarm and there came a long
drawn shout.
"Tra-vers!"
Here" called Betty.
Through the drifts came two ponies,
breasting their way sturdily. and the
riders were Charlie Hickson and Bunny
letting out yells of JOY when they saw
the group in the snow.
1T was Rocky who did it. though he
didn't just exactly do it with any good
intentions,' Bunny said later, when
they had reached the ranch and the color
was creeping back into Travers' face.
Did he tell you what he had done:"
demanded Betty, passionately What
did you boys do to him? think could
have shot him myself
She bent over Travers with the fierce
protective love of panther mate. and
Bunny looked at her approvingly.
We didn't have to do nothing to him,
ma am he said, regretfully. 'te was
all done for. He must have struck out
for Sunrise with the two horses and lost
his way, but the horses knew theirs,
and they landed him safe at The north
division bunkhouse.'
"Alive?" 1t was Travers who spoke.
Bunny bent to rub off some snow that
was melting on Tramp's brown coat, and
he did it gently, as to a comrade.
slowly. And he didn't stay in the sad
die, either. He just dropped over one
side. with one foot hung in the stirrup
and his pony dragged him along We
knew Chance, and came looking for
what was left of YOU"
Travers arms closed around Betty
closely, as she knelt beside him.
Neither spoke. but Bunny put in a last
sentiment that was an epitaph to Rocky
Davis.
1.-THE hoodoo of the CrOssbar's sure
done up for good this time"