River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-03-10

duly In at the TWO small WINDOWS. one
wrapped heavy shawl about her. and
stepped out into the woodshed that was
| built close against the back of the
! house.
The three dogs barked and whined in
a chorus of greeting at sight of her, and
she unloosened their chains and let
| 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
Travers had laughingly insisted be-
| longed 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
| frozen sea. The air was sharp and Bit
terly cold. 1t stung her face like the
cut of a 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
a 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 Travers
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 pistol broke the
stiffness of the frozen prairie. AS ii
came again Tramp set up an answering
howl of alarm and there came 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
Pierce, standing in their stirrups, and
letting out yells of JOY when they saw
the group in the snow.
ut 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 ne 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 Trayers with the fierce
protective love of panther mate, aQC
Bunny looked at her approvingly.
I'VE didn't have to do nothing to him.
ma'am,' he said, regre fully. He was
all done for. He must have struck out
for Sunrise with the two horses and los
his way, but the horses knew theirs
and they landed him safe at the north
division clubhouse"
"Alive?" 1t was TTavers who spoke
Bunny bent to rub off some snow thai
was melting ON Tramp's brown coat, and
he did it gently, as to a comrade.
No Deader'n dead" he replied
slowly. And he didn't stay in the sad
ole, either. He Just dropped over ons
side, with one foot hung in the stirrup
and his pony dragged him along We
knew Chance, and came looking fo1
what was left of you"
Travers' arms closed around Betty
closely, as she knelt beside him
Neither spoke, but Bunny put in a las
sentiment that was an epitaph to Rocky
Davis
THE hoodoo of the Crossbar's sUrE
done up for good this time