Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-29


stop to watch the fiocks winging by
above her or to look off to where the
plains fell away from the pale azure
line of the sky, so she failed to see, at
the middle of the long forenoon,
group of dark figures that came into
sight to the eastward and moved SLOW
ly forward in the direction of the bend.
Toward noon, however, the burrows
were turned less regularly. Ben and
Betty were so tired that they no longer
Drew evenly, but wavered from side to
. tide. Again and again the off mule
jerked the share out of the sod. Each
time Dallas patiently circled the team
, and steered it back into place again,
for her arms were not strong enous b
to swing the plow on the whiffietrees.
And each time Simon caught sight of
her red flannel petticoat. and faint.
half awakened objections stirring be-
meath his sprouting horns came back
to challenge the goading color and
| butt her GROSSLY in the skirts.
Just before dinner time and halfway
of the plowed strip, going east. Dallas
suddenly lifted her shoulders to tight
en- the slack of the reinS, let go the
| horns and brought the mules to a
stand, and then as they halted with
| lowered heads she caught sight of the
distant figures between her and the
horizon, recognizing them as men.
| mounted and on foot. with wagons
hanging at their rear.
She stepped to the head of the team
| and shaded her eyes for moment
| AS she did SO a part of the advancing
| body detached itself and approached
| mere swiftly. only to retreat again.
| and the sun. climbing toward the cen
| ter of the sky, flashed back upon bright
| objects carried at the front of the
| group.
Soldiers for Brannon. l reckon" she
| said aloud to Simon, who had given
| over his butting and was thoughtfully
shifting the air. Still" she added,
| they're coming slow for soldiers"
| Simon rubbed red shoulder against
her arm confidingly and gave defiant
| sideways toss of the head.
| You know. don't YOU" Dallas sail.
| scratching the star in his curly fore
head. well, l would. too, If l had your
nose She glanced at the mules and
noted their lack of fright. They're not
| Indians anyhow" she went on. 80 |
guess We'll do some more blowing"
When the sun was SO high that 81
| mons shadow made but a small
| splotch upon the ground under him,
Dallas again stopped to look toward
1 a,,I hn- hnI
travelled only a short distance and We're
halted for their noon rest. Close to the
wagons the smoke of burning grass
twists was curling up from under thu,
midday meal.
They amt soldiers" she said decis-
lively. IF they was they'd go on to the
ferry. And what can they be, headed
this way?" She took off her hat and
| swung it at her father to attract his
attention. then pointed toward the men
and teams.
Lancaster was sitting before the
shack, his crutches across his knees.
Seeing her signal. he got up and hob
bled hastily around the corner, from
where he blinked into the gap. And,
unable to make out anything but a
blurred collection of moving things, he
called Marylyn from her dinner get
ting.
"Come an see wat y en- make out
off thar on tn prairie. Mar'lynw he
cried. "Ef it's antelope, bring out TIL
Sharps."
Marylyn hurried to him and followed
the direction of his gaze. why, it's
men, pa" she said.
Certainly. it's men," he agreed pet
tishly, but wat kim O. men? Thet's
wat All KANT see"
Marylyn shook her head. Then. az
she bent her look inquiringly toward
the far away camp. horseman sud
denly left it and started on a gallon
toward them. Ones coming this way
fastw she exclaimed and rushed back
into the shack for her bonnet.
Lancaster and his younger daughter
commented excitedly as the rider ap
preached. One troop of cavalry haG
remained at Brannon throughout the
summer to give protection to the wive:
and children of officers and enlisted
men. The remaining troops belonging
! at the fort were away on Indian serv
ice. They were to return soon, and thu
section boss believed he saw in thu
nearing traveller the herald of tn,
home coming force. Marylyn, how
ever, was just as certain that indians
were about to surround them ant
hastily brought out the gun, but Dallas
wasted no time in conjectures. Sh'
!, touched up Ben and Betty and finished
her round of the plowed land. Not til
the stranger was close did she stop a
the eastern end Of the field and wait
: leaning on the cross bar.
He came forward In a sharp canter
keeping regular tap upon the flank
: of his mount with the end of lariai
His careless seat in the saddle and tn
fact that he wore no spurs told Dalla
that he was not trooper, thoug
across the lessening distance now be
tween them his dress of blue shirt
dark breeches and high boots, crowne
!, by wide. soft hat, was not unlike
campaign uniform. At his approacl
Ben and Betty became lazily intereste