Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-19


sereney on, and not until noon dld
high plumes of smoke. straight as the
flag pole on the parade ground an
nounce to the secretly delighted troop
ers ut Brannon their tardy rising
Dallas, too, saw the busy chimneys,
but while watching them intently from
an open window, her attention was at
tracted all at once in the opposite d.
rection. She heard coming out OF the
coulce a chorus of shrill talking, like
the pow-wow of n flock of prairie
chickens. Then horse snorted and
there was a low rumble of wheels.
Thinking that it was her father, she
leaned into sight. As she did so
team came scrambling over the scarlet
brink, dragging a wagonful Of men and
women.
AS the horses gained the level prairie
their driver laid aside a huge black
snake whip with which he had been
soundly whacking them and looked
about. The next moment Dallas saw
him rein in his team and spring to his
feet. lie was looking toward the
shack, and he raised his whip hand
menacingly.
Look at that. Look at that!' he
cried wildly, his voice carrying through
the clear air.
All looked where he pointed, and
some one in the back of the wagon
cursed.
"What d. you call that for luckf'
yelled the man, shaking his mittened
fist. "1f Nick knew that!'
Dallas could not hear the mingled
answers Of his companion.
"Wcl call it ID
A woman reached up and pulled him
Into his seat. There was another shrill
chorus. the man whacked the horses
till they reared, and the wagon went
/ rumbling on
Dallas watched it until it disappear
ed into the cut at the landing. Then
she sank upon bench. For Il long
time she sat, dumb and immovablc,
her eyes on the floor When finally she
got up she felt about her, as If over
come by blindness.
Marylyn had not seen or heard the
threatening wagon driver Seated com.
fortably on the robe by the fire she
strung beads and hummed contentedly.
Dallas started toward her, stopped,
then moved slowly back to the win
dow, where she took up her watch.
Late that night she sprang from 1T
full, troubled sleep 10 hear Simon low
ing and moving about restlessly. A
few moments afterward there came a
mules long bray from below the shack
followed by the voice Of The section
boss urging on the team. She found
her long cloak and fastened out.
She could not wait for the wagon to
stop before calling anxiously to her IA
Their. Did you fle?' size asked. walk
ing beside Betty
Lancaster did not answer. but scold
ed feebly, as If worn with his long
trip. IVY d. v fret a man fore he
en- git down an into tn house, he
demanded. "Ah'm plumb fruz t deatt
an hungry
She helped him over the wheel and
through the door. Then she went back
and In feversh haste stabbed the
mules. On entering the shack, now
dimly lighted by a ire, she did no
need to repeat her question. She read
the answer in her fathers face.
NO use" Lancaster told her, raising
wet, tired eyes to hers. 9TH claim wa'
; gone fore ever we got here-filed or
las July" He lay down, mutterng IL
delirum of grief and physical weari
ness.
, The fire made only OF dry grass. be
gan to die. the room to darken. Dallas
face Swallowed with it. She was think
ing of the level quarter that was t.
have blossomed under her eager hands
that was to have brought comfort t
Marylyn and her crippled father. AnC
, now the land was gone from them, hat
never been theirs. They were onl,
, squatters.
Any hour nameless man-perhap
he who had gone by that day-migh
, descend upon them and
The bail Of a bubhlns pot slipped
, down the bar that held it, and the YES
! sci cattered upon the hearth. Sh
> started as If a gIn had exploded at he
l. elbow.