Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-14

the question of what she would say
and do when she arrived at Clark's
her feelings underwent u marvellous
change. 1t had been easy enough in
the excitement following her discovery
to contemplate a meeting with Louns-
bury But that excitement having
dwindled not a little the idea of seeing
him ana of talking to him mounted in
proportional Importance. She saw her
self drawing up before his store or
standing just within as she related her
story. She saw his face. the blue eyes,
full of fun-and she had not met him
since that evening! Her heart began
to thump with the picturing. its pound
ings playing np to her th:oat and down
again. Want of food was giving her
sensation of weakness and sinking
But this seemed also to be the result
of mental and not physical suffering
She was torn by a desire to retreat.
Then darted through her mind the
confidence 1t was a blow on a wound.
She glanced at her sister entreatingiy.
And what she fancied she read in the
others eyes instantly altered the de-
sire to turn-made her send the mules
| forward at a better pace. Marylyn
| was sitting stiff1y upright. bracing her
self with her hands. Her head was
up her look was eager and fixed.
| There was Il smile on her parted lips.
she's happy about seeing him.
thought Dallas and was overwhelmed
| va sense of her own guilt.
| A diversion soon came in horrid
guise. The road touched the coulee
again, bringing close the giant cotton
woods, where the Sioux dead We're
dashed. and the girls, glancing toward
the trees, suddenly caught a glimpse
of long. wrapped bodies.
Maryiyn edged toward her sister
| "Oh. hope it'll be light when we get
here coming back" she whispered
shuddering
I'VE won't be alone" answered Dial
las reassuringly.
The coulee was deep and dark a
that point and full of queer shadows
From the boughs that Graded The
| braves came uncanny fiutterings as
the wind Shook loosened scraps of the
sleepers' covering. The dead seemed
to be moving restlessly upon their ble'
boards and waving ar imploring sum
mons to be freed of the thongs tina
bound them. Overhead was full caus'
for fear. Floating on motionlesS wing
with bare necks craning hungrily, cir
cled black watchers.
They say" whispered Marylyn
watching nervously behind-'they sa.
the Indians are scared to come nea
these trees; never do till one of 'en
dies. l don't wonder. 1t gives me tn
shivers just to see that bunch"
Dallas drew the whip across Betty
"a dead Indians not dangerous" s.,
said, smiling. And forgot 10 ask MAJ,
Ign where she had heard the tale.
Six miles were gone. But the wa
ahead was still long, the brown blotc
| at the ridge top was still only blotcl
| And the team was fast firing. Whe
Murphy's Throat was reached DallS
drove out to the left, watered tn
thirsty pair at slough and ate wit
Marylyn the long deferred breakfas
After that they went at better pac
for time. Soon. however, the roa
became sleeper, and Betty Stacked NJ
The sun was high now and unpleasant
iy warm. So the wise old mule mereI
bumped her back as Dallas applied tn
lash and doggedly, refused TO increas
her speed.
1t was noon when the wagon al
preached the summit 1t did not res
there a moment. Behind was sprea
out a wonderful landscape. The Mi:
souri, threaded it quarteringly: til
western bluffs walled its farther edg
to the sky. Its eastern boundary WI,
the ridge over which the wagon wa
rolling. From this undulating line tn
verdant land slipped down and dow
and down--to the fantastic turnings Z
the river But the girls, peering bac
upon it through haze that was soft
blue, We're wholly Indifferent to il
beauty. They sought and in vain fC
a rem:te dot that might be the shack