Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-12-11
BY ELEANOR GATES,
COPYRIGHT. MCCLURE. PHILLIPS & COMPANY.
Author OF The Biography of Prairie Gil

oerStandlng 1t, bent down inquiringly
toward Marylyn.
She was seated on a buffalo robe be-
fore the fire Zealol.. " tending the cof-
fee. AS she felt the Storekeeper's look
upon her she glanced up, and. meeting
his eyes, something other than the fire.
light swept her throat. neck and brow
with crimson touch.
There's no fretting in that quarter"
was Lounsbury's mental comment. He
turned on the bench to face Dallas.
She was standing quietly beside the
warped door, her arms hanging tensely
at her side, her chin up. her eyes gag
ing straight at him, and in them as
well as in her whole attitude Louns-
bury read determination and anxiety.
Whats the matter, | wonder" he
thought. He leaned toward her, rest
ing an elbow on the bench. You're
getting ready for spring seeding, Miss
Lancaster" he said.
Eyes"
The section boss giggled nervously.
EFF tn town was right here 1T wouldn'
make no difference t. Dallas. Ah'll bet
she'll spen' tn winter shellin' Gavin fer
plantin' an pickin' cookie outen tn
wheat" He fell to tugging at his
goatee.
Again there was silence. Then, with
deep breath, Dallas Strengthened to
speak. 1t was borne to her of a sudden
that they We're in need of one In whom
they might confide. of one from whom
good advice might come. She felt i'm
PEELED to tell this staiwart young man,
whose eyes read kindness and whose
face read right, who seemed to bear
them nothing but good Will. that they
had not fled the claim, and then
The fire cracked cozily. the black
ened pail steamed from the crosspiece.
Lounsbury spread out his hands before
the blaze. II wish lived on a quar-
ter, like you folks" he said. 81 hate
the dickering in a store Been at 1t
ten years. Was in the fur business at
first-bought from the Indians and the
skin hunters up and down. Well, the
country got into my blood. You get
the west, You know, and it's the only
disease out here that you can't shake.
So I've stayed. and guess I'll keep
a-staying. But sometimes get a no
ton to throw my stores up and go into
the COW business or farming"
Dallas sank back, checked not by
Lounsbury's words. bat by her father.
The section boss. one hand behind a
hairy ear. was glowering at the store
keeper 'Fh. what?" he Wed ,sus-
pIciousIy
Il say I've a notion TO take up some
land" repeated Lounsbury. Right
east Of you wouldn't be a bad idea.
The sod's wonderful hereab euts-no
stnmps, no stones, and the foam's
thick. Look in the coulee-you can see
there how far 1T is to the clay. That's
why she wore down so deep
Tibet arroyoT'
Yes. believe I'll just pick out q
quarter near it. Could plant a store
anyway when the track comes"
"Yas, certainly" said Lancaster. He
passed Dallas, giving her a helpless,
apprehensive stare. But, shucks, All
wouldn' be in such a tarnel hurry eff
An was you. Springs plenty o. time"
Lounsbury SWING round sharply.
Spring" he exclaimed in amusement.
Il hope that hasn't been your plan. sir.
y man cant file too soon''
Dallas leaned toward Lomsbury
again. and her lips parted. But a
quick. peremptory gesture from her
father interrupted. "Mar'lyn,7 he
cried. his eyes warning the elder girl,
look out fer tiaet coffee. LIS a-bilin'
over"
And Dallas saw that her father did
not trust the storekeeper-perhaps
feared him-and that he did not wish
his own neglect to be known.
But hint of the state of affairs at
the shack had already entered Louns-
bury's mind. AS Marylyn rose to pour
the coffee he Quickly changed the sub