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

was that every passerby would be Ted
with true southern hospitality, thus
diminishing the supply. But he refrain
ed from making any further sugges-
ton. lie babe the family goodby, lin
gerlng II little at parting beside the
younger girl.
"Miss Marylyn," he said, before an
other winter you'll be the belle of the
town Of Lancaster"
She put her hand in his bashfully.
"And Miss Dallas" His voice en-
treated little.
81 hope you'll be the biggest store
keeper" she said.
To Louhsbury's surprise. he saw
trace of fun lurking in her eye. "Ah,
you've forgiven mel" he declared tri-
| hmphantly.
But she made no answer as she turn
ed away.
The next moment he was galloping
toward the coulee crossing.
Marylyn watched him so. When,
having disappeared into the ravine. he
came into sight again on the farther
her He took off his hat and waved
It. She answered with a farewell sig
nal and stood, looking after him, until
| distance dwarfcd horse and rider TO
tot
On the storekeeper's departure the
lhacl became scene of action. Ian
! raster gave over walking the floor and
rollected bedding for a journey. Mary
| yn was called in to prepare box OF
| food for her father-potatocs from
| the Goals of the fireplace cured pig
| meat from the sousc barrel bread and
n jug of coffee-while Dallas caught
| The mules, gave them some grain and
/ pbbing down with straw wisps and
| creased the wagon wheels All being
| made ready. the section boss took leave
bf his daughters. urging them to keep
within the next day when the survey
prs came up and to deny his going.
! Then with Ben and Betty at smart
trot he set of for Bismarck and the
| land Office.
When he was gone the squat shack
On the bend became vigilant Cease
lessly its eyes covered the stretch OF
road between ferry landing and coulee
--ceaselessly, though Dallas alone kept
watch for wayfarers. Not until night
fell and the cloud masked moon dis.
appeared behind the western bluffs
were small blankets pinned into place
across the windows and the peering
shock head made sightless.
But even with the house darkened,
The early supper eaten and Marylyn
asleep in her bed before the hearth
the elder girl still kept on the alert.
nervousness born of loneliness had
taken possession of her. If the door
latch ratified, she raised herself, listen
ing If Simon rubbed himself against
the warm outer stones Of the fireplace,
she sprang up. a startled sentinel, with
wide eyes and clnched hands.
But an hour passed. The wind lull-
ed. Simon lay down. She fell to think
ing of the storekeeper. She felt surer
than ever now that he did not covct
the bend. Setting aside the fact that
he had brought them good news. She
was glad he had come. 1t gave them
neighbor And, yes, she forgave
him the smile that had provoked her
resentment After all, the name Dal-
las did sound Texas.
With morning and the rising of the
sun she was up and doing the few
chores about lean-to and shack. But
when the surveyors arrived, making
short work of their last few miles. she
and Marylyn shut themselves in and
escaped being seen. The engineers
gone toward Clark's Dallas again took
= up her watch.
\ Twice before night she was reward
ed. The mail sergeant passed, bring
Ing Il batch of letters to a grateful
post, and late In the afternoon an In
! the Missouri Scoring 20 use the fer
| ry lie dropped into the river where
the coulce cnpticd and swan across.
Tho arrival Of the scout Dallas asso
ciated instnctivcly with the expected
: return of the troopers and felt re
lief that she would not have cared t,
confess to her father The unusua
hustle that marked the next three day
at Brannon seemed to justify her be
bottom land men were busy erectin,
n strange structure. Tall cottonwood
were hauled from the river and Sc
on end in the sandy ground. AS tim,
passed these came to form tight, cir
cular pen.
The night Of the third day there wa
activity Oh the other bank of the Mis-
souri,. Unknown to shack and for
the sQualid line of shanty saloons tina
stretched itself like waiting serpen
alcng high bench opposite the ney
stockade sprang into sudden life. Tw
wagons filed with men and barrel
crossed the bend and emptied then
selves into the dilapidated buildings
And far into the early hours lou
laughter, the click Of chips and tn
clnk of glasses disturbed the quiet c
the night. At dawn an officer stant
Ing, field glass in hand, on the CALLER
at headquarters saw two wagons draw
up in front of Shapty Town and Gale
down a curse upon the heads of tn
sleeping jewellers.
"Just see there" he exclaimed
"Some vermin got wind of the pay
masters coming and are here to feeC
the men"
A lieutenant sauntered up, putin