The daily sentinel., 1907-01-25

hi Shah help you, Miss Window
said Lew. Il could handle thai
bunch over there"
What he meant by this she could
not OF would not let herself under
stand But she thanked him rather
curtly and declined the offer.
He smiled at her confidently as
she rode away On what did he base
his confidence?
The spirit Of the range was strong
in May. Her blood mounted warmly.
and her horse pressed sharply upon
the sheep. while her voice rang loud
and clear.
But when the rapidly moving mass
OF white backs scurried through the
scrub pines near the top. not half
mile away over the hill. she heard
faint sounding "Cooees!" that were
growing nearer aud coming up the
ridge.
"Madden's herders. for money!" she
heard Uri yell But well git in
ahead. They won't dast come much
nearer-they won't risk a mix-up. o.
The "Ws" were bounding up the
slope and the advance line was all
but toppling the ridge From d little
knoll on that part OF the hog-back
farthest from the meadow, May, out
of breath from her hard ride and her
cries, sat her horse for a moment Of
triumph.
Suddenly she heard a great rustling
among the trees and brush on the
west side OF the ridge. opposite that
on which the first great billow of
'Ws' was beginning to appear.
From below came whooping yells.
the barking of dogs, wild bleats and a
low roar as 10000 little feet beat the
ground and 5000 little round heads
were poked out from among the pines.
great wave OF MS" loomed for
moment from over the way. ready to.
rush in and become one with the bill
low of "W's" which had charged up!
the east side of the ridge just in time
to meet it,
stop EN-! Stop EN-! Head EN-
onl Can't you stop 'eml" was Mays
frantic appeal to Zeke
The old sheep man said nothing.
but reached back on his saddle for his
rife, and, raising It quickly and point
ing along the hundred-foot gap that
remained between the two great
herds, sent bullet whizzing low over
it. May had heard of this trick
before. Sometimes, she knew. IL had
succeeded in preventing a hopeless
mess of two bands. When this bullet
whirred between them, the two for
ward lines stopped stock STILL looked
about in dismay. their heads up and
shaking and tried to scamper back.
but the yells and the barks. together
with the volleys of stones that were
flying In among them. made the rear
members crowd forward and push |
upon the leaders. II
zeke fired shot after shot. but the
two lines. forced by the fatal up.
sweep from behind, neared each other /
by little starts and bounds May saw
an "M' sheep leap into the air and
fall fiat. She rode over to Zeke and |
made him stop his shooting
When she looked again the two
great tides of sheep had met and min
gled. The "W's' were scampering
wildly about among the MS" and the
ms" were threading through and
through the "W's," so that It seemed
in one wild moment, the dreaded the
tragic, miX-up was as complete us the
mix-up of well-shulled pack of
cards.
Lew Madden rode over to where
May stood leaning against a pine,
crying The rest had all run up the
ridge chasing the sheep toward the
meadow. Lew got off his horse and
was close 10 her before she saw
him.
"Oh. 1t was mean of you" she de-
clared. with wet cheeks and flaming
eyes. mean, meant"
This mlx-up?" he said. smiling
softly. "Oh, don't know. They can stay
mixed for all 1 care. It's all right"
why. what makes you say that?"
she cried. dabbing her eyes with
hand dkerchief I'VE can't separate
them until the end of the season, un-
less she added. a little more hope
fully, I'VE could rig up a corral and
a foot-gate here somewhere l Won
der If we could?"
But | don't want to-" said he.
1T would take n months work and
1t isn't worth while. anyway"
We'll" she said. with forced firm
ness. "I'll do 1t, then"
But you don't want to, either
why don't l want to?"
Because you're going to marry me.
Little Bopeep hasn't lost her sheep.
They've just strayed in among her
lovers. And they are going to stay
there and never be separated. Come!
| am ychrs. and so are all my sheep!"
He held out his arms to her Never
had she seemed so weak in the face
of tho fine, strong. insistent mastery
of his presence. But she summoned
the protesting word at last. though
1t came out family.
''No!"'
He came nearer and put his great
arms about her.
You're taking me for granted, aft
er all You're just as mean as"
No; I'm taking You for a dear.
angelic little creature. who loves me
very much
There you arei You said It, IN II
not be taken for granted that way"