The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1907-12-26
A New Year Conquest
BY Charles Moreau Harser.
A Story of the Great Southwest.

Great clouds OF yellow dust, a dazzling
Sky, sweeping winds. long reaches of level
Landslide m.dwinter southwest and on
the siding the palatial train of the cattle
King VINO was now Off among the ranches
looking after sleek and well-bred herds.
The cattle kings daughter. whose pros
pectVe wealth entitled her to the rank of
princess. sat under the striped awning on
the rear platform of the train, gazing
YEARLY at the monotonous landscape.
no" long are we to stay here?' she
demanded OF the porter who was indus
triousiy trying to keep the leather-covered
chars clean. He did not answer-he did
not know. She went back to the parlor
OF the other private car and accosted the
quiet woman who sat by the window sew.
ing. "Atntie. how long is this to last?"
Until your father gets back or there
are orders"
I'm tired Of tim going out of doors.'
sne seed a jacket and cap, slipped
down the side steps and disappeared be-
III the squalid depot. A dilap.dated liy-
cry stable stood in the sunshine. .I want
q riding horse-quick!"
The man fairly trembled in his anxiety
10 serve the city girl, and IN a moment she
was canterlng over the sand and sage
brush, headed straight for the green hills
in the distance.
Away and away she sped, delighting in
n free rush of the wind, the swish of her
pony's hoofs through the grass and the ex-
hilarat.on of the open lands.
At last she turned the horses head
where was the station? Nothing but a
rolling PLAIN. not shining with sunlight!
but dampened by shadow. With q LITTLE
cry of terror she sent her mount racing.
ahead and strained her eyes for the engine.
smoke on the horizon.
All, there 1t is-but so Tar away!'
She surm:sed what had happened-her
father had reached a station farther down
the line and wired. for the train to ioin
him, and they had not discovered her alb
sence before starting.
AS she looked she saw of to the left an
other rider-a w~fde-hatted ~ranchman-to-
ward him she rode AS she drew nearer
her cheeks grew red and her eyes bright.
ened. Once she STOPPED and turned as lie
TO leave him. Then he came close to her.
Q n, Mr.. Mason, shall 1 do?"
Frank Mason, the handsome ranch SUI
Perlntendent, scarcely recognized her,
bowling so slightly that it seemed to he
merely the motion of his horse.
What is the matter, madam"
Don't be mean"-the girls eyes were
beseeching.
a~gai1-only this morning"
Yes, | know. but you see how It Is
the train has gone-it is almost evening
and here I am"
1T does look serious, doesn't It, Where
do they think you are?"
They don't think. Aunty's probably
gone to sleep and won't wake up until
midn:ght-the others think I'm in NV
room. in papa's car"
II IS serious-and nobody's at the ranch
to lake care of you. I suppose they will
come pack tomorrow anyhow
Tomorrow" The girl fairly screeched
the word. We must get them now-to-
night. don't you Observation-Disclosures
But it is fifty miles ta tho pexf to1o-
graph stat.on-how can the engineer get
orders?"
He ooked toward the train, which was
disappearing In a cut between some creek
bluffs a mile or two below the station.
You see It's New Years day and every
body but the stable boys and station agent
has gone to the county seat to a celehra-
ton, There's a dance tonight, SO they
won't be home-yes, 1t Is Serious
Their horses We're moving slowly to-
ward h station. yet a long distance
away. They were talking earnestly and
did not notice the curious movements of a
herd of cattle that had strayed from the
grasslands toward the station and now.
hundreds and hundreds OF them, were
pushing close to the two figures. The girls
bright Jacket and the flashing red of the
cap that topped her brown curls may have
caused their exceeding interest, When
q huge fellow trotted in front of her weary
horse, tho girl stared about her In alarm.
oh. Franklin. Mason-look.."
The young ranchman seemed much ex-
cited. Hurry he exclaimed n urged
his horse into a run She cantered by his
side, alarmed by the strange apparition of
the herd. which It seemed had risen out
of the sod.
The ranchrnan saw something else that
the girl did not-a cluster OF earth mounds
thrown up in the level OF the plain. the
work OF p.airics 81 or some other bur-
fowcrS Of the plains. Before re- So,,,a
caution the Eirl. her horse stumbled. fen.