Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-23

western bluffs walled its farther edge to the sky. Its eastern boundary was the ridge over which the wagon was rolling. From this undulating line the verdant land slipped down and down and down-to the fantastic turnings or the river. But the girls, peering back upon 1t through haze that was softly blue, were wholly indifferent to It's beauty. They sought and in vain Tor a remote dot that might be the shack the shack they had left at the end or that unswerving road.
 And now they went forward again. The sceno on the farther side of the summit was newer than that on the other, but did not rival 1t. Short cou- lees had eaten the bluff slopes into fittings and spilled small rivulets upon the plain. Yet barring these and . lake that sparkled, round sapphire, on the right, there was superb unifor- mity. Not stream, not butte, not even a nubbin of rock, varied the view. And not a herd of cattle! To the south moved score of yellow ami mals-antelope. But these and a vil- lage of saucy prairie dogs were the only signs of life. The land dropped away by imperceptible degrees. As imperceptibly it melted into a mellow sky.
 Dallas and Marylyn were each intent upon Clark's, lying far ahead and to the left dun colored line which seem- ed scarcely 0 get nearer as the time went. But after an hour their pa- tience was rewarded, when the dun colored line resolved itself into two and they saw the COW camp-a nar- row street f1anked by low shanties of canvas and board.
 Again Dallas and Marylyn were ab- sorbed, each with a mental conflict. The younger got fidgety, then petu- lant and began to complain of thirst. For once the elder girl showed scant sympathy. She was hurriedly plan ming some new speeches.
 At the southern end of the campi their destination was made plain tol them by sign reading General Mer- chandise." It was nailed along the hip of large building that stood mid-' way of the street. Looking to neither side, they made straight for it.
 When the team came to stand be- fore the store the girls saw to their surprise that the door was shut. They waited. A minute passed. No one came out. Then Dallas climbed down and knocked. There was no answer. She waited again. Finally she tried the knob. It resisted her effort. From within came the rattle of chain.
 "It's locked" She went back to Marylyn. The two looked at each oth- CT. Over the younger's face swept flush of relief. But Dallas had forgot ten her dread of seeing Lounsbury in keen disappointment at finding him gone. She glanced anxiously up and down the street.
 It was deserted and still. Dallas climbed back to the seat. "Maybe he's at the fort" she said encouraging ly. "We'll drive home quick. There's lot of it downhill" She clucked to the team.
 At that moment the door of near. by shanty opened. A man came out, waving a letter. "Say, hello" he bawled. Don't you want your mail?"
 Dallas checked the mules.
 q got letter for you," he went on. It was Al Braden of Sioux Falls.
 Dallas gave Marylyn the reins and reached for the letter, noting that the real estate man did not doff the f1oppy hat or make any swinging bows.
 "A letter."
 "Yep, from Lounsbury. I told him I was going to lope back down to the bend-but I didn't" He snickered.
 Where's he gone?' she asked, slit ting the envelope with shaking hand.
 Dunno" answered Braden. He was leaning on a wheel now, surveying Ben and Betty with a critical and somewhat disdainful eye, for each was hanging upon three legs to rest a fourth. Presently he glanced up at Marylyn, and his eye lit impudently. Dunno" he repeated. You're his girl. You ought to know"
 But Dallas did not hear him. She was scanning a page closely written and addressed to herself.
 "A telegram has come calling me home Iran the letter.. It says my mother is ill-'seriously ilr-and I am afraid it's put that way to hide some thing worse. It is the only thing that could take me out of Dakota now. But I am not leaving you unprotected. Be fore I left Brannon arranged to have Matthews watched every hour of the day and night. And he is the only thing that might make you trouble, for If the Indians get nasty know Oliver will insist on bringing you in. Still. shall worry terribly till I get back. wish I could write all would like to. But it would be what have already told you-you will understand"
 Thus 1t ended.
 Dallas thrust 1t into the pocket of her skirt, took the relns and lifted the Ben saw the threatening from behind his bride blinds. He sprang forward. The wheel rolled from under Braden's elbow.
 "Well, I'll be d-dr' he growled. "Ain't you going to say ta-tay He strOde along at the tailboard. smirking up at the two in an attempt to be Maybe you'd like company going home" he said. Lonely trip for girls. specially when they ain't got a gun" He gave Marylyn a bold wink