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

questions mat fOllOWcu close upon
each other he paid her prettiness con
slant and wondering homage, and She
noting the attention, rctreated little
and was quiet and abashed.
who's you partly" the elder man
demanded Indicating the distant camp
with one crutch and leaning heavily
upon the other.
Surveyors" replied Lounsbury.
"Surveyors," There was alarm in
Lancaster's tone. He suddenly re
called how, sighting Dallas advice,
he had delayed Il trip to the land Office
for the purpose of filing on the claim.
"W'at they doin'?'
Something right in your line, sir.
They're laying out a railroad"
"A ralroadf You don say! How'll
It Gomez"
"Why, right this way"
Lancaster caught the other by the
boot strap. 'shore7" he asked
Sure" repeated Lounsbury. Sure
Is death and taxes It's bound to run
somewhere between the coulee and
Medicine mountain, and it'll stop-at
least for few ycars-at the Missouri.
" ltH IbbNt SIOuE+lN III lut way At lllt
south end Of the gap, it can't reach the
river without coming over your land.
First thing you know, you'll have
stores and saloons around your house.
There's going to be town on the
bend, sir"
The elder man scanned the younger's
face. Lounsbury was smiling half
teasingly, yet undoubtedly he was in
earnest.
wy, Lawd" breathed the section
boss, realizing the whole import of the
news. A railroad would mean i'm
measurable good fortune to the trio of
settlers who, like young prairie chick
ems that fear to leave the side OF their
mother, had chosen quarter sections
near the guarding fort And TO him,
penniless, with motherless girls, il
meant
THE ferrying s so good right here"
went on the storekeepcr. why, it's
10 to ! shot the track II end on your
Slain"
With one accord all looked across the
level quarter. where the new green
VAS creeping in after the late rains
~ lhlll'dIs an a. WV H. llt o'N
lion boss pulled at his grlzzled goatee
They'll make this piece worth q
heap"
They will" agreed Lounsbury. But
-oad or no road. seems to me you've
got about the cream of this side of the
river"
you right" said Lancaster. But
the girls were silent, except that Dial
las gave a sigh deep and full of hap
pness
Lounsbury glanced Mt her. You
Ike the place. don't you" he asked
"even IT, He suddenly paused. Her
palms were open and half turned up
ward Across each lay crimson STRIPE
the marx OF li'e pow hahdie'
For the second time she read ms
meaning ieS, l !lNe the pr"Irle'
tne answered. II 90 nave 10 p!oW'
Ahd she stepped from the lurToW Il
the uiturheo sou
AS she stood there Lounshury caugh
the clear outline OF her firmly draw
face. Beside her Marylyn' slight ant
coiorIess' was Tor me moment ecllpseu
ne nat Oh 'he e'uer elII was pruShe'
oacK' dlspi"!lhs ii ioreheau uPoi
"nich ehohe tue YER! sP''t Vi III
uhShacKleo' iler hahas' laIse, yet no
100 !arse LOT the Sp.en"Iu inquire
"hich 'hey We're the Instruments
were clahpeu upon her breast ""''H
ing her' 1t seemed 10 l'ounsoulg VIA
she must nave sprung as she wa
from lhe pains one uay-eraNe' iu'
grown ana saIlaht'
her la'Ner voice pIohe III iurSn!H
AN didh want she shoulu pow Il
protested An HESeleu slt SON
one on lick, out seems IKE '''l'
she
Eve like 1t here She interrupted
because the air Is cool and there
lots Of grass" Then, after bending t
gather a purple flower she steppe
back to the plOw.
you're planning to stay, them sal
LOunSbury.
stay" burst forth the section boss