Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-05

ana burst into frequent SuHaWS. Ddi-
las and Marylyn followed his every !
word, breaking in from time to time
with little gleeful laughs.
But in the midst of it there came
from outside startling interruption
shouts and a loud, pistol-like cracking,
powdery swirs over the windows. a
frightened lowing and heavy thumps
against the shack.
The noise without produced a change
within. Incredibly agile, Lancaster
got to pane; while Dallas. spring
ing up, screened Marylyn and waited,
as If in suspense.
Dark bulks now shot past pursued
by mounted men. But very soon the
herd was gone, and all was again
quiet. Then followed a moment that
was full of embarrassment. Keenly,
Lounsbury looked from father to
daughter, the one striving to assume
an easy air, the other incapable Of hid
ing alarm. All at once he felt certain
they shared old Michaers informa-
ton. He determined to tell them that
he, too knew what and whom they
feared
Expecting some one, Miss Dallas?'
he asked tentatively.
The section boss FASTENED to answer.
"Expectin' nothin'," he snapped. Then.
! TO cut short any further questioning,
''Dallas, v clean forgot them mules
t'day. Lawd help US, y'Ngoin' t. let
em starveT
Lounsbury sat quiet, realizing that
| the team was but preteXt. The ED
err girl found her cloak, picked up a
bucket and left the room. Marylyn
shrank into the dusk at the hearthside.
| Lancaster was hObbling up and down,
his crutch ends digging at the packed
| dirt of the floor.
The storekeeper, putting aside his
| determination, went on as though he
| had not noticed the others attitude.
| ''The storm was hard ON the stock
| last night. They must "a drifted thir-
| ty miles with it. Our loss is big, like
| ly The punchers II bunch everything
on four hoofs and drive 'em into the
! coulee. Cows III be out of the wind
there and live on browse till the
| ground clears"
But as he was talking the section boss
made himself ready for the cold. Be
fore he had finished the elder man had
disappeared.
Lounsbury was thoroughly provoked
at the treatment shown hin-he was
hurt at the plain lack of faith. Again
he considered what course to pursue.
| Granted the family knew all he could
tell them. what could be gained by
forcing the fact of his knowledge up
on them? Nothing - unless it We're
more suspicion against himself. And
If they were in ignorance-well, it was
better than premature care. AS be-
fore, he decided to remain silent and
depend upon the pilot.
He glanced at Marylyn. On her ia
Tiers departure she had moved out of
the shadow. Now she was sitting bolt
upright, with fingers touching the
bench at either side. Her lips were
half parted. She was watching Louns-
bury wonderingly.
The moment their eyes met her OWL
fell. She reached to the mantel for a
beaded belt and began work upon ii
precipitately.
What is the prairie princess doing?'
he asked.
Making something" She held the
belt by one hand to let it slip through
the other
He reached for it. "My, it's pretty
Wish you'd make me a watch fob like
that
She flushed and dimpled. "I'd like
to-" she said.
''I'll wear it as an amulet" He gave
her back the belt and their hands
touched.
She started nervously.
"Why, Miss Marylyn" he said gen
tly. ''You afraid of me?"
mo" 1t was whispered.
"Well, you mustn't be-" His tone
was one that might have been used t.
child. "Since l rode here montl
ago I've thought of you folks lot
!, I'd like to do real good turn for you
Perhaps it's because you girls seen
so lonely
Were not lonely" she declared
'The forts near, and we can hear thu
r band. And pa says there'll be thre'
! or -FOUR steamers go by next summer.
The storekeeper mentally kicked
. himself. "The idea &c suggesting ;
;, thing like that" he growled inwardly
4 when she hadn't even thought of it
J. John Lounsbury, you've got about al
= much sense as fool mud hen"
and" went on Marylyn. there
: ihe ladies at Fort Brannon. If pa
!, She hesitated.
Lounsbury shook his head, smiling
+ well. wouldn't count on them IL
were you" he advised. remembering
, certain experiences of Bismarck bellies
'Those women over there are as clan
: nish as crows
"Yes?" plaintively. She went at he
! beads again.
r GAS was Soyinpv bo hooap opo,