The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-23

1t was noon when the wagon ap-
/ preached the summit 1t did not rest
there a moment. Behind was spread
out wonderful landscape. The Mis-
souri, threaded it Quarteringly; the
western bluffs walled its farther edge
70 the sky. It's eastern boundary was
the ridge over which the wagon was
rolling. From this undulating line the
Yerdant land slipped down and down
and dOwn-to the fantastic turnings of
the river. But the girls, peering back
upon 1t through haze that was softly
blue, We're wholly Indifferent to its
| beauty. They sought and in vain for
a remote dot that might be the shack
the shack they had left at the end Of
that answering road.
And now they went forward again
The scene on the farther side Of the
summit was newer than that on the
other but did not rival it. Short cou-
| lees had eaten the bluff slopes into
| fittings and spilled small rivulets upon
the plain. Yet barring these and a
lake that sparkled, a round sapphire,
on the right, there was superb unifor-
nifty. Not a stream, not butte not
even a nubbin Of rock, varied the
view. And not a herd of cattle! To
the south moved a score Of yellow ami
antelope. But these and a vii
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 We're each intent
upon Clark's, lying far ahead and to
the left, a dun colored line which SEEM
ed scarcely to get nearer as the time
went But after an hour their pa
thence was rewarded, when the dun
colored line resolved itself into two
and they saw the COW camp-a mar
row street flanked by low shanties of
canvas and board
Again Dallas and Marylyn were alb
sorbed, each with a mental conflict
The younger got fidgety, then petu-
liant 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 camp
their destination was made plain to
them by a sign reading General Mer-
chanaise." 1t 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 a 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 1t resisted her effort. From
within came the rattle of a chain.
ITS locked" She went back to
Marylyn. The two looked at each 9th
er. Over the younger's face swept a
flush of relief. But Dallas had forgot
ten her dread of seeing Lounsbury in
a keen disappointment at finding him
gone. She glanced anxiously up and |
down the street.
1t was deserted and still. Dallas
climbed back to the seat. maybe
he's at the fort, she said encouraging
". "WeIl drive home quick. There's
a lot of it downhill." She CLICKED to
the team.
At that moment the door of a near
by shanty opened. A man came out
waving a letter. Say. hellow he
bawled Don't you want your mail?"
Dallas checked the mules.
Il got letter for YOU" he went on.
1t was AL Braden Of Sioux Falls.
Dallas gave Marylyn the reins and
reached for the letter, noting that the |
real estate man did not dof the foppy
hat or make any swinging bows.
"A letter?'
Yep from Lounsbury. 1 told him |
| was going to lope back down to the
bend-but l didn't" He snickered.
Where's he gomez" she asked slit
ting the envelope with shaking hand.
Dunno" answered Braden. He was
leaning on a wheel now, surveying
Ben and Betty with 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. I
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 nv
mother is seriously ill-and l am
afraid it's put that way to hide some
thing worse. 1t Is the only thing that
could take me out of Dakota now. But
am not leaving you unprotected Be
fore l left Brannon I 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. I
shall worry terribly till l get back. I
wish l could write all l would like to
But It would be what l have already
-old you-you Will understand"
Thus 1t ended