Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-01-04

Braden fell behind. Stop and drinl
some beer anyway" he called. go
some in here. You mustn't be mad a
me because Johnnie's mamma sent 70
him. Come on back."
To this no answer was made Dallai
gave the team a few smart cuts TIL,
wagon rumbled out of the street.
| And now began the return Journey
Five hours had been consumed ir
reaching Clark's. Ten minutes had
been wasted there Another five
J would be passed at the first clear wa
. ter. But allowing for the teams faster
gait when they were headed for home
and for twelve miles of down grade
they should not take more than -four
hours to reach the bend. TWILIGHT
! would be settling then.
Dallas figured the return thus-but
II was soon plain to her that sunsei
would find them miles from the shack.
Poor feed. with the blowing and the
narrowing, had thinned the mules.
After the first squirt they paid no heed
to the whip and fairly crawled. Mary
|
lyn, tired, gave way to passionate COM
planning. Dallas folded a blanket in
the bottom of the wagon and coaxed
her sister to lie down upon 1t, her
face shielded by the seat. To further
dishearten the elder girl Ben and Bet
ty showed signs of sore footedness.
Guided out upon the grass they trav-
eled better.
1t took three precious hours to gain
the summit. The afternoon was then
far gone. Across the wide valley dark
clouds were piling upon the western
range. They added to its height and
augured the days early closing. When
the Throat gaped alongside, the feecy
horizon had rolled still higher, and be-
meath 1t the setting sun showed
through like harvest moon, blood red.
Swiftly the day withdrew and the
stars came ont, Tnep the breeze lull-
ed and a mist rose from tho cQQlee's
wooded bottom. From It came Tie
tremulous ca1l Of an oNi. DALAI sfip.
ped to her feet and welded the black
snake vigorously.
The mules shot forward for a wagon
length. The sudden Jolt awakened
Marylyn. She got to her knees-and
there were the cottonwoods with the
laden boughs!
"Spunky little sister," encouraged
the elder girl and helped the other to
the seat.
The road was so dark now that II
took on the aspect of q standing man.
who was no sooner overridden than
be rose again in the lead. This was a
beginning for all manner OF fears.
Dallas fought her own. But she could
not conquer them, for they enlarged
enormously and changed to d premo-
milton that ran riot
Listening and watching, she had suf-
fered the previous night. Yet that suf-
fering was nothing compared to the
agony that stole into her heart and
held it'll she forgot Marylyn's pres
ence. She seemed to see a figure
skulking through the dusk about the
shack. 1t entered the lean-to and
crouched in hiding. She saw 1t come
forth again, keeping close to the logs.
It's eyes shone In the dark.
Her father was beside the door.
where she had left him. He was gag
Ing straight ahead, as If he expected
the enemy to approach only from the
front, as If he had no thought of
.reachery, His figure was relaxed wea.
lily. His face was drawn. But his
eyes-like the othar's-were strangely
luminous.
All. the figure was creeping toward.
lin noiselessly step by stepi
GO in! Go in, daddyw .--- "a: ~
The cry was tori ff5m her, though
The stroye to keep it back. The strain
4 the pas! night and day was telling. /
she begged Ben and Betty !
Q hasten. Knowing home was not far,
hey obeysd her voice and presently
we're setting back In their collars to
'lock the descent Of the wagon. we're
plashing through the back water at |
he coulee crossing ana Jerking their
oad out upon the level Eastward the |
hack stood out dimly in the starlight.
They made for 1t at trot.
But all at once they stopped and be- !
sa9 stepping this way and that, as If
eady to leap the tongue. Dallas and
darylyn recoiled, forsaking the seat
Or the shelter Of the box. --s.-~
There was moments Walt in a still
Tess as vast as the prairie. The mules,
'idled to the left. shifted their long
'ars nervously. The girls listened. the /
Younger shielded by the elders arms.
Then across the bend from the de-
'erted houses of Shanty Town sound
ID the long, soul chilling howl Of a
sn0
Ito Be Continued.)