Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-02-06
CHAPTER xi.
"You Are-the Boss."


"You Are-the Bosa."
She held out her left hand with .
sad little smile. 1T II good Of you TO
come so soon," she said. simply.
She had begged SO earnestly to sit
up that Mrs. White had improvised an
invalid's chair out Of huge old rocker
and cracker box. II did very we'll.
Then she had partially clothed the
girl in q skinny wrapper Of the sort
Langford abominated. throwing q
mans silk handkerchief where the
wrapper failed to meet. and around
the injured arm. Mrs. White had
then recalled her husband from the
stables where he was ON the point Of
mounting to join the relief party that
was to set OF In search Of Williston
at 10 O'Clock. The starting point unan.
mously agreed upon was TO be the
pitiful remnants Of Williston's home.
Men shook their heads obviously
whenever the question Of . possible
leading trail was preached. The soil
was hard and dry from an almost
r:inless July and August. The fugi'
tives might strike across country any.
where with meager chances Of their
trail being traced by any.
Mrs. White and her husband. kindly
souls both, lifted the girl IS gently as
might be from the bed to the ~ ,iy
constructed inyalid's chair by
ting.room window. Then they left
her-the woman to putter around her
kitchen, the man to make good his
appointment. But the exsrtion had
been to much for Mary. She had
counted on strength that she did not
posses. Where had she lost Il? she
wondered, lacking comprehension Of
her exceeding weakness. To DO sure.
her arm alternately ached and smart.
ed, but ones arm was really such q
small part Of one, and she had been
10 strong-always. She tried to shake
of the faintness creeping over her. It
was effort thrown away. She lay back
on her pollow, very white and worn.
her pretty hair tangled and loosened
from its coils.
Paul came. He was dusty and trav.
el.stained. He had been almost con.
tinuously in his saddle since near mid.
night OF the night before. He was
here, big, strong and worthy. Mary
did not cry. but she remembered how
she had wanted to q few hours ago
and she wondered that she could not
now. Strangely enough. It was Paul
who wanted to cry now-but he didn't.
He only swallowed hard and held her
poor hand with all gentleness. afraid
to let 20 lest he also let 90 his mas
terry over the almost insurmountable
lump in his throat.
81 tried to come sooner" he said,
huskily. at last. releasing her hand
and standing before her. But I've
been riding all over-for men. you
know-and had q talk with Gordon.
too. It took time. He 10 coming out
to see you this afternoon. He 10 COM
ing with doc. Don't you think you had
better 20 back to bed now? You are
$3.50 white. Let me carry you back
to bed before Co."
ARE you going. tool" asked Mary,
looking at him with wide eyes Of graf
itude.
'surely," he responded. quickly.
aDId you think I Wouldn't"
T-I-didn't know. I thought
there were q lot going-there would
be enough without you Butt am
glad. II you go. Il win BE- al right.
You viii find him n any one can"
"Wont you let me carry you hack
to bed till doc comss?" said Lansford.
brokenly.
II could not bear Il In bed" she eaid.
clearly. Her brown eyes were begin
niaR to shine with fever. and red spots
Id broken out In her pale ehssks.
you make me 90. shan die. ]
- II ali the time when I am lying
d6Wn-galloping. gaIloping. gaiiopinS.
T6ey never stop. Thsy always eesin
all over again"
arwhat Ealioping. little sirif' asksd
Langford, soothingly. He saw ~.
was becoming delirous. II doe sne
Dick would only come before hs hAo
to 20. But they were not com
ing until after dinner. He sAssa
down the dusty road. Thsy would VAN
tor him, the others. He vas thslr
leader By the natural-boFn right o.
push ana energy. - ven - ~ ms
having besn the sole participant w
his own cowboya IN he last nish..
tragedy. But wouid ~ % ven %
keoD then wn,fingf I'M I'D alranaS