Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02

with n feeble attempt at humor, "I'd
rather he n comfort than q wet blan-
ket.' lie had remembered thnt evil
eyes were watching, that bis least
move might subject Lancaster's daugh-
tiers to the coarse comment Of Shanty
Town. lie dared not even remain out
OF his saddle lie mounted.
ooh, you're going to leave us.' OK.
claimed Margin. She began to cry
helplessly.
But I'll be on the lookout every sec
ond," he declared. Miss Dallas"-he
urged his horse up TO the window
'don't think I'm idiot enough to try 70
No up that saloon gang down there sin
gle handed. If I go to Shanty Town
1t II he because / have to. / won't 20
alone II can help It. First OF all, I
intend to see the colonel over there
and lay this matter before him"
but dad she began.
Got to do 1t, whether your father
likes it or not. We're dealing with a
c%utthroat. lie knows this lands worth
money"
Yes
And You can't tell what hoil do.'
lie bent to her. "That scouudrel scared
you" he said resretfully You're
ready to drop. oh, yes, you are. And
IT'S my fault. I knew he might come
any day-that he'd make trouble. Bn,
l didn't believe he'd get here so soon.
T.
I'D given him up" she said.
you! You did know, them
"Quite awhile ago.
knew whatE' asked Marylyn, stop.
ping her tears. Then, certain that
there was some awful secret behind IL
all and that 1t vas being kept from
her, she began to cry again.
Dallas soothed her and explained.
do you know when Matthews six
months IS upf' Lounsbury inquired.
Tonight at r."
Tonight, Well, we've got to kee,
him off. He may try to establish resi-
deRce In a wickiup.'
But hasn't he a right7 Can't he
"He hasn't, and he can't. And II ht
comes this way after midnight I'll f1
him for trespassingl" He laughed.
Il wish you wouldn't go to the fort,
though. You've heard dad-you know
how he feels"
II wouldn't go II I didn't have to.
But the temperatures falling. BY sun
down they'll begin changing the sem
tries at Brunnon every hour. No ono
man could stay out even half tho
night. And this shack has to be guard.
ed till morning. 1 must get some ona
to relieve me"
81 suppose you're right" she said
reluctantly.
He brought the horse about. rs
there anything l can do before 1 go?'
he asked.
mo. We've got everything bu.
wood, and Charley brings us that"
Charley" repeated Lounsbury.
who Charley
She told him.
He seemed relieved. I'll look that
Indian up" he said, and raised hii
hand to his cap.
From the road he looked around.
Despite the distance he could see that
the girls were where he had left them,
and Marylyn's head was once mora
pressed against her sister. The sight
made him writhe in his saddle and
wish he were as old as the river bluffs
themselves, that he might 60 back
and protect them. AS he descended to
the ice their two faces rose before him.
One, pretty and pale. with the soft
roundness Of a child's, the blue eyes
filled with all a child's terror and en-
treaty; the other, pale, too. though
upon it there still fingered the brown
Of the summer sun, but firm OF ous.
line, its crown a heavy coil Of braids,
It's center. eyes that were brave, stead.
fast, compelling.
The first picture blurred In renen.
boring the second. God bless herr
lie murmured. ITO think she knew
all the time and never cheeped"
At the shack Dallas, too, was ponder.
ing-over a strange contrariety. Theii
home was In danger, perhaps theiI
very lives. Yet the day had fulfilled
its promise OF the morning-it was the
happiest In her life.
The ramshack!e ferryboat was firm.
IS Wcdged in Il drydock of ice on the
western side of the Missouri. AS
L%Ounsbury passed II, with his horse
following pluckliy In spreadeagle fash.
ion, he shouted for old Michael. But
long before the river had flooded, when
1t was cdginG and covering only in the
least swift places, the pilot had made
his final crossing, run the wheeZy
steamer nosc-on against the bank and
deserted her. So the storekceper re-
ceiyel no answering halloo. He was
disappointed, 1t was desirable to en-.
broil as few as possible in the Lancas.
ter dispute. Ola Michael, already a
factor. was needed to act the picket
to fire a warning signal If Matthews
left Shanty Town.
\ substitute was found at the sta.
bles. The storekeepcr as he rushed
away after diSp2si.g Of his noun,
came upon Lieutenant Fraser Dusty
reaching his own riding animal, a
dignity buckSkin cayuse that no ons
else cared to handle and that was af'
fectioudtely known in barracks as the
'she devil" The men had met be-
fore. around the billiard table at the
suffers, and Lou.bury had set thu
young officer down for n chivalrous
but rather chicken hearted youngster,