Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-05-13

lived there, my friends, my people.
are there. It's impossible, jack"
IF you look at it in that light, l sup
pose 1t is" agreed Floyd gravely,
earnestly taking her hand. 81 should
want you to love your home here.
your life here, to care for the things
that can give you. and not to send
yearning backward thoughts to the
life another man could have given
YOU And Walton comes tomorrow?
hope you will be very happy. Ruth.
but L shall love you all my life
As his strong hand closed over hers,
she felt, with a rush Of new and COM
pick emotions, as IL her life had only
just begun. With maiden ignorance
she stubbornly resisted the tide of
deeper feelings and tried to keep to
the old mornings and the familiar,
shallow waters of her quiet affection
| for Guy.
In silence they rode toward the
ranch. A surprise awaited them. Mr..
walton had arrived, day ahead of
time.
Floyd did not intrude hirnself upon
the family circle that evening. That
city chap'll have it all his own way"
he reflected bitterly, There's no
earthly show for me-"
Better not go over to the camp to-
day he abjured Ruth the next morn
ing. THE Utes have left their reser.
walton and are headed this way. They
burned Watson's ranch house last
night and stampeded the herd; his
foreman just rode by-goIng to the
fort to give the alarm"
But Ruth insisted on going. Walton.
[ also appeared to be eager for scrim-
mage with the Indians and buckled on
two large siX-shooters in addition to
the Winchester he carried. AS he dis
liked horseback riding the blackboard
was called into requisition. Ruth and
MT. Walton occupied the rear seat,
the front seat was given over to Pete
and basket of lunch. Floyd on his
] Indian pony cantered gloomily by
Ruth's side of the blackboard.
| When they had arrived within a
mile of the camp they deserted one of
the cowboys busily digging hole on
the prairie, What's up, Ike" Floyd
called as he halted the buck board.
The Utes is up" answered Ike
wrathfully. They tried to stampede
the herd, last night, but we was on
the lookout and chased EN- They
got away after wounding RUDE and
killing my horse. / rode over to bury
Santa, SOS the coyotes won't get him.
| Where's that critter got to? Whoa
there and he gave vigorous chase to
his straying broncho.
Better lose no time in getting to
| the camp" suggested Mr.. Walton,
nervously, but Floyd, riding over to
inspect the dead horse, made no re-
spouse until startled by a terrified
yell from the Mexican.
What's wrong?" he demanded. rid.
ing up quickly.
"Utes." shrieked Pete, pointing to
a dozen Indians on the crest of the
| hill, themselves and their ponies a
rutter OF eagle feathers and strips of
red cloth.
"Hobble the horses, Pete" ordered
Floyd hastily helping Ruth from the
| blackboard but Pete, instead of obey
Ing. cut the nearest horse loose and
went galloping away to the south.
FLOYD tossed up his rifle with a half
, notion of stopping him; then he shook
his head cynically: He's only Mex.
lean he said. why, here's Walton's
winchester. but where is he?" look.
ing around perplexedly as he hurried
Ruth toward the excavation.
This may be false alarm; think
they're friendly Indians-but YOU
! must take no chances. Lie fiat I'm the
hole and no bullets or arrows will
reach you, it's" he STONED I'm
amazement. Guy Walton was crouch.
ing in the excavation. franticaIly en-.
deayoring to cover himself with the
heaped up soil. His face was ghast.
ly, he looked up at them with CLASSY
eyes. The man was helpless, the near
ness OF death had paralyzed him. The
two others looked upon one another
the boy and girl whose rearings had
been far apart and whose natures
were so close together:
Give me his rifle" the girl said. '1
will use it."
There was reassuring shout from
Ike, riding up with the recalcitrant
Mexican in tow, That's old Turkey
/ Legs; him and his gangs selling hoI
iday trinkets. I met him last-Well.
be jiggered!" as he caught sight of
the occupant Of the newly dug grave
Floyd made no comment as nc
plotted the little expedition to the
camp, but, judging from the frequent
bursts Of uproarious hilarity from the
/ cowboys, Ike was not equally as for.
bearing
When the cutting out" was over
for the day Ruth signaled Floyd to her
| side. Wait for me, Jack. ! am going
to ride Jayhawk. Sam will take my
place In the blackboard. / want 10
ride around by Pawnee Bluffs. IL IL is
not too late"