Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-30

girls, specially when they amt got
gun" lie gave Marylyn a bold wink.
THANK YOU" replied Dallas shortly.
I'VE don't want company-and we
have got n gun" She lifted the pistol
from the seat.
Braden fell behind. "Stop and drink
some beer anyway" he called. Got
some in here. You mustn't be mad at
me because Johnnies mamma sent for
him. Come on back"
To this no answer was made. Dallas
gave the team few smart cuts. The
wagon rumbled out of the street.
And now began the return journey.
Five hours had been consumed in
reaching Clark's. Ten minutes had
been wasted there. Another five
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 he settling then.
Dallas figured the return thus-but
II was soon plain to her that sunset
MOulI lll' llltul llllfS lIOul lue SudCh.
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
Ign, 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.
lied better.
It 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
.ange. They added to its height and
,ugured the days early closing When
| .he Throat gaped alongside. the fleecy
horizon had rolled still higher, and be
meath It the setting sun showed
through like a harvest moon, blood red
Swiftly the day withdrew and the
stars came ont. Then the breeze lull
ed and a mist rose from the coulees
wooded bottom. From 1t came the
tremulous call of an owl. Dallns slip
ped to her feet and welded the black
snake vigorously.
The mules shot forward for wagon
| length. The sudden Jolt awakened
| Marylyn. She got to her knees-and
| there were tie 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 it
took on the aspect Of a standing man,
who was no sooner overridden than
he 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 a 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
BkulkinS through the dusk about the
shack. 1t entered the lean-to and
crouched in hiding. She saw it come
| forth again, keeping close to the logs.
Its eyes shone in the dark
Her father was beside the door,
where she had left him. He was Caz-
inC straight ahead. as II he expected
the enemy to approach only from the
front as If he had no thought of
| trcachery. His figure was relaxed wea-
rily. His face was drawn. But his
eycs-lile the others-were strangely
luminous.
All. the figure was creeping toward
him noiselessly step by step.
eco in, Go in, daddy"
The cry was torn from her, though
she strove to keep ii back. The strain
of the past night and day was telling.
| Frantcally she begged Ben and Betty
to hasten. Knowing home was not far,
they obeycd her voice and presently
were setting back in their collars to
block the descent of the wagon. were
splashinC through the backwatcr at
the coulee crossing and jerking their
load out upon the level. Eastward the
shack stood out dimly in the starlight.
They made for it at a trot.
But all at once they stopped and be-
gan stepping this way and that, as if
ready to leap the tongue. Dallas and
Marylyn recoilcd forsaking the seat
for the shelter Of the box
There was moments wait in still
ness as vast as the prairie. The mules.
sided to the left shifted their long
ears nervously. The girls listened, the
younger shielded by the elders arms.
Then across the bend from the de-
serted houses of Shanty Town sound
ed the long, soul chilling howl of Il
dog.