Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-01-02
A New Year Conquest
By Charles Moreau Haraer.
A Story Of the Great Southwest.

Great clouds OF yellow dust. a dazzling
Sky, sweeping winds. long reaches of level
ianis-thc m-dwinter southwest and on
the siding the palatial train of the cattle
king Nho was now Off among The ranches
locking afterrsleek and well-bred herds.
The cattle kings daughter. whose PROS
pective wealth entitled her 10 the rank of
princess. sat Under the striped awning on
inc rear platform Of the train, gazing
weaiily at the mcnotonous landscape.
Low long are we to stay hcre?" she
demanded of the porter who was indus
triousiy trying 10 keep the lcat~ler-covered
chars clean. He did not answer-he did
not know. She went back TO the parlor
of the other private car and accosted the
luiet woman who sat by the window sew.
Ing. "Auntie. how long is this to lasto'
Until your father gets back or there
are orders"
I'm tired of tim going out of doors"
She seized n Jacket and cap. slipped
down the side steps and disappeared he
Kind the squalid depot. \ dilap.dated liv-
ery stable stood In the sunshine. Il want
a riding ho~rse-quick."
The man fairly trembled in his anxiety
70 serve the city girl, and n 4 moment she
was cantering over the sand and sage
brush. headed straight for The green hills
IN the distance.
49, '''1 '"tN @iit 'lths dtiiSllLiIlS III
the free rush of the wind, the swish of her
ponys hoofs through the grass and the ex-
hilarat.on of the open lands.
AT last she turned tho horses head
where was the station? Nothing but a
rolling plain. not shining with sunlight,
but dampened by shadow. With a little
cry of terror she sent her mount racing
ahead and strained her eyes for the engine
smoke or the horizon.
"Ah there IL Shut so far away,'
She surmised what had happened-her
father had reached n station farther down
the line and wired for the train to join
him. and they had not discovered her alb
scncc before starting.
As she looked she saw Off to the left an
other rider-a widc-hatted ranchman-to-
ward him she rode. AS she drew nearer
her checks grew red and her eyes bright
ened. Once she stopped and turned as II
to leave him. Then he came close to her.
"Oh. Mr.. Mason. what shall i do?"
Frank Mason, the handsome ranch SUI
perintendent. scarcely recognized her,
bowling so slightly that II seemed to be
merely the motion of his horse.
What is tho matter, madam?'
Don't be mean"-the girls eyes we're
beseeching.
But you told me never to speak to YOU
again-only this morning
Yes. | know, but you see how It is
the train has gone-it is almost evening
and here I am"
1T does look serious, doesn't It? Where
do they think you are?''
They don't think Aunty's probably
gone to sleep and won't wake up until
~midn:ght-the others think I'm in my
room. In papa's car"
1T is serlous-and nobody's at the ranch
to take care OF you. / uppose they VIII
come back tomorrow anyhow"
tomorrow" The girl fairly screechcd
the word. 1--WE must get them now-to-
night. don't o understand-now!,
But 1t is fifty miles to the next te,e-
graph s~tat:on-how can the engineer get
orders?'
He looked toward the train. which was
disappearing in a cut between some creek
bluffs n milo or two below the station.
You SEQ it's New Years day and eycrv-
body but the stable boys and station agent
has gone to the county seat to a celebra-
ton. There's a dance tonight, SO they
won't be h~omc-yes. it is serious"
Their horses were moving slowly to-
ward the station. yet a long distance
away. They were talking earnestly and
did not notice the curious movements Of q
herd o. cattle that had strayed from the
grasslands toward the station and now,
hundreds n hundreds OF them. were
pushing close to the two figures. The girls