Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-13

In the mouth she's been. Just before
father-went she got a little better.
After that for awhile she was bad
again. But could see 1t wasn't all
about father. There's something else.
She's changed so-ncver talks much;
Just sits and looks and looks"- She
turned away.
"Tm--Tm all she's got" she went on
"All her life I've tended her Just as
II ! was her mother. | fed her and
dressed her When she hurt herself
she cama 20 me- Now she's hurt worse
than she's ever been, and she's come to
me about IT, I'm bound to help her."
81 happened to be the first man she
got to know this side Of Texas. Shed
forget me in n week If she met some
one else. If she don't meet some one
Dallas Strengthened proudly. I'LL
never hurt her." she said
Nor I If l can help it. She needn't
know about us just yet"
Il won't lie to her either"
"Not lie, dear But you won't refuse
to come out here
IL do. | do. I'll never come again"
"Ah, Dallas, why should we deny
ourselves that much? Why keep apart?
| I've lost the last dear one | had.
! You've lost your father You're alone
with your little sister. Come to me-"
"Youd take me awayT' she asked.
You'd have me give up the claim, to
forget what happened"
God help me, no. I ask you to
share your life with me, your work,
your revenge, everything"
Not yet
Il can't bear to see you and Marylyn
staying here alone. And | cant stay
near enough to protect you as / ought.
| Matthews is sly. II | meet him III kill
| him as l would wolf. Then he'll be
out of the way. But-suppose he gets
! ahead of me-does you harm? Your
staying here seems all the more terri
| bic to me since I've been east. The
idea of your having just Charley to
guard, of your blowing and planting
and cutting hay
She laughed. "Outside work is fine
she said. Better than cooking over n
hot stove or breaking your back over
tub. Men have the best half OF
things the air and the sky and the
horses. don't complain. I like my
work. Let it make me like man."
at couldn't | don't mean that
You're the womanllest woman I've
ever known"
81 don't want you to ever think diff
ferent.'
Never will. And I don't ask you to
chain yourself up in house. There S
a big future in the COW business. We'd
take my share of the Clark herd-you'd
ride with me--we'd lie partners"
"Wait-wait" Temptation was drag
ging sorely at her heart. She glanced
homeward Behind her the tall grass
was running with the wind. She long
ed to run with it. Yet
"Ill wait and wait" he said, '1ong as
you ask. If it's years"
She retreated few steps. Il must
go now. Don't think l don't know
what you've done for us-the sutlel
and all that. I'll remember it, but
got to go. Goodby.'
Good night not goodby," he answer
ed. Cant l come this far and help
you tomorrow with the hay;"
mo no!'
LET me send a couple Of men, then.
'T'l do 1t alone. I'd rather. It's al
in but this little bit"
"But please go SLOW. Don't veal
yourself out Dallas"
"If my work was all" she said sor
rowfuliy.
'If you would come here now ant
then to me, dear
"I'll never come again. This once
couldn't help it. Oh, tried and tried
But next time l can. I'll think OF
Marylyn. why, I'd give my life tC
make her happy
But your love-that goes where Il
pleases,"
you won't come to see herr"
at wouldn't help. But I'll be here
every night"
She retreated again. He did not at
tempt to follow.
Good night" she said.
"Good night; good night"
The moon was drifting up the east
lrn sky, and as she went her shadow
pursued her. He watched until i
blended with the shadow of the shack
then walked far to the left and lait
out a beat that half circled the sQua
building
There's just one man I got to lool
out for" he said aloud. 1T ID be diff
ferent If l had to worry about In
dams"
That moment across the river in tn
lodge Of Standing Buffalo the youni
chicftain was bending over an un
covered box. holding in one hand tn
shaft of an arrow. on the end of whicl
was piece of freshly killed dog; il
the other hand he held willow wand
sharpened. Beneath him, craWlin
and coiling and singing, were Lieuten
ant Fraser's rattlers.
The Indian kept the shaft to on
side while he diligently prodded tn
reptiles with the willow. When h
had enraged them so that they bega
to strike blindly at each other and a
themselves he lowered the shaft an
let them drive their fangs into tn
meat And when they were spen
with their anger and springng he coy
cred the box and held up the hcst
which had turned from red TO gree
and was dripping dark with venom