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

An, tncn, III mules Ulun make no row
las night. They'd shore snorted If It
was Iniuns"-
II guess that's so,' agreed Dallas
hastily and made him warning sign.
Marylyn was moving about inside and
calling
But he was beyond thought for an
other. "Bosh, bosh" he cried. She's
got e stop bcin coddled an know
watts wat You got { stop talkin'
fort. Ah'm goin t kctch tibet low
down skunl; 'thout no soldiers. An
Anil pepper his ugly hide. Ahll make
him spit blood like broncho buster.
Th' idee o his havin tn gall" He
rammcd the Sharps into its rack and
laughed immodcratcly.
ooh. pa" cXpostulatcd Marylyn in
startled whisper and few TO Dallas.
Her face, still pink from slumber,
! paled little. She laid it against her
sister. Long ago she had seen her IA
Their reused 10 the same pitch The
sight had terrified her and hluntcd
some earlier and tenderer memories.
Z "You git you clothes on he ordered
roughly, "an' rustic us some break
| fas'."
She retreatcd. ready for tears.
Dallas walked up to him, gave him
his clutches and put a hand on his
shoulder. Dad" she said firmly.
don't take out your mad on Marylyn.
Keep II all for-him." She nodded
south toward Brannon. "That's where
II belongs"
"Dallas, you plumb DISCUS me-" he
retcr;ed "Talkin' soldier when v
know Matthews could buy tn hull kit
an Doodle with swig O whisky"
| He arraigned tho fort with crutch.
| what do you think of doing. dad"
"Ah'll fin out where tibet cuss was
las night 49, Charley II help me, y
gee
! And thcn?"
"Ah'll see thet-thct Oliver knows o
! this thet he keeps a eye on tibet dog
gOned'-
But It'll bc easier just TO 60 straight
10 the captain-not |, but you
yes, do, pa urged Marylyn. ooh,
Dallas, what's happened?'
The elder girl told Of the pole and
the bootmarks, treating them lightly.
Then she came back to her father. to
find that her argument Of n moment
before, for all it's short cut logic. had
set him utterly against the plan he
had himself proposed. And now he
was for no mans help, but for a venge-
ance wreaked with his own gun. Uurl-
ing final defy toward Shanty Town,
he disappeared behind the partition.
No breakfast was eaten that morn
ing. The section boss was too angry
frightened and Dallas had no time
for she was busy with the mules, cur
rying them and putting them before
the wagon. Cant help what you
think about il this time" she said
when her father asked her where she
was going. I've made up MY mind
that if you won't say the fort why
then I'll have to drive to Clark's for
Mr.. Lounsbury. We don't know for
sure what that pole meant. We must
ask"
Jaw, you amt got smitch o. pride"
he tainted jealousy. Coin t Louns-
bury. WAL, wal, You think a heap
o him. don Y? More n you do o
YOU father, Thet sticks out like n sore
/ finger
NO" she answered simply. I'm
putting my pride in my pocket. dad
I'm going to Mr.. Lounsbury because
care so much for you and for Mary
lyn. And ! want 70 say something |
hate to say it-you've almost discour-
aged me about Brannon lately. We
came here TO raise stuff to sell over
there But | can't sec how we can
sell over there if we won't even speak
to soul. y looks as if we're going to
give all that up-as if lot OF my work
IS for nothing
1t was "A new thought for the section
boss. And while Dallas disappeared
behind Betty he pondered it with
hanging head She came around soon
to hitch Bcn's tugs, when her father
looked up shamefacedly. "Ah'u tell y.
mise. "ef Lounsbury don't came back
with -
"IIe will" assured Dallas stoutly.
ivy, We'll go t tn fort, as you
say"
"All right, dad" she replied, giving
his back pat.
He began to hobble up and down.
"You amt scairt t. Coz he venturcd at
last Amt afeerd o uothin'f"
no, and I'm going on my own hook,
remember It's not your fault"
"Y' KANT think o no other way
She paused in front If him. Can
you?" she asked.
lie could have sworn. but there was
something in her face that forbade it.
"No-no." he said eXpiosiyely and so
matched her determination with his
hot stubbornncss.
lie left her and. taking the rifle and
all the ammunition thcre was, seated
himself on a bench placed Just outside
the door There he was--a pitiful sen
tineas she circled the shack and
rcined.
And now another question was pre-
sented: Should Marylyn stay or go?
Dallas was for her remaining, so that
In case OF need help could be sum-
moned from somewhere. Marylyn .
sided with her. And it was long after
ward, when many things were made /
clear, before the elder girl understood
her sisters action-one that seemed SO
contrary to what the younger one felt, /