Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-26
CHAPTER XI.
"YOu Ara-the Bossv

She held out her left hand with
sad little smile. 1T is good Of you to
come so SOON she said simply.
She had begged so earnestly to sit
up that Mrs White had improvised an
invalid's chair out Of huge old rocker
and a cracker box. 1t did very well.
Then she had partially clothed the
girl in a skinny wrapper of Nhe sort
Langford abomnated throwing a
mans silk handkerchief where the
wrapper failed to meet, and around
the injured arm. Mrs. White had
then recalled her husband from the
stables where he was on the point Of
mounting to join the relief party that
was to set of in search Of Williston
at 10 O'Clock. The starting point unan-
mously agreed upon was TO be the
pitiful remnants Of Williston's home.
Men shook their heads obviously
whenever the question Of a possible
leading trail was preached The soil
was hard and dry from an almost
rainless July and August. The fugi-
tives might strike across country any
where with moager chances OF their
trail being traced by any.
Mrs. White and her husband. kindly
souls both, lifted the girl as gently as
might be from the bed to the rudely
constructed inValid's chair by the sit
ting-room window Then they left
her-the woman TO putter around her
kitchen, the man to make good his
appointment. But the exertion had
been to much for Mary She had
counted on strength that she did not
posses. Where had she lost It? she
wondered, lacking comprehension Of
her exceeding weakness To be sure.
her arm alternately ached and smart
ed, but ones arm was really such a
small part OF one and she had been
so strong-always. She tried TO shake
of the faintness creeping over her. 1t
was effort thrown away She lay back
on her pollow very white and worn.
her pretty hair tangled and loosened
from it's coils
Paul came, He was dusty and tray
el-stained. He had been almost con.
tinuously in his saddle since near mid.
here, big strong and worthy. Mary
did not cry, but she remembered how
she had wanted to a few hours ago
and she wondered that she could not
now. Strangely enough, It was Paul
who wanted TO cry now-but he didn't.
He only swallowed hard and held her
poor hand with oil gentleness, afraid
m Lat
terry over the almost insurmountable
lump In his throat.
Il tried to come sooner" he said
huskily, at last. releasing her hand
and standing before her. But I've
been riding all over-for men. Won
know-and | had talk with Gordon
100. 1t took time. He is coming ont
to see you this afternoon. He is com.
ting with doc. Don't you think you had
better go back 10 bed now? You are
500 white Let me carry you back
to bed before | 60"
Are you goink. too" asked Mary
looking at him with wide eyes OF graf.
itude.
Surely" he responded, quickly.
did you think | wouldn't"
"-I-didn't know. thought
there were a lot go!ng-there would
be enough without you. Butt am
glad. If you go, 1t will be all right.
You will find him If any one can"
Wont you let me carry you back
to bed till doc comes?" said Langford.
brokenly
Il could not bear 1t in bed" she caid
clearly. Her brown eyes were begin.
ming to shine with fever, and red spots
had broken out in her pale cheeks
If you make ne 60, | shall die.
hear 1t all the time whom am lying
down--galloping, galloping, galloping.
Ihey never stop. They always begin
all over again"
What galloping, little girl" asked
Langford. soothingly. He saw she
was becoming delirous. II doc and
Dick would only come before he had
10 go. But they were not COM
Ing until after dinner. He gazed
down the dusty road, They would wait
TOT MIN, the others. He was their
leader by the natural-born right OF
push and energy. as well as by his
having been the sole participant with
mis- own cowboys, in the last nights
tragedy. But would he do we'll to
keep them waiting7 They had already
delayed too long And yet how could
ne leave Williston's little girl like this
even to find Williston?
They are carrying my father
away she said, with startling dis.
t'nctncss. Don't you hear them? r.
you would listen. you could hear them.
I'D listen! They are getting faint
now-you can hardly hear them. They
are observation-disclosures"
She had raised her head. There
was an alert look on her face. She