Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-29
CHAPTER XII.
"You Ars-the Boss"

on Arc-the BOSS.
She held out her left hand with a
sad little smile. 1T is good Of you to
come so soon." she said. simply.
She had begged so earnestly 20 sit
up that Mrs. White had improvised an
invalid's chair out of a huge old rocker
and cracker box. II did very well.
Then she bad partially clothed the
girl in skinny wrapper OF the sort
Langford abominated. throwing a
mans silk handkerchief where the
wrapper failed 10 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 WilHston
at 10 O'Clock. The starting point unan-
mously agreed upon was 10 be the
pitifui remnants OF Williston's home.
Men shook their heads obviously
whenever the question Of a possible
leading trail was preached. The soil
was hard aud dry from an almost
rainless July and August. The fugi-
lives might strike across country any
where with meager 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 20 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 20 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 itg she
wondered, lacking comprehension OF
her exceeding weakness. To be sure.
her arm alternately achcd and smart
ed. but ones arm was really such a
small part Of one. and she had been
so strong-aiways. She tried TO shake
OF the faintness creeping over her. II
was effort thrown away. She Law back
on her pollow. very white and worn.
her pretty hair tangled and Ioosened
from It's coils
Paul came. iie was dusty and tray
el-stainod. Re had been almost CON
tinuously in his saddle since near mid.
night OF the night before. lie was
here. big, strong and worthy. Mary
did not cry, but she remembered how
she had wanted 20 a few hours ago
and she wondered that she could not
now. Strangely enough. Il was PAM
who wanted 10 cry now-but he didn't
He only swallowed hard and held her
poor hand with all eentleness. afraid
to let go lest be also let go his mas
terry over the almost insurmountable
lump in his throat
i tried 20 come sooner" he said
huskily, az last. releasing her hand
and standing before her. "Rut I've
been riding all over-for men. Won
lnow-and I had a talk with Gordon
too. IL took time. He Is comma. out
TO see you this afternoon. He is corr
ing with doc. Don't you think YOU had
better go back TO bed now? You are
500 white. Let nee carry you back
TO bed before ! go"
Are you going. too?" asked Mary
looking at him with wide eyes OF graf
itude.
Surely" he responded. quickly
did you think / Wouldn't"
'T-I-didn't know. thought
there were a lot going-there would
DO enough without you Butte
glad. II you go. 1t will be all right
You will find him IL any one can"
Won't you let me carry you back
TO bed till doc comes?" said Laneford
brokeniy.
81 could not bear It 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 me so. l shall die.
hear Il all the time when ! am lying
down-galloping. galloping. galloping.
They never stop. They always begin
all over again"
What galloping. little girl?" asked
Langford. soothlngly. He saw she
was becoming delirous. II doc and
Dick would only come before he had
TO go. But they were not coma
ing until after dinner. He gazed
down the dusty road. They would wait
for him. 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
his own cowboys. in the last nights
tragedy. But would he do well to
keep them waiting? 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
tinctness. Don't you hear them? II
you would listen. you could hear them
Do listen, They are getting faint
now-you can hardly hear them. They
are fainter-falnter-fai
She had raised her head. There
was an alert look on her face. She
leaned slighty toward the window.
Good God! A man can't stand