Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20

II TUWEI WHY NVVTIVH HUI VHOkF1
fEgcss1 10y a tangle Of rank growth
UzExX the three in the coulee made
fast progress over the first two miles.
Charley led. After him came Mary
Ign, to whom the loathed split IN the
plain vas become a place of refuge.
In the rear, covering her sister against
possible attack, followed Dallas.
The strain told first on the OUNCE
girl. Before three miles had been
Travelled. as she sank in a shallow pool
to wet her lips her strength utterly
failed her. She could not rise and
pleaded family for rest.
just a minute, Dallas, please. I
can't go, My side hurts
Dallas helped her through a hinder.
ing weave of pond weeds and lilies and
laid her upon some marsh grass be.
yond. Meanwhile Charley stole back a
short distance. But the respite was
brief, for he returned straightway and
twitched at their dresses, when the
elder girl lifted the younge to her
feet, whispering encouragement.
once more they pressed forward.
The lightning had ceased. With a last
grurnble an a scatter of drops the
clouds were pulling apart. Here and
there 4 few stars shone. These thinned
the darkness considerably and at a
point where the cOulee Swallowed Dal-
las was able dimly to see the toiling
shapes ahead. Marylyn was wavering.
"Spunky little girl" urged the elder
girl. Lifting the rifle to her left shouI-
der, she came alongside to give the
support of an arm
where's the cartridge belt?' she
whispered.
Heavy painted the other. ''Droppel
it,"
And now despite Dallas aid Mar.
lyn struggled weakly. Another milo
and with scarcely Il sigh Of warning
she sank again exhausted.
"Charley," called Dallas. The Indian
Joined them. You take one arm
that's it." she took the other. Thus
they proceeded.
Finally Dallas stopped. Hide, hide
che counscled between breaths. "A
dark place
Ibil 4le lIlt uQN ne. llt OulCUSI
thrust his bow and arrows into her
hands, then. squatting before Marylyn,
he seized her wrist, drew her, limp and
half dead, upon his back and staggered
on.
Hold to Charley, dear begged Dali
las. Hes carrying you pickapack."
The younger girl murmured CRATE
f1ilu and loaI-D1 how hands honnnft
the Indians chin. This left his arms
free to part a path through the thick
cts of hurweed and plantain that chok-
ed the deflc, and for fully a half hour
he kept Il good jog. But, we'll worn
and hampered as he was, he began
then to Wabble.
Dallas gave him the weapons and
received Marylyn upon her own Shout
ders. Notwithstanding the long way
her viGOr remained splendid. And
when there came Il tendency TO lag she
fought it stoutly. Not until her limbs
refused their service did she drop
down.
Under her wild rye made a cool. stiG
couch. She reached through It and
ubS H'A LLSNAN IHAO l44t hti tdIlA.
Marylyn TOPPED owe lack and lay
beside her, prone. charley leaned on
an elbow, breathing hard. watching
When, far behind, down the shad-
owy crack through which they had
come, sounded wild whoops.
They scrambled up, terror stricken.
Like hunted deer they whipped away
orqiD 1-nnyufDr thar in THAR I-oEn in.
stead of the one man they had seen,
was a horde,
Once more. though after brave eff
fort, IT was Marylyn who compelled Il
halt. Dallas stroye to rouse her. Try
a little longer, honey. Come on, come
on" But the other ouly sobbaa ays-
tcrically rntil Charley put his hand
upon her mouth
Cant we crawl out?" demanded
Dallas. "Quick, they'll pass"
The outcast shook his head, coming
close that she might see his answer.
mo use?'
He shook his head again and signed
that their p%ursuers had horses.
1t was "A momcn OF supreme despair.
She laid her arms upon her knees, her
face upon her arms. Their puny hui
man power had failed. Where else
could they look for succor? Would
Lounsbury or the troopers come-in
time?
Then, tearfully. prayerfully, in this
utmost need, she raised her eyes to the
sky. ITS not for me-" she faltered.
"It's for Marylyn."
That upward glance was not in vain.
In front of her, lifting their plumelike
tops against the heavens, she saw the
clump of burial trees. Instantly She
tool heart, for her quick brain de-
vised a plan-to hide IN tho eottnn-