The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-08-19
CHAPTER ill.-Continued.

mountain ON fire. I'm sorry Mr.. Sin
clair is not here"
why, indeed, yes, so am l."
Because | know him. You are one
of his men, / presume"
mot exactly; but is there anything
4 can do"
"Oh. thank you. nothing, except that
the pretty bay colt he sent over to us
has sprung his shoulder"
HE will be sorry to hear it, I'm
sure"
But we are doing everything pos
sible for him. He is going to make a
perfectly lovely horse"
And whom may l say the message
is from?" Though disconnected, Nc
Cloud was regaining his wits. He felt
perfectly certain there was no dan
ger, If she knew Sinclair and lived in
the mountains, but that she would
sometime find out he was not a con-
ductor. When he asked his question
she appeared slightly surprised and
answered easily: "Mr. Sinclair will
know it is from Dicksie Dunning"
McCloud knew her then. Every
one knew Dicksie Dunning in the
high country. This was Dicksie Dun
ming of the great Crawling Stone
ranch, most widely known of all the
mountain ranches. While his stupidity
ln not guessing her identity before
overwhelmed him, he resolved to eX-
kaust the last effort to win her inter
est.
IAN' i,tct I ghal so
Mr.. Sinclair" he answered, gravely,
but he shall certainly have your
message"
A doubt seemed to steal over Dick
sic at the change in McCloud's man.
ner. "Oh, pardon mel thought you
We're working for the company"
You are quite right, l am; but Mr..
Sinclair is not"
Her eyebrows rose a little. Il
think you are mistaken, aren't your"
at is possible / am; but IL he is
working for the company, 1t is pretty
certain that / am not" he continued,
heaping mystification on her. How
ever, that will not prevent my deliv-
.ering the message. BY the way, may
ask which shoulder"
Shoulder"
Which shoulder is sprung"
"Oh, of course! The right shoulder.
and it is sprung pretty badly, too,
Cousin Lance says. How very stupid
of me to ride over here for freight
wreck"
McCloud felt Inundated at having
nothing better worth while to offer
at was very bad one" he ventured
But not of the kind can be of any
help at, fear"
McCloud smiled. 1--WE are certainly
short of help"
around. She felt again of the girtl
as she replied: Not such as l car
supply, I'm afraid" And with the
words she stepped away, as if prepar
ing to mount.
McCloud interviewed. II hope yol
won't go away without resting you
horse. The sun is so hot. Mayn't
offer you some sort of refreshment? q
Dicksie Dunning thought not,
THE sun is very warm" persisted
McCloud.
Dicksie smoothed her gauntlet IL
the assured manner natural to her
Il am pretty well used to It."
But McCloud held on. Several car
of fruit We're destroyed In the wreck
l can offer you any quantity of grape
crates of them are spelling owe
there-and pears"
Thank you, | am just from lunch
con"
And have cooled water in the cal
! hope you won't refuse that, so ia
out in the desert
Dicksie laughed little do yo
call this far? l don't; and | don
call this desert by any means. Than
you ever so much for the water; bu
I'm not in the least thirsty
1T was kind of you even TO thin
of extending help. ! wish you woul
let me send some fruit over to you
ranch. 1t is only spelling here.
Dicksie stroked the neck of he
horse 1T is about Is miles to ia
ranch house"
II don't call that far"
"Oh, it isn't" she returned. hastil
processing not 10 notice the look thi
went with the words, except for pc
ishable things!" Then, as If acknow
edging her disadvantage, she adde
swinging her bride rein around:
am under obligations for the offer, ju
the same"
at least, won't you let your hors
drink?' McCloud threw the force
an appeal into his words, and Dicks
stopped her preparations and a
peared to waver,
Jim is pretty thirsty, | suppos
Have you plenty of water?'
"A tender full Had / better les
him down while you walt up on Il
hill in the shade?'