Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-24


Where are you?"
This way" laughed Dicksie Look
out for the trail here. Give me your
band and let your horse have his head.
IL he slips. drop of quick on this
side" McCloud caught her hand.
They rode for moment In silence.
the horses stepping cautiously. "An
right now" said Dicksie you may let
go" But McCloud kept his horse up
close and clung 10 the warm hand
The camp is just around the hill"
murmUred Dicksie. trying to null
away But OF course il you would
like TO ride in holding my hand you
may"
No" said McCloud. of course not
not for worlds, But. Miss Dicksie.
couldn't we ride back 10 the house
and ride around the other way into
camp? think the other way into the
camp-say, around by the railroad
bridge-would be prettier. don't your"
For answer she touched Jim lightly
with her lines and his spring released
her hand very effectively. AS she did
so the trail turned. and the campfire
whipped IN the high wind. blazed be-
fore them
Whispering Smith and Lance Dun
ming were sitting together as the two
galloped up. Smith helped Dicksie to
alight. She was conscious OF her color
and her eyes were now unduly bright.
Moreover, Whispering Smiths glance
rested so calmly on both McCloud's
face and her own that Dicksie felt as
hn W
everything that had happened since
they left the house
Lance was talking 20 McCloud.
Don't abuse the wind" McCloud was
saying. ITS our best friend tonight.
Mr.. Dunning. IL IS blowing the wa
ter Or-shore. Where is the trouble ,"
For answer Cunning led McCIoud OF
toward the bend. and Dicksie was left
alone with Whispering Smith.
He made a seat for her on the wind
ward side of the big fire When she
had seated herself she looked up in
great contentment to ask II he was
not going to sit down beside her. The
brown coat the high black hat and
the big eyes Of Whispering Smith had
already become a part OF her mental
store. She saw that he seemed pre-
occupied. and sought TO draw him out
OF his abstraction.
II am so glad you and Mr.. McCloud
are getting acquainted with Cousin
Lance" she said And do you mind
my giving you confidence. Mr..
smith? Lance has been SO unreason-
able about this matter of the rail
roads coming up the valley and pow
wowing so much with lawyers and
ranchers that ne has been forgetting
about everything at home He Is SO
much older than I am that he ought TO
be the sensible one OF the family. don't
you think SO? II frightens me TO have
him losing at cards and drinking
am afraid he will get into some shoot
ing affair. ] don't understand what
mas come over him. and / Worry about
Il ] believe you could influence him
X you knew him"
What makes you think that ?"
asked Whispering smith. but his eyes
were on the fire.
because these men he spends his
time with In town-the men who nght
and shoot SO much-are afraid OF YOU
Don't laugh az me. ] know il is quite
true in spite OF their talk. was
afraid OF you myself until"
Until"
But | think IL is because I don't
understand things that / am SO afraid
| am not naturally a coward. I'm sure
/ could not be afraid OF you n un-
derstood things better. And there Is
Marion. She puzzles me. She will
never speak OF her husband don't
know why. And / don't know why Mr..
McCloud is so hard on Mr.. Sinclair
Mr.. Sinclair seems so kind and good
natured"
Whispering Smith looked from the
nre into Dicksie's eyes VIVA,
should you say IL I gave you a con.
fdence?"
She opened her heart to his search.
ing gaze. Would you trust me with
a confdence?"
He answered without hesitation.
You shall see. Now. 1 have many
things / cant talk about. you under
stand. But IL I had TO give you a
secret this instant that carried nv
me- shouldn't fear to do it-so much
Tor trusting you. Only this. too. as
TO what say: Don't ever quote me
or let 1t appear that you any more
than know me. Can you manage
that? Really? Very good: you viii
understand why in a minute. The
man that is stirring up all this trouble
with your Cousin Lance and In this
whole country is your kind and good
natured neighbor. Mr. Sinclair. am
preJudiced against him: let US admit
that on the start. and remember IL in
estimating what | say. But Sinclair
Is the man who has turned your cous-
ms head as we'll as made things in
other ways unpleasant for several OF |
US. Sinclair tell you so you will |
understand everything. more than |
your cousin, Mr. McCloud. or Marion |
Sinclair NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is a /
train-wrecker and a murderer. That |
makes you breathe hard. doesn't II? |
but IL is so. Sinclair is fairly edu- /
Gated and highly intelligent. capable
in every way. daring 20 the limit, and.
IN way. fascinating; II is no wonder /
De has a following. But his following !,