Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-16

Marion ought TO know of this" she
said, rising II am going to tell her"
And may | come over after | tell
Rooney Lee to repeat this to head
quarters?"
why, Of course, II you want to-"
When McCloud reached the cottage
Dickse met him. Katie Dancings
mother is sick, and she has gone
home. Poor Marion is all alone this
morning. and half dead with sick
headache" said Dicksie. "But I told
her, and she said she shouldn't mind
tho headache now at all"
But what are you going to do?"
II am going 10 get dinner do you
want to help"
I'm going to help"
"Oh, you are? That would be very
funny"
Funny or not. I'm going to help
you would only be in the way
You don't know whether should
or not"
Il know I should do much better n
you would go back and run the rail-
road q few minutes
THE railroad be hanged. am for
dinner"
Put will get dinner for you
You need not can get It for my
self"
You are perfectly absurd and If
! we stand here disputirg, Marion won't
have anything to cat"
They went into the kitchen disput-
ing about what should be cooked. At
the end of ar hour they had two fires
| going-onc In the stove and one in
! Dicksie's cheeks. BY that time 1t had
been decided to have a luncheon in
stead Of a dinner, Dicksie attempted
some soup, and McCloud found a strip
OF bacon. and after he had cooked it..
Dicksie. with her riding-skirt pinned
up and her sleeves delightfully."- rolled
back, began frying eggs. When Marion,
unable longer to withstand the excite
ment, appeared the engineer, flushed
with endeavor, was making toast.
The three sat down at table togeth-
er. They found they had forgotten
the coffee, but Marion was not allowed
to move from her chair When the
coffee was made ready the bacon had
been eaten and more had to be fried.
McCloud proved able for any part OF
the program, and when they rose II
was four o'clock and too late. Nc
Cloud declared. to go back to the Of
flee that afternoon.
| Marion and Dicksie after time, at.
tempted Jointly to get rid OF him, but
they found they could not, 20 .he
three talked about Whispering Smith
When the women tried to discourage
McCloud by talking hats he played the
wheezy piano, and when Dicksie spoke
about going home he declared he
would ride home with he" But Dick
sic had no mind that he should. and
when he asked to know why, without
| realizing what q flush fingered in his
face, she said only no; if she hs
reasons she would give none McCloud
| persisted. because under the flush
| about his eyes was the resolve that he
would take ono long ride that evening
In any event II" had made ND his
mind for that r.de-a longer one than
ne had ever taken before. or expected
ever to take again--and would not be
baked
Dicksie, insisting upon going homo.
went so far as to have her horse
brought from the stable To her sur
prise, a horse for McCloud came over
with it. Quiet to the verge Of solom-
nifty, but with McCloud follow;ng.
Dicksie walked with admirable firm.
ness out Of the shop 10 the curb. Nc
Cloud gave her rein to her and with
smile stood waiting to help her
mount
She Was drawing on her second
glove. You are not going with ne "
You'll let mo ride the same roaG.
won't you-even if cant keep up"
Dicksie looked at his mount. a.
would be difficult to keep UP, with tha.
horse"
Would you ride away from me lust
because you have n better horsa?"
NO. not Just because I have bet
ter horse"
He looked steadily at her without
speaking.
why must you ride home with me
when don't want you to-" she asked
eproachfully. Fear had come upon
her and she did not know what she
was saying. She saw only the express.
sion of his eyes and looked away. but
she knew that his eyes followed her
The sun had set. The deserted street
Law in the white halflioht of q rnOun
tain evening, and the days radiance
was dying in the sky. In lower tones
he spoke again, and she turned deadly
white.
I've wanted so long to say this.
Dcksie, that might as we'll be dead
as to try to keep 1t back any longer.
That's why want to ride home with
you II you are going to let me-" He
turned TO stroke her horses head.
Dicksie stood seemingly helpless Nc
Cloud slipped his finger into his waist
coat pocket and held something ont IN
ms hand. This shell pin fell from
your hair that night you wore at camp
by the bridge-do you remember?
couldn't bear to give 1t back"
Dicksie's eyes opened wide. Let
me see it, l don't think that is mine"
Great heaven Have been carry
Ing Marion Sinclairs pin for a
month";" exclaimed McCloud. We'll. |
won't lose any time In returning it to
her, at any rate
Where are you going" Dicksic's
voice was faint.