The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-09-17

lost once" she confessed In low
voice, "but we got out again."
"The roads are all under water.
though"
What time is it, please?"
McCloud looked at his watch. Two
minutes past H."
Dicksie started. Past 10? Oh, this
is dreadful We must start right
back, Marion. 1 had no idea we had
been five hours coming five miles,"
McCloud looked at her, as if still
unable to comprehend what she had
accomplished in crossing the flooded
bottoms. Her eyes fell back to the
fire. What blaze!" she mumured
as the driftwood snapped and roared.
Its fine for tonight, isn't it?"
81 know you both must have been
in the water" he insisted, leaning for.
ward in front of Dicksie to feel Mari.
on's skirt.
I'm not wet!" declared Marion,
drawing back.
Nonsense, you are wet as rat!
| Tell me- he asked, looking at Dicksie
about your trouble up at the bend. !
know something about it. Are the men
there tonight? Given up, have they?
Too bad! Do open your jackets and
try to dry yourselves, both of you, and
I'll take a look at the river"
Suppose only say suppose-you
first take u look at me-" The voice
came from behind the group at the
fire. and the three turned together.
BY heaven, Gordon Smith," ex,
claimed McCloud Where did you
come from?"
Whispering Smith stood in the gloon,
in patience. Where do look as if ]
had come from? Why don't you ask
me whether I'm wet? And won't you
introduce me--but this is Miss Dick
sic Dunning, | am sure"
Marion with laughter fastened the
Introduction.
And you are wet, of course" said
McCloud. feeling Smiths shoulder.
NO, only soaked. I have fallen into
the river two or three times, and the
last time a big rhinoceros of yours
down the grade, section foreman
named Klein, was obliging enough tt
pull me out. Oh, no! l was not look
ing for you," he ran on, answering
McCloud's question; mot when he
pulled me out. l was just looking
for farm OF a ladder or something
Klein, for a man named Small, is the
biggest Dutchman l ever saw Tel
me, Klein asked, after he had qui
dragging me out--he's a HanoveriaI
where did you get your pull? Ant
how about your height? Did you
grandfather serve as a grenadier unde
old Frederick William and was he kid
mapped" Bill, don't feed my horse TO-
while. And Klein tried to light +;
cigar had just taken from my poke
and given him-fancy! the Germans
are remarkable people-and sat dow
! to tell me his history, when som'
friend down the line began bawlint
through megaphone, and all tina
poor Klein had time to say was tina
he had had no supper, nor dinner, no
yet breakfast. and would be oblige,
for some by the boat he forwarded m,
In" And, in closing, Whisperin,
Smith looked cheerfully around al
Marion, at McCloud, and last an,
longest of all at Dicksie Dunning.
did you come from across tn
river?" asked Dicksie, adjusting he
wet skirt meekly over her knees.
you are soaking wet" observes
Whispering Smith. ACROSS the ri,
err" he echoed. well, hardly, M
dear Miss Dunning! Every bridge I
out down the valley except the raj
road bridge and there are few thing
| don't tackle; one is the Crawlin
Stone on tear. No, this was acros
a little break in this man McCloud'
track. I came, to be frank, from tn
Dunning ranch to look up two wome
who rode away from there at .seve
o'clock tonight, and I want to sa
that they gave mo the ride of my life,
and Whispering Smith looked a
around the circle and back again an
smiled.
Dicksie spoke in amazement. "Ho,
cid you know we rode away? 70
were not at the ranch when we left.
on, don't ask hfm!" cried Marion
5 He knows everything" explaine
McCloud.
, Whispering Smith turned to Dicksie
+ Il was interested in knowing that the
. got safely to their destination-wha
. ever it might be, which was none c
j my business. l happened to see
, man that had seen them start, tina
was all. You don't understand? Vel
If you want it in plain English, mad
, it my business to see man who mad
It his business to see them. It's a
!, very simple, but these people like t
make mystery of it. Good wome
ale scarcer than riches, and more t
be priced than fine gold--in my jude
ment-so | rode after them"
u (To BE cONTINUED.)
0ps