Gilpin observer., 1909-06-24
CHAPTER III.-continued.


From the divide 1t looked like a
mountain on fire. I'm sorry Mr.. Sin
clair is not here"
why, indeed, yes, so am l."
Because l know him. You are one
OF his men, | presume"
Not exactly; but is there anything
] 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 / 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
IN not guessing her identity before
overwhelmed him, he, resolved to ex-
haust the last effort to win her inter
ost.
Il don't know just when i shall see
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
were working for the company"
You are quite right, am; but Mr..
Sinclair is not
Her eyebrows rose little. Il
think you are mistaken. aren't you?"
1T is possible l 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 a freight
wreck"
McCloud felt humiliated at having
nothing better worth while to offer.
1T was a very bad one" he ventured.
But not of the kind can be of any
help at. I fear
McCloud smiled. I'VE are certainly
short Of help
Dicksie brought her horses head
around. She felt again Of the girth
as she replied: Not such as l can
supply, I'm afraid" And with the
words she stepped away, as IL prepar-
ing to mount.
McCloud intervened. II hope You
won't go away without resting your
horse. The sun is so hot Mayn't /
offer you some sort of refreshment?"
Dicksie Dunning thought not.
THE sun is very warm" persisted
McCloud.
Dicksie smoothed her gauntlet In
the assured manner natural to her.
Il am pretty well used to it,
But McCloud held on. Several cars
OF fruit were destroyed in the wreck
l can offer you any quantity of grapes
crates of them are spelling over
there-and pears"
THANK you. am just from lunch.
con-"
"And have cooled water in the car.
l hope you won't refuse that, so far
out in the desert"
Dicksie laughed little. DO you
call this far? l don't; and / don't
call this desert by any means. Thank
you ever so much for the water, but
I'm not In the least thirsty"
1T was kind of you even to think
OF extending help. / wish you would
let me send some fruit over to your
ranch. 1t is only spelling here"
Dicksie stroked the neck of her
horse. 1T is about IS miles to the
ranch house."
II don't call that far"
"Oh, 1t isn't" she returned. hastily,
processing not to notice the look that
went with the words, except for per-
ishable things!" Then, as II acknowl.
edging her disadvantage, she added,
swinging her bride rein around: II
am under obligations for the offer, Just
the same"
"At least, won't you let your horse
drink?" McCloud threw the force Of
an appeal into his words. and Dicksie
stopped her preparations and ap-
peared to waver.
Jim is pretty thirsty, I suppose.
Have you plenty of water?"
"A tender full. Had better lead
him down while you wait up on the