The state herald., 1909-09-10

why, of course. II you want to-"
When McCloud reached the cottage
Dicksie met him. Katie Dancing's
mother is sick, and she has gone
home. Poor Marion is all alone this
morning, and half deaa with a sick
headache" said Dicksie. sBut told
her. and she said she shouldn't mind
the headache now at all"
But what are you going to do?"
81 am going to 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 l should
or not"
81 know should do much better il
you would go back and run the rail.
road few minutes"
"'The railroad be hanged. ! am for
dinner"
But ! will get dinner for you"
''You need not. can get 1t for my
self"
you are perfectly absurd. and If
we stand here disputing, Marion won't
have anything to eat"
They went into the kitchen disput-
ing about what should be cooked. AT
the end Of an hour they had two fires
going-one in the stove and one in
Dicksie's cheeks. By that time 1t had
been decided to have n luncheon in
stead of dinner. Dicksie attempted
some soup. and McCloud found strip
OF bacon, and after he had cooked 1t.
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 It
was four O'Clock and too late. Me.
Cloud declared. to 20 back to the of.
fee that afternoon.
Marion and Dicksie. after n time, at
tempted Jointly TO get rid of him, but
they found they could not. so .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 her. But Dick.
sic had no mind that he should. and
when he asked to know why, without
realizing what flush fingered In his
face. she said only, no: II she had
reasons she would give none. McCloud
persisted. because under the flush
about his eyes was the resolve that he
would take one long ride that evening.
In any event. He had made up his
mind for that ride-a longer one than
he had ever taken before, or expected
ever to take again-and would not be
baked.
Dicksie, insisting upon going home.
went so far as to have her horse
brought from the stable. To her sur.
prise horse for McCloud came over
with IL. Quiet TO the verge of solem-
nifty. but with McCloud following.
Dicksie walked with admirable Arm
ness out OF the shop to 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 me"
You'll let me ride the same road,
won't you-even II can't keep up?"
Dicksie looked at his mount. 1T
would be difficult 10 keep up. with that
horse"
Would you ride away from me Just
because YOU have n better horse?'
NO. not Just because have n bet.
ter horse"
He looked steadily at her without
speaking.
why must you ride home with me
when don't want you tor" she asked,
reproachnlly. 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
lay In the white half.light OF n noun.
tain evening. and the days radiance
was dying In the sky. In lower tones
he spoke again. and she turned deadly
white.
'rye wanted so long TO say this.
D!csslo, that might as well be dead
mn TO try TO keep II back any longer.
That's why want TO ride home with
you II you are going TO let me- lie
turned to stroke her horses head.
Dickslo stood seemingly helpless. Nc.
Cloud slipped his finger Into his waist.
cont pocket and held something out In
his hand. This shell pin fell from
your hair thnt nlght you were Mt camp
by the brldgc-do you remember !
couldn't bear to give II back"
Dickalos eyes opened wide. Lot
mn a,e n 1 dDn't thini TINT In min, %