Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-03
Il am sorry to say he is not. "

i
She turned abruptly OF McCloud to
ask the question. Her eyes were
brown, too. he saw. and doubt as
sailed him. Was she pretty?
Only a freight wreck" he an
swered.
i thought n there were passengers
hurt / could send help from the ranch.
\ Were you the conductor2"
Fortunately not"
And no one was hurt?"
only tramp. We are burning the
wreck - clear the track"
From the divide il looked like a
mountain on FIRE. I'm sorry Mr. Sin
clair is not here"
Why. indeed. yes. so am l."
Because 7 know him. You are one
OF his mcn. ] presume"
Not exactly; but is there anything
I 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 #, I'm
sure"
but we are doing everything pos
sible for him. lie is going to make a
| perfectly lovely horse
And whom may I say the message
is from? ?" Though Disconnected. Nc
Cloud was regainiug his wits He felt
perfectly certain there was no dan
ger. II she knew Sinclair and lived in
the mountains, but that she would
sometime End out he was not a con
ductor. When he asked his question
she appeared slightly surprised and
answered easily: Mr.. Sinclair will
know 81 is from Dicksie Dunnlng."
McCloud knew her then. Every
one knew Dicksie Dunning in the
high country. This was D.cksle 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 20 win her inter
est.
Il don't know just when I shall see
MI Sinclair" he answered. gravely.
but he shall certainly have your
message"
A doubt seemed to steal over Dick
sic az the change in McCloud's man
ncr. "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. arcnt you?"
1t is possible ! am: bat II he is
working for the company. Il is pretty
certain that I am not" he continued
heaping mystifcation on her. How
ever, that viii 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 IL Is sprung pretty badly. too.
Cousin Lance says How very stupid
OF me 20 ride over here for freight
wreck"
McCloud felt klmiliated az having
nothing better worth while to ofer.
IT was a very bad one" he ventured.
But not OF the kind ! can be OF any
help at. / fear"
McCloud smiled We are certainly
short OF help"
Dicksie brought her horses head
around. She felt again OF the girth
as she replied: Not such as I can
supply. I'm afraid" And with the
words she stepped away. as if prepar-
ing TO mount
McCloud interviewed. Il hope you
won't go away without resting your
horse. The sun is so hot Mayn't /
ofer you some sort OF refreshments"
Dicksie Dunning thought not.
The sun is very warm" persisted
McCioud
Dieksie smoothed her gauntlet in
the assured manner natural TO her.
i 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
conn
And have cooled water in the car.
out in the desert"
Dicksie laughed a little. DO you
call this far? 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 aeck OF her
horse. 1T is about is miles to the
ranch house"
Il don't call that far"
ooh, It isn't" she returned, hastily,
| protesting not to notice the look that
went with the words, except for per-
ishable things," Then, as il acknowl-
edging her disadvantage, she added,
swinging her bride rein around: Il
am under obligations for the offer, just
the same"
AT least. won't you let your horse
| drink" McClopd threw the force of
an appeal into his words. and Dicks!e
stopped her preparations and ap-
| peared TO waver
Jim IS pretty thirsty. l suppose.
| Have you plenty OF water?"
| "A tender full. Had l better lead
him down while you wait up on the
hill In the shades"
"A